Photos: Arab Fashion Week - Day 2 highlights

During the second day of Arab Fashion Week taking place at the Meydan Hotel & Grandstand in Dubai, Italian fashion house Laura Mancini and one of America’s hottest designers Laquan Smith closed the shows with their stunning Ready-Couture collections.

 

Favored by many A-list international celebrities, Laquan Smith presented a quirky collection featuring his signature PVC catsuits, corseted dresses, python knits and over-the-knee boots. His design motto to create outfits for an ‘unapologetically glamorous’ woman was reflected on the catwalk as models showcased a selection of outfits for every occasion. Amongst some of the celebrities supporting the designer at the FROW were American rapper Yo Gotti and reality star Cardi B.

 

In contrast, Laura Mancini’s collection paid tribute to Maria Callas and featured classic evening gowns, tailored capes and dresses in the shades of pastel pink, black and gold. Some of the looks took inspiration from ancient Egypt with heavy embellishments and crown pieces. The show was opened by the world’s first Emirati model Rafeea Alhajsi as she elegantly glided on the catwalk in a full-length embellished look that resonated with an ancient Egyptian queen.

 

Ilse Jara, one of the upcoming designers from Paraguay, presented a Ready-Couture collection that merges technological innovations with natural materials and traditional embroidery techniques. Her show featured tailored jumpsuits and dresses with inspiration taken from natural gemstones and their unique patterns including Amethyst, Quartz and Agate. The spotlight was also on the regional designers including Saudi-based premium denim brand Jeans Couture that was founded by mother-and daughter duo Suzan Farhoud and Leen Al Shieshakly. Their collection included signature treated denim pieces in dark red and black with floral details and statement accessories.

 

As part of the Arab Fashion Council’s mission to support regional emerging talent, design students from the College of Fine Arts and Design at American University in the Emirates were given an opportunity to present their work at a catwalk show for the ‘Next Generation’ project with Arab Fashion Week. Their designs were inspired by 3-D patterns and geometrical prints which they created for this assignment.

 

The Arab Fashion Week is taking place from 16-20th May at the Meydan Hotel Grandstand and is the first and only platform in the world to showcase Resort and Ready-Couture collections.

 

About Arab Fashion Week:

 

Arab Fashion Week is organized by the world’s largest non-profit organization, The Arab Fashion Council (AFC). Founded in London under the companies acts 2006, incorporation number 09227268 with the activity of an extraterritorial international authority for the Arab countries members of the Arab League, in partnership with Sheikh Mohammed Maktoum Juma AlMaktoum Investment (MBM).

 

The Arab Fashion Week since its first edition has received its recognition as one of the world’s highest profile designers showcase alongside to the other four big fashion weeks held in New York (NYFW), London (LFW), Milan (MFW) & Paris (PFW) being officially on the international calendar. In addition, AFW is the only official fashion week in the world for promoting the Ready-Couture and Pre-Collections which defines the international industry scene of luxury fashion in Dubai and the Arab World.