Who's Next and Premiere Classe have an overwhelming response for abaya style exercise

The show will see 20 of the 40 designs short-listed, brought to life and showcased during the event.

The designers that participated in the Abaya contest came from a cross section of countries, such as Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, USA and the UK which re-enforces the objective of style exercise to encouraging the exchange of ideas between countries.

"The forty designers that participated in Abaya Style competition in the inaugural Dubai show have out done themselves. Out of all the entries that have come in we have managed to shortlist it to twenty designers. Most of the designers have used delicate expensive stones and fabrics that flow with the movement of a women's silhouette. Even though most of the designers have kept to the theme of recreating an Abaya, we have had some entries from jewellery designers who have created some unique pieces of jewellery for the Middle Eastern market."

commented Boris Provost, Exhibition Director of the Dubai Show.

He further added, "this competition has been quite different from former style exercises we have had as it is the first time that we dared asking our designers to "relook" an entire outfit that is worn by the majority of the Middle Eastern women."

The winning entry will be announced during this year's edition of Who's Next & Premiere Classe and the winning entry will be awarded the opportunity to exhibit their 'style exercise' at the Who's Next & Premiere Classe trade show Dubai 2010. Pervious style competition held included the Spanish "pena" (comb), the Japanese "Geta" (sandals), the rugby ball to celebrate the Rugby World Cup, the skateboard, the typical Chinese skirt and the Korean alphabet.

The recreation of the Abaya, has seen some of the designers use many different materials such as sequins, crystals, strass and other precious stones to capture the interest of the local ladies of the region. The Abaya's designed capture the spirit of the Middle Eastern lady, grace full yet conservative and still remains stylish and trendy. While designers have created an Abaya which can be worn by a lady in any Middle Eastern country, the designs do not necessarily reflect a specific trend for the Spring Summer 2010, most of the designers have gone beyond the boundaries of the Abaya. See below a selection of four designers that have entered the competition:

Epiure

Epiure believes in creating natural contemporary lines of clothing, in pure, noble and precious fabrics. They draw on the personal imagery of the individual by cultivating the secular techniques, in the same way it was followed in the past in the times of our grand mothers. In simple Epiure is a perfumed stopover, where east meets the west.

Keeping in line with the summer collection they have recreated the Abaya that will complement any female form, using materials such as lace, silk and other fluid forms that are sensual, simple and elegantly draped; to further emphasise the bustier the designer has hand worked touches of sequins to give the garment further opulence. What makes the strength and image of Epiure is of course, the female form.

Les Parents

Les Parents has created elegantly draped Abayas with the theme of World Peace; they have tweaked the basic Abaya into two different designs using the exclusive devore fabric which has been created solely for Les Parents, with the intention of being used for the creation of an Abaya. Their first design for the Abaya has the peace sign embroidered by hand in golden crystals along the sleeves of the garment, the extended use of material on the sleeve adds a gracefully effect to the Abaya. And to create some drama the designer has embroidered a large peace sign on the back of the garment.

The second Abaya design is also made of the same devore fabric, in this design again the designer has embroidered the peace sign on the sleeves of the garment, to add an element of difference and a more of a subdued look to the design, in the second Abaya the designer has created a dart which is completely made up of mini golden buttons, creating easy movement when wearing the garment.

Enigma

The Enigma Abaya which is creation by designers Gabriela Deistler and Agni Thalgott; which uses the finest of 100% silk fabric in its design. When creating the Abaya the designers looked for inspiration from the shape the Caftan, wore by many women across Asia. For the detailing on the Abaya the designers have used Swarovski crystals which have been stitched in AB coating.

The Abaya also contains a distinctive slit on the sides which is closed off by a fine metal netting, allowing the wearer free movement when the Abaya is worn. The unique opening is not visible or stressed on when the garment is worn or if there is any swift movement I by the wearer, it sits elegantly on a silhouette. With the intention of create a difference in the Abaya the designers have also incorporated a hood to the Abaya, which gives it an air of mystery; the hood frames the shape of the head and face, giving a particular elegance to it the entire garment.

GIG Industries

Gina Guerra, better known as GIG, takes her inspiration from German artist, Krichner and her designs for Spring Summer 2010 are an individual and subjective reflection of the post industrial world of urban cultures and ethnicities.

In the recreation of the Abaya, GIG has maintained the shape of the original garment, but has use a rich fabric that holds shape and accentuates the shoulders, keeping in line with her entire SS10 collection. The fabric used to create the Abaya was chosen by the designer for it's texture and how it flows on the female form and how it gives easy movement. They have given great detailing work to the upper half of the Abaya, by delicately placing gold sequins; bring prominence to the upper part of the body.

This collection is not an idealization of reality, but the apprehension by the subject making the art of instinct an expression of human feelings.

Who's Next & Premiere Classe will run from the 11th till 13th October 2009 at the Dubai World Trade Center and see 250 exhibitors and brands from the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East presenting their fashion trends for Spring/Summer 2010.