Glazing the Middle Eastern runway: Dubai Fashion Week’s core highlights
Glazing the Middle Eastern runway
Dubai Fashion Week’s core highlights
The much-anticipated Dubai Fashion Week took place recently between the 1st and 7th of September, with its extravagant array of designers setting the stage on fire with their spring/summer 2025 collections consisting of a fiery blend of culture, modernity, and futuristic fashion.
The week was studded with cultural influence and creativity, from workshops to fashion line-ups, with many diverse designers stealing the show each night.
The first day of the event kicked off with Malaysian brand Rizman Ruzaini opening and making its way onto the runway with its collection, called ‘Mustika,’ which was a divine compilation of Malaysia’s rich heritage, with their ‘Kebaya’ stealing the spotlight with its elegance; the collection showcased a spread of designs with an elegant combination of modernness and intricateness.
Followed by Libyan designer Amjad Khalil showcasing his enthralling ‘Beyond Black’ collection, with each piece of his collection representing a journey of transformation, embodying various of his own experiences in his dresses. Erika Bendaña’s ‘505’ collection took inspiration from his Nicaraguan heritage and celebrated it with vast prints and breathtaking symbolization of love through the bridal gowns.
Filipino fashion designer Angelo Estera debuted on the Fashion Week ramp with his captivating collection inspired by a spectacular fusion of Eastern oriental and Arabian elegance. Moving forward to the second day of the event, which was opened by Adolfo Dominguez unravelling his Autumn/Winter 2024 ‘IKIGAI’ collection, which drew inspiration from the renowned Japanese concept of finding purpose in life, which was a bold blend of contemporary styles and tradition, from diverse prints, ruffles, and crinkled fabrics, all in vibrant, neutral tones.
Ihab Jiryis followed with his Spring/Summer 2025 collection, which explored empowerment and femininity and turned out to be an enthralling blend of creativity and elegance. The breathtaking ‘Phantom of the Opera’ collection by Designers & Us took inspiration from the luxurious 1881 era, making the collection an inspiration for the diverse women present during operas at the time. Swarovski closed the second day of the event by unveiling its ‘Created Diamonds’ collection, which was made of lab-grown diamonds using 100% renewable energy and recycled gold and silver.
The third day of DFW was a lore of trendsetting regional and international brands, kick-started by Dima Ayad cheering on for femininity through her collection, which set it apart through the unique fabrics, florals, and silhouettes. Ayad’s collection embraced inclusivity by catering to models of all body types through her collection.
Followed by Emirati designer Heba Jasmi, her collection ‘State of Art’ showcased the designer’s dedication to creativity and artistry with the delicate work of abstract embroidery, prints, intricate lace, and vigorous colors. Her collection made use of various shapes, rich fabric, drapery, and 3-D features. Michael Cinco became the star of the show for the third day, portraying enthralling craftmanship.
The ancient Roman era inspired his collection, with a swift blend of luxury, history, and contemporary style, with a ready-to-wear section of his collection focused on casual and daily wear. The highlight of his collection was the debut of his Luxury Micro Diamond Collection.
Day four began with the third edition of Threads talks, which was backed by Instagram, where industry leaders came together to talk about the upcoming future of fashion in the GCC, from the dynamic variants of the retail world to influencing the digital world, this discussion aimed to reshape the potential future of fashion in the region on a global level.
Riva, a well-known luxury brand in the GCC, brought out a versatile collection with a blend of elegance and contemporary aura; from the use of intricate embroidery and deep, cool shades, the collection was perfectly designed for modern-day luxury. Followed by CHOICE unveiling their elegant collection, which took inspiration from the 70s’ aesthetic, paying a powerful tribute to womanhood.
The silks and monochromatic color palette of the collection are what added the ‘it’ factor. Heaven Lights’ ‘Solaraine’ collection made its debut at DFW with its modest blend of contemporary elegance with distinctive designs, backing up its motive of trendy yet modest wear.
Viva Vox stole the show by closing it with bold, statement pieces, leaving the audience enthralled by the innovative and visionary designs in the collection. A large part of this collection encouraged the audience to create an emotional perception of each design that took the runway.
Day five was kicked off by FAD Institute of Luxury, Fashion, and Style, a fashion University in Dubai Design District, which shed light on their 20 emerging talents. Their show featured a wide array of couture and ready-to-wear outfits, with experiments on color blocking, various patterns, and silhouettes.
The university’s commitment to encouraging its students to explore further opportunities in the fashion world was highly appreciated. REBORN had brought out their Spring/Summer 2025 collection, which was vastly inspired by dynamic daily wear. The collection consisted of staples that stood out for the regular lifestyle, from shirt dresses to 2-piece sets and contemporary draping, all following a neutral, clean aesthetic color palette.
Followed by April & Alex’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, ‘Blossoming Seeds,’ which was told to be inspired by the transformation of seeds into flowers. The collection dug deep into growth and transformation throughout women’s journeys. Earthy undertones inspired the color palette of this collection.
They also debuted their footwear collection. Buttonscarves set a bold perception on the DFW stage with its ‘Lucent Dusk’ collection made of opulent fabrics like satin and jacquard. The brand has been on a mission to bring Indonesian fashion to the global stage. The day concluded with an exclusive dinner hosted by Instagram and The Arab Fashion Council with vital industry designers and influencers.
The sixth and final day was the highlight of the entire week, as global icon Roberto Cavalli closed the Spring/Summer 2025 show. From the iconic animal prints, trench coats, silk shirts, and cowboy hats, Cavalli made sure to make the ideal entry. The iconic collections hailing from Milan to Dubai’s runway marks a stepping stone for Dubai as one of the fashion capitals.
The entire week has been happening, from debuts to global comebacks, each designer leaving a mark of their own on the audience through their exploration into innovation, culture, diversification, and sustainability, making Dubai a solidified influencer of the fashion world today.
By Minahil Rasool.
