Fashion Forward Dubai (FFWD), the region’s progressive fashion platform, endorsed by the Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) and supported by Dubai Design District (d3), closed its Spring/Summer ‘17 season having presented 47 apparel, jewellery and accessories designers to an influential regional and international audience.

FFWD welcomed a record number of attendees this season, as over 10,000 guests comprised of industry leaders, fashion professionals, media and buyers descended on FFWD’s bespoke venue Hai d3 to enjoy a three-day schedule of runway shows and presentations by 33 regional ready-to-wear and couture designers, view 14 accessory labels at The Showcase, partake in engaging talks and panel discussions, as well as attend networking and social events.

Feedback received from designers, partners, regional and international guests speaks volumes to the dedication FFWD, together with the support of d3 and DDFC, have invested to follow Dubai’s mandate to establish the city as the creative hub in the Middle East.

Dr Amina Al Rustamani, Chairperson of Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) and Group CEO of Tecom Group, said: “Fashion Forward has provided a key platform for designers from Dubai and the wider region to showcase their work since its inception. It is also an important forum that engages the different stakeholders across the fashion design industry, ultimately contributing to its growth. This is directly aligned with DDFC’s mandate of supporting the development of the design sector in Dubai and nurturing homegrown talent, and we are looking forward to continuing our endorsement for the seasons to come.”

Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, COO of Dubai Design District commented, “Supporting Fashion Forward is a crucial element in d3’s wider vision to support not only the creative industry here in the region but also the designers who are instrumental in its development and growth. We were thrilled to see Hai d3 come alive with so much talent and energy”

Bong Guerrero, CEO and co-founder of FFWD, said, “The SS’17 edition is a true representation of Fashion Forward’s expediential growth and is testament to the synergy between ourselves and our supporting partners, d3 and DDFC. We have worked incredibly hard, each bringing our own expertise to the table, to elevate the initiative and present a credible platform for regional design talent. In 2013 we started with just 18 apparel designers, and this season we were thrilled to present more labels than before to an ever growing international and regional audience. As planning begins for next season our mission to nurture the outstanding talent our region has to offer remains pivotal to continuously enhance and adapt the platform, while extending our support throughout the year via FFWD’s empowerment program, EPICxSamsung.”

The anticipated ‘d3 Fashion Talks’ took on a back-to-basics focus this season, each talk presented essential elements that emerging design entrepreneurs require to empower and grow their businesses; from Sourcing, to Funding and Trend Forecasting, the talks offered practical information to propel industry development.

Keynote speaker Farida Khelfa, who shared her inspiring rise through the fashion industry, said “It’s fantastic to have FFWD here in the Middle East, the platform has really given the region something new and fresh, and is a fantastic outlet for the amazing talent the Middle East has to offer. Dubai is a new world, it is such a new city and an exciting place to be. It has been wonderful to meet all the designers and attend their shows. During my talk it was interesting to engage with young designers and learn about their business and passion.”

International designer Stella Jean who shared her short journey of going from a fledging designer to ruling the runways, added, “This kind of initiative is a very optimistic addition to the fashion field in the region, and internationally, so when I was invited to talk here I was very honored. I appreciate the designers work which underlines their heritage and traditions, and shows how proud they are of where they are from and what they do.”

What’s next for FFWD SS’17 designers?

International and regional buyers met with designers during the event as well as at the FFWD showroom, part of EPICxSamsung, the following two days on October 24^th and 25^th. During this time, buyers were able to view the collection in detail and make purchase orders for their relative stores.

Furthermore, the EPICxSamsung program, a series of empowerment initiatives propelled through industry collaborations will continue to offer opportunities to regional designers to help develop their business and contribute to the growth of the Middle East’s fashion ecosystem.