Fashion Forward Season 8

Even though Arab Fashion Week has just ended and you’d think the region has had its fashion fix for the season.  Dubai’s regional talent showcase, Fashion Forward, is back for its eighth season.

Here’s the lowdown on everything you need to know.

What: Fashion Forward Dubai Season 8; 31 labels either based in the region, or of Middle Eastern origin, show their wares for S/S17.

Where: Dubai Design District, or d3 for short, in the bespoke area of Hai (the Arabic word for neighbourhood).

When: October 20 – 23 2016

“New for Season 8 is the introduction of designers from beyond the region, a tactical addition by FFWD to extend the breadth of the event while maintaining its authenticity to support emerging talent,” Bong Guerrero, CEO and co-founder of FFWD said of the event’s next step. The five new designers are HZ by Hissa Zainal, By Amal Al Raisi, Varoin Marwah, Mrs Keepa, and Tair menswear.

We also see the introduction of EPIC; standing for an Empowerment Programme Through Industry Collaboration. This newly-founded initiative will mean that the Middle East’s fashion ecosystem is developed through the tackling of challenges that regional fashion designers face – be that marketing or manufacturing.

Even though FFWD is an industry event doesn’t mean you can’t get involved. Galeries Lafayette in The Dubai Mall is hosting its third FFWD pop-up on the first floor, where you can buy Kristina Fidelskaya, Exocet, Bedouin and Dee by Dalia among others from now until October 24.

FFWD’s fashion talks are becoming one of the most essential parts of the week, this season’s offering including a conversation with iconic French-Arab model and muse, Farida Khelfa, a S/S17 forecasting talk by WGSN’s Jane Boddy, and a workshop on how designers can find the right manufacturing partner.