Dubai Fashion Week announces show schedule for Spring Summer 2010

Notes and media contacts

Designer Biographies:

- Aartivijay Gupta - "Aartivijay Gupta":
Aartivijay is a NIFT Mumbai graduate in Fashion Design. Specialising in women's wear apparel, she has a passion for couture, prêt and retail, with a specialisation in high fashion womens wear. Aartivijay is currently Head Designer for SNG Fashions.

- "Frilz" by Ash:
'Frilz' is a brainchild of Aisha Saim and Saim Maqsood. The duo started the label in 2007 with just one outlet in Lahore and since the inception till now; they have opened 7 outlets in 6 different cities of the country. The strength of the label is surface design using multi-head Tajima machinery on various silk and cotton based fabrics such as chiffon, chamois, shot silk, crondi, organza and Irish linen.

- Amal Al Maktoum/ Raghda Taryam "Kanzi":
Kanzi is an exclusive royal brand designed by Shk. Amal Mana Bin Rashid Al Maktoum & Mrs Raghda Taryam. Launched in July 2008, Kanzi excels in a variety of different lines from eye catching Abayas, Jalabiyas to Party Dresses and stunning Bridal gowns. Kanzi is a word that means my treasure and the label is renowned for creating pieces that are characterized with exquisite embellishments and a unique artistic layout of hand embroidery and one of a kind crystals.

- Babita Malkani- "Babita M":
Hailing from a family successfully involved in the fashion business for many years, Babita's distinct urban sense of style and comfort with international fabric was evident from her early works. Her label 'Whispers' grew manifold, and she has also set up an office under the label 'Studio Spa' under the Whispers Inc. Today Babita M is a well-established label in India and abroad. Her creative sense of style has prompted huge number of celebrities and personalities to approach her for their personal and professional styling assignments.

- Georgiana Mascarenhas & Helen de Carvalho - "Barbara Bela":
Established in 1974 when the founder of the label, Helen Oak, opened the first shop in Beautiful Horizon. The first foreign sales of the brand Barbara Bela, from the Brazilian southeastern state of Minas Gerais, specialised in party clothes. Currently, the colourful and embroidered dresses by Helen de Carvalho, founder and stylist of the brand, are sold in 12 stores in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt.

- Beeban Chandhole - "Ekta Singh":
Launched her own label in 2001 with her forte being bridal wear. Her meticulous attention to detailing garments and her choice of fabrics and embellishments are sure to be a crowd pleaser this season.

- Beenas & B'jouel:
Beena started her career as a make-up artist in Bombay, moving to the UAE in 1993 where she worked as a make-up artist for the UAE National Ladies. Since a child Beena has had a strong interest in fashion, converting her passion into a career as a self taught designer. These days she is one of the leading and most popular jalabiya designers in the United Arab Emirates.

For long the strands of high fashion jalabiyas and designer jewellery remain distinct. A complete turnout was the result of a mix and match between the costume and the jewellery. Yet there remained an unfinished dialog that kept niggling the mind, demanding attention and inciting interest. The dialog went on for long and so did the experimentation. Now Beenas with B'jouel is ready to reveal the stunning results. It is a line that is the demand of the times, a creation that transcends the evanescent and touches on the everlasting.

- B'jouel:
Hailing from a family steeped into jewellery design and manufacturer for the past few generations is a distinct advantage. The Brand B'jouel stands for the unique value proposition. Designed for the discerning and demanding woman, it represents the unique persona of a woman of substance, and symbolises her eternal flame of feminity. Every creation uniquely represents a facet of the feminine, sometimes daring, sometimes coy, always sensual and yet, always aspirational. B'jouel by Binduu.

- Furne One - "Amato":
Based in Dubai, his haute couture label, Amato, caters exclusively to an elite Arab and international clientele. Key achievements include being discovered by Heidi Klum, who then invited him to do the 2008 finale collection for Germany's Next Top Model. To add icing on the cake, Furne One was awarded the coveted 2009 Miami Moda and Music Awards' Designer Choice Award last March 22 in Miami Florida.

- Hassan Sheheryar Yasin - "HSY":
The fashion house HSY, was traditionally known for its couture, specialising in bridal wear. However, it now offers eight different lines including HSY Bridal, HSY Couture, HSY Private Collection, HSY R2W Deluxe, HSY R2W, HSY Basics, HSY Resort and HSY Noir. Hassan Sheheryar is the recipient of many national and international awards including the Lux Style Best Designer Award which he won in both 2005 and 2007. In November last year, he won the MTV award for Style Icon of 2008. Last month he was selected as one of the 'AHLAN! HOT 100 Style Icons' for 2009.

- Hatem Alakeel "Toby/Hatem":
Progressively joining western and eastern fashion, Toby is the embodiment of an innovative approach to fashion. Growing up between Europe, the United States and Saudi Arabia, Hatem gained unrivalled fashion experience by working with some of the world's leading fashion brands.

- Homa Q:
For Homa, designing is more than a passion. It is a living form of art and imagination. Her design approach is deeply rooted in blending different mediums of art, cultures, fabrics with modern sharp tailoring, embellishments and cuts for modern women. Based in Dubai, designing for geographically diverse clients, Homa, incorporates her style with their requirements. The range of outfits includes Abayas & Sheila (daily, formal and semi formal wears). Having been born and brought up with in a Local culture, she has a vision to incorporate tradition with the latest trends. Her designs are modern, unique and still don't lose their cultural meaning!

- Lamborghini:
Alongside Lamborghini's brand reputation for performance and luxury, it also stands for cutting edge design. Lamborghini has its own fashion range, sold under the Collezione Automobili Lamborghini brand, which will be shown during fashion week.

- Mariam Al Mazro - "MIMI Fashion Designs":
Mariam launched her label over a year and a half years ago, 'Mimi's Fashion Designs' at the Sharjah Bride Show. Today she is a highly sought after fashion designer enjoying the "dreams do come true" persona.

- Mattel Brands Consumer Products - "Barbie":
Celebrating 50 years in 2009, Barbie's famous face and head-turning style have made her much more than the most popular doll in the world. Today Barbie is a worldwide fashion icon, pop culture princess and a global brand powerhouse. After making her style statement at the New York Fashion Week, Barbie will now be the star of Dubai Fashion Week, in a grand finale runway show paying tribute to Barbie's fashion heritage. Truly making a fashion statement, Barbie has collaborated with some of the best Middle Eastern designers, showcasing real-size, Barbie signature looks.

- Michael Cinco - "Michael Cinco":
Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco believes that through his clothes, people will believe that it is ok to dream during these turbulent times. Cinco, a firm believer that dreams are the one thing which does not cost money states, "There may be credit crunch, but not couture crunch".

- Najibah Pandor - "Najibah":
Najibah Pandor graduated with a design degree from the prestigious London College of Fashion in 2007. She started her career in London working with designers Lindka Ceirach, Yasue Carter and Glovedup, after which she started her own label Najibah in 2009.

Najibah is not just a fashion label; it is a choice of lifestyle, based around comfort, luxury and glamour.In today's world where a woman's life is rushed and hectic, Najibah offers a haven where true feminism is reignited. An opportunity for a woman to feel alive!

- Noura Al Hashimi & Amber Feroz- "Miss Elegent Noura Al Hashimi":
Amber Feroz is noted for his zealous fashion sense and a rebellious streak that shows in his bold and avant-garde creations. Showcasing his artistry and skill via his fashion label Doris Dulce, Amber produces two collections every year; spring/summer and autumn/winter. This fashion maverick, whose latest collection is called "Epidemis", also idolizes Alber Elbaz.

- Rajnish Malhotra - "Rajnish Malhotra":
Rajnish Malhotra is a label that is renowed for its East-meets-West sensibility, fusing traditional Indian motifs with sleek, modern looks. Juggling different textures -silks, satins, chiffons, brocades and a delicate use of traditional zardozi embroidery with Swarovski crystals enables Rajnish to capture the old world glamour and femininity into the collection.

- Rima Ashemimry - "ORA by RIMALYA":
ORA by Rimalya is influenced by traditional and new world tastes, incorporating the intuitive styles for a form flattering fit. Rima Ashemimry, previously worked in the USA for Saks fifth Avenue Miami Florida, in the apparels section where she discovered her passion toward fashion. In 2001 she moved to the Middle East to start her career in fashion, creating her own brand- Rimalya.

- Salma Khan - "Salma Khan Fashion House":
Is a charming designer who made a name for herself in the Dubai high-fashion industry with her exquisite collection of wedding and evening gowns. From light party wear to elegant bridal and formal wear, she understands the tastes of people in Dubai who come from different walks of life.

- Shrekahnth Yedulla - "Shrekahnth":
Shrekahnth is a fashion design graduate from NIFT and this is his first prêt a porter line. Inspired by the Islamic art and architecture of Arabia, the design signature for the collection is a hyperrealist aesthetic, bold graphics and Islamic art in a modern form with futuristic patterns.

- Siddartha Tytler - "Siddartha Tytler":
Siddartha Tytler headed off to fashion school after graduating from St Columbus in 1997. First came a stint at the N.I.F.T (the FDCT course) and then he was off to the Mecca of Style, F.I.T New York. There's been no stopping Siddartha, who has had numerous well received shows in the ubiquitous capital Mumbai and Chennai.

- Tina G Bedi - "ESTINNA":
Born in Mumbai, Tina was brought up in Bangkok Thailand and as a fashion designer and business executive, Tina always excelled in design. In 2008, Tina launched Estinna; a design house focussing on Women's wear, Men's wear, Resort wear, Maternity wear, and exclusive accessories. Pipeline productions include Active Wear, Sleep Wear and Perfumes.

- Troy Costa - "Troy Costa":
His creations have been flaunted in almost 35 mainstream Bollywood films. His clientele boasts of creative channel heads, budding architects, celebrities as well as corporate head honchos. Inspired by the concept of sport couture, Costa says his favorite is a formal blazer made from jersey material.

- Walid Atallah - "Walid Atallah Fashion Design:
The international designer "Walid Atallah" was born in the city of Beirut in Lebanon. After finishing high school there, he continued his study in fashion design and graduated from the University of Chicago. Walid's ingenuity in design is clear in the way he mixes the charm of the East with the infancy of the West.

- Zaeem Jamal - "Z for Z":
The debut of the fashion house Z for Z earlier this year created a whirlwind of critical acclaim in the fashion scene and media as it embarked upon its global launch in Dubai, London & LA. This latest collection presented at DFW marks the expansion of the brand's presence in the Middle East. As a bridge collection it fuses couture intricacies with Grecian inspiration and prêt silhouettes. Z for Z's signature trademark is its hand embroidered embellished metal cutwork combined with specially crafted fabrics - luxurious silks, linens, satins and chiffons.

About Dubai Fashion Week:

Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) is an 'invitation only' fashion trade event aimed at bringing together major advocates of the fashion industry by providing them a common platform. Overseen by an advisory board, DFW enables local and regional designers and fashion houses to present their collection to global and regional buyers, media, fashion professionals and the general public. DFW is owned and organised by Concept Events, a member of Concept Group, a full service event management company with wide expertise and experience of managing corporate events, seminars and exhibitions, as well as live entertainment, award ceremonies and trade shows. DFW was co-founded by Marc Robinson who is a well-known international fashion show producer. DIFW and Dubai Fashion Week are registered trademarks and Concept Events continues to bear rights to their usage.

Media Attendance at DFW:

A media centre, fully equipped with state of the art facilities such as laptops, Wi-Fi internet, printer, scanner, photocopier, fax machine, etc., is available onsite to accommodate all media requirements, ensuring maximum exposure for the event as well as the participants.

For accreditation or more information, please contact:

Zeina Abdalla
Account Executive
Hill & Knowlton
Direct Line: +971 4 4055 647
Tel: +971 4 3344 930
Fax: +971 4 3344 923
P.O. Box 50653 Dubai, United Arab Emirates