Retro' strikes a pose at Fusion 06

The event which aims to establish itself as the next generation lifestyle show for the Middle East has created a dedicated fashion arena where sixties, seventies & eighties' inspired designs will be on show to woo the region's 'in-crowd'.

Camille Hajji, Corporate Marketing Manager, M.H. Alshaya Co. commented, 'The Autumn/Winter collections of the brands we represent include all of the latest fashion from the UK and will be specially delivered for Fusion 06. The trend is very much sixties
rock 'n' roll, with a touch of seventies rock style, fused with some eighties glamour.'

Grey will be this season's colour of choice for the River Island collection and designs will be enlightened with splashes of vivid purple, indigo, electric green, gold and cream, making the drab hue a more digestible option. Leather, faux fur, brocade, silk and chiffon provide the fabric template, but the cut and style have a heavy retro' accent. Granny inspired paisley printed tea dresses, jumper dresses (shoulder-pads maybe optional) make a come-back, and the ultimate ensemble, dogtooth jersey mini dress worn with a masculine blazer, 'big hair' and lashings of gold jewellery.

Dresses continue as a key trend and Oasis has a range of knitted mini dresses in lurex and cable or for no fuss dressing there's the new perennial shirtdress which has been fashioned from striking bottle green and deep purple silk satins.

It's all about silhouette for Coast and their collection is heavily influenced by the elegance and perfect cut of Parisian couture - fabrics envelope and cocoon, the shapes are cleaner and sharper and the mainstay of the range is focused on tailoring and structure.

Topshop's offering, set in 1970s glam rock subtext, a heady mix of frills and lace is de-prettified by super-skinny trousers and shrunken tuxedo style jackets. New minimal features and clean lines of futuristic tailoring take influence from the structured shapes of the 1960's. Simplicity is key in this precisely tailored, minimal look.

Mannish offers traditional men's tailoring, the main focus for this androgynous, refined collection where the white shirt and man's trouser take on a new guise. Topman's rock and music-inspired collection is finished with a mid-90's grunge edge and carries a bold colour palette of grey, black and white. Jukebox collection is specifically linked to the 1950's and that of the rockabilly era, this collection has a much smarter feel, with a strong geometric print element.

Wallis returns to the 1960's, introducing clean shapes in bold colours in a collection reminiscent of the style of Jackie Onassis, with key features such as large buttons, waist ties and wide neck collars. Grey is the central colour, from chic charcoal through to a lighter mélange, supported by flashes of emerald and teal greens, cobalt blue, purple and chartreuse.

In total the show's Ford sponsored fashion arena will present the latest collections for next season during 12 highly-charged fashion shows. Top local and regional models will strut their stuff on the catwalk to herald the stylish return of old charm femininity and glamour.

Adam Taylor, Exhibition Director, Fusion 06 added, 'We will present a unique fashion and style affair, offering the latest trends that reflect the lifestyles of the region's young and trendy set, delivered in a fresh and highly entertaining way.'

Organisers IIR Middle East, who are hosting the event later this week at the Airport Expo Dubai (September 21 to September 23), are expecting 20,000 visitors and hundreds of exhibitors covering everything from fashion to technology and sports to music, in what amounts to a cool weekend hang out for the youth market.

Fusion 06, the first-of-its-kind event in the entire region for style-lead products and accessories, will usher in a new era in retailing and branding in an interactive environment. The festival will feature iconic brands, the Motorola Chill Out Lounge, live music entertainment acts, model scouts, free beauty makeovers, adventure activities, Zee Arabiya's VJ recruitment drive and daily prize draws to attract the interest of a youth audience with products that will stand apart in terms of design and innovation.