Style.com/Arabia launchs annual fashion prize

Style.com/Arabia, the Middle East's first Conde Nast fashion and beauty publication, and the Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) on Sunday announced the formation of the Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize, an annual endowment for the Arab world's most promising fashion talents.

The Dubai Design and Fashion Council was established last year to raise the profile of the emirate as a global destination for design, and to create opportunities for emerging regional design and fashion talents. By building a framework for the industry, the Council aims to position Dubai as the emerging centre for design and fashion.

The Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize, launched in partnership with the luxury ecommerce brand Farfetch, addresses the Council's mandate of invigorating regional talent. It will provide a global platform for emerging Middle Eastern designers to showcase their abilities while establishing the quality control, standards, mentorship, and broader visibility the nascent industry needs. Furthermore, the Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize will facilitate the Arab world's ongoing transition from a consumer market to an active exporter of fashion.

Nez Gebreel, CEO of the Dubai Design & Fashion Council, commented, "Incubating and developing talent is a key initiative of the DDFC. We are proud to be part of the Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize as it is a great programme for the world to see the talent we have in the region. There is a tremendous amount of creativity and positive energy in the region's industry; we are here to help support and mentor these designers to realise their potential and achieve their dreams. This prize is a wonderful initiative that meets many of our objectives for developing the industry and allowing emerging designers to thrive."

Shashi Menon, CEO and Publisher of Style.com/Arabia, added: "Style.com/Arabia's vision has always been to elevate the regional fashion scene to a truly global level and to increasingly bring the world to this region. We're dedicated to supporting home-grown talents and to showcasing them on a highly visible international stage. The Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize represents the culmination of years of effort and is another step we've taken to provide our burgeoning fashion ecosystem with the structure it needs to truly take flight."

The Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize will be overseen by a selection committee comprising senior executives from Style.com/Arabia, the Dubai Design & Fashion Council, Farfetch, and both the regional and international fashion communities.
Source: WAM