The UAE’s most talented up-and-coming fashion designers will showcase their creative flair to a global audience when the Middle East’s only dedicated leather exhibition opens in Dubai this month.

 

The year-two students from the fashion institute Esmod Dubai, will line-up an inspiring array of leather garments, handbags, and accessories at Leatherworld Middle East 2016, combining a mix of traditional techniques, leather manipulation and cutting edge technology.

 

The 17 pieces, which include jackets, suits, skirts, dresses, jumpsuits and bags, have been selected from more than 40 designs, and will take centre-stage at the Fashion Avenue at Leatherworld Middle East 2016, which will run from April 26 to 28 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

 

Crafted from leather supplied by the three-day event’s exhibitors, the exclusive showcase will demonstrate the relationship between leather and fashion, whilst offering UAE designers a global platform to connect with international suppliers and manufacturers.

 

Tamara Hostal, founder and chief executive officer, Esmod Dubai, said: “This collaboration opens our students’ minds in terms of what they can do with leather.

 

“All the garments have been created and realized by the students themselves who come from many different countries, which is a characteristic of Esmod Dubai.  This opens a door for them to start their own leather collections in the future, whilst further positioning Dubai as the wider region’s fashion design hub.”

 

Esmod, based in France, is a leading fashion institute, which opened its Dubai branch in 2006, where it has since graduated 103 students – 23 of which went on to establish their own fashion brands.  

 

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Leatherworld Middle East, said: “Our partnership with Esmod Dubai at the Fashion Avenue throws the spotlight onto the enormous potential of talented designers throughout the Middle East, and plays a vital role in furthering the ongoing development of the regional fashion design and leather creation industries.

 

“Typically students don’t have a lot of opportunities to work with leather, so it’s fantastic to see them present their unique interpretations of how fashion and leather go hand-in-hand, even more-so with leather supplied by some of our leading exhibitors.”

 

Other features of Leatherworld Middle East include the Trend Area, where an exclusive range of luxurious global leather innovations will be seen for the first time; Leather Production for semi-finished and finished animal hides; the Shoe Box for mid to high-end leather footwear; and the Designers’ Area, where bespoke creations will be on display. - TradeArabia News Service