This March we see the scheduled return of Arab Fashion Week (AFW) spanning from the 24 to 28. Through collaborative efforts of the Dubai-central Arab Fashion Council (AFC) and the Dubai Design District (d3) this fashion week aims to highlight an array of designers devoted to elevating both art and culture.
View the full calendar for Arab Fashion Week HERE.
The Arab Fashion Week Women’s Fall/Winter 2022/23 consists of virtual and in-person runway shows held in d3 from 6 pm -10 pm throughout fashion week. Talent includes growing designers, luxury corporations and integral players in the fashion industry.
Dubai persists as an annual hub for massive spectators to gather for Arab Fashion Week. Celebrities, trendsetters and fashion fans travel to immerse themselves in the latest fashion trends for the upcoming season(s). This year shows have been grouped into three separate calendars: the couture, the ready-to-wear and the events, consisting of pop-ups, art encounters and roundtables.
Mohammed Aqra, Chief Strategy Officer of Arab Fashion Week, talked about the significance of the week, stating, “AFW has evolved throughout the years to establish a remarkable position within the international fashion calendar. Our mission remains to reinforce our commitment to empower and support designers operating in the Middle East and North Africa to adopt an innovative approach in their growth journey. Together with d3, we continue to champion Dubai’s role as the capital of the fashion industry in the region.”
Executive Director of Dubai Design District (d3) Khadija Al Bastaki spoke on the exciting week, stating, “Dubai has earned its growing renown as a global fashion capital in large part due to the relentless ingenuity and curiosity of our region’s creative talent.
“Our mission at Dubai Design District has always been to enhance the visibility of our comprehensive design community and enrich their access to new partnerships and growth prospects. Arab Fashion Week is fast becoming a landmark event for creatives, brands and enthusiasts the world over, and every season reinforces Dubai’s position on the global fashion stage.
“We are confident this year will deliver on the promise of innovative and inspiring runway shows and our district’s commitment to rethink the regular through digital explorations, immersive activations, pop-ups and more.”
The online platform Meta will air live showings across their social media. Moon Baz, Creator Partnerships Lead, Middle East, Africa & Turkey at Meta, raved about the upcoming digital presence of Arab Fashion Week, stating, “We’ve been building support for creators and their aspirations for years, and we continue to put a ton of investment into improving and building out our foundational suite of tools so that creators can build and grow their communities and their business.
“Our goal is to help as many creators as possible find sustainable, long-term success on our apps. The next big opportunity for us all is the metaverse and we are keen to work with creators from all industries including fashion to help them realize its potential.”
Aside from Meta, Arab Fashion Week has retained strong coverage through cooperation with Microsoft and GoDaddy.
GoDaddy’s MENA General Manager Selina Bieber spoke on GoDaddy’s involvement with fashion week, saying, “We are excited to strategically support the AFC in fostering the growth of regional talent. Together, we will ensure our creatives are ready to embrace and conquer the global shift into tech.”
Watch the shows live HERE via Arab Fashion Week’s Facebook page, and HERE via Arab Fashion Week’s Instagram page.
