Fashion Forward Dubai (FFWD), the region’s definitive fashion platform, closed its Spring/Summer 16 season to great acclaim from industry figures, having presented 59 designers to a hugely influential regional and international audience.  The attendance from buyers was the most significant to date with representatives from more retail outlets than ever before.

FFWD took place from 22nd-24thOctober at Madinat Jumeirah where 32 designers showed across 21 runway shows and 9 presentations, and 27 jewellery and accessories brands exhibited at the new concept space – The Showcase.

Each season, FFWD attracts an increasing number of buyers from the region and internationally. This season saw buyers from Al Tayer, Bin Hendi, Bloomingdales, Darmystique, Galeries Lafayette, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Landmark, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sauce, Symphony, Tryano and Valleydez peruse the Spring/Summer 16 offerings from some of the best couture, ready to wear and accessories designers in the region.

In addition to the runways, presentation space and The Showcase, FFWD’s Day at d3 on October 25th, allowed all participating designers display their collections in dedicated showroom spaces for appointments with key buyers and media at Hai d3, located in Dubai Design District (d3).

FFWD 16 also hosted a series of significant industry figures through the d3 Fashion Talks including:  Karen Buglisi Weiler, Global Brand President of MC Cosmetics; Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist; and Imran Amed, Founder and CEO of The Business of Fashion.

Speaking about his impressions of FFWD, Amed said: Fashion Forward Dubai is taking the early steps of showcasing creativity, providing attention, criticism and feedback to the designers. The shows and events are a great first step but any successful fashion business also requires an infrastructure to support it and great education to train not just the designers but all the professionals that make the fashion industry tick. You need to create that full ecosystem for Fashion Forward Dubai to have its full impact.

Further adding to the commercial reach of FFWD and coinciding with the S/S 16 shows, seven brands from FFWD’s April 2015 event, selected by buyers from Galleries Lafayette, were sold throughout October at the first ever FFWD Pop Up Store on the womens wear floor of Galeries Lafayette Dubai.

The collaboration between Galeries Lafayette and FFWD has marked a step forward in supporting local and upcoming designers in a retail environment, and has proven to be successful thanks to the PR leverage obtained and interest from customers, in addition to the successful sales figures, said Mr.Pascal Abchee, General Manager, Galeries Lafayette.

With stellar attendance from key buyers, influential guests, media and members of the regional and international fashion communities, FFWD closes yet another incredibly successful season, and continues forward with its mission promote a sustainable and increasingly commercially viable fashion platform for the Middle East, with Dubai as its hub.