Over 40 regional and prominent international designers from the Middle East, Europe and Asia will come together once again for the Arab Fashion Week from 9^th to 14^th October 2019 in City Walk, the design-inspired open-air lifestyle neighbourhood by Meraas. The event celebrates a wide calendar of fashion shows, pop-ups, presentations and trunk shows which will be held at 1422, the world’s first Ready Couture store and the region’s first ever designer acceleration hub at City Walk.

In addition to the diverse and rich schedule of over 40 shows, Vogue Talents Day, Trunk Shows, Private dinners, and celebrations, the Arab Fashion Council pays a tribute to the month of October being the month of Breast Cancer Awareness, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease and announces honouring the Actress and International Model Dr. Megan Pormer who holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering with a Gold Medal in regards of appointing Megan as the Arab Fashion Council’s Ambassador for her achievements and close ties to Middle East and her contribution to the global cancer awareness.

Megan Pormer said “It has been always my goal to use my international status as Model and Actress and my knowledge acquired through my PhD in Biomedical Engineering to connect the gap between the world of fashion and beauty to the world of wellbeing and health. It is with immense gratitude that I accept my appointment to be the Arab Fashion Council’s Ambassador and to pledge my know-how to carry on the vision of the Council”.

The Dutch renowned fashion designer and fixture on the Paris Haute Couture calendar, Iris van Herpen , is widely recognised as one of fashion’s most talented and forward-thinking creators continuously pushing the boundaries of fashion design, being hailed as a pioneer in utilising 3D printing as a garment construction technique. Iris van Herpen is an innovator who is comfortable with using technology as one of the guiding principles in her work because of its sculptural nature and unfamiliar form. Iris van Herpen ’s intent is to blend the past and the future into a distinct version of the present by fusing technology and traditional Couture craftsmanship. Because of van Herpen’s interest in multidisciplinary approach to creation that

goes beyond fashion, she often collaborates with artists, architects and scientists. Her work has been featured in numerous museum exhibitions, a major retrospective touring the USA and her works have been acquired by leading museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. Iris van Herpen ’s distinct aesthetic viewpoint made her dress many progressive musicians and actresses such as Björk, for whose video’s and tours van Herpen has created several dresses, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Cara Delvingne, Daphne Guinness, Miley Cyrus, Gwendoline Christie, Fan Bing Bing, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, Solange Knowles, Natalia Vodianova and Grimes.

Iris van Herpen  has confirmed accepting the Arab Fashion Council’s, and the newly appointed ambassador Dr. Megan Pormer’s, invitation to present a curated selection of her creations on the 14th of October 2019 during the Arab Fashion Week in the Plein-air of Citywalk, followed by a private presentation at 1422 Dubai in Citywalk enabling Couture clients to purchase directly from the runway.

The Arab Fashion Council and Megan Pormer confirms honouring the acclaimed Dutch Designer, Iris van Herpen , with a Gold Medal of Honor in reference to Lifetime Achievement during a private dinner on the 11th of October 2019 at the Bvlgari Resort Dubai in the presence of media, influencers and prominent figures of the Fashion Industry. Jacob Abrian, the Founder and Chief Executive of the Arab Fashion Council said: “It is a great honour to receive and host the world’s most innovative designer Iris van Herpen  in Dubai which is a clear message of our vision to indulge technology in the future of the fashion industry and appreciation of Iris’s infinite creativity in mastering the wearable fashion technology which we hope to inspire our talents and new generation of fashion designers”.

Iris van Herpen said “It is an honour to receive the Gold Medal of Honour in recognition of my Lifetime achievement from the Arab Fashion Council and Megan Pormer which highlights the great future awaiting for the technology and fashion”.

Sally Yacoub, Chief Malls Officer at Meraas said: “We are proud to host Iris van Herpen and Megan Pormer during the Arab Fashion Week at City Walk. We commend Arab Fashion Council for their continuous achievements in showcasing and promoting talented designers in Dubai.”