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Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar)’s 15th annual fashion show, Centre Front, was held amid much fanfare recently. The three-day event was hosted by Salam at The Gate Mall. |
Centre Front showcased the work of VCUQatar fashion design sophomores, juniors and 16 seniors – Ahmed Malalla, Aisha al-Naemi, Alanoud al-Nuaimi, Alexia Thomas, Douha al-Jozali, Fatima Maki, Hisham Dawoud, Imelda Jurasova, Maha al-Saad, Maha Khalifa al-Subaey, Marianne Bermejo, Munira Da Silva, Nada Taha, Noor Abdulla Hamad al-Thani, Noor Rashid al-Thani and Rayah al-Meghaisaib - featuring a range with components of the ethnic, handcrafted, modern, eclectic and glamorous.
The show also featured senior fashion design students Jame’t Jackson, Joey Zuraf and Noela Tian from the VCU Richmond campus as guest designers.
The senior thesis collection was an eclectic mix of day to evening looks and consisted of a minimum of 10 looks that reflected the individual aesthetic of each student and reinforced their individual vision, creativity and styles.
The sophomore children’s wear collections showcased under the theme Happy were a play of colour, patterns and design features. The collection focused on incorporating basic design elements to showcase a pleasant assemble of dresses, pants and jackets. Their interpretations of the little black dress were the perfect pairing for the finest of jewels.
Sandra Wilkins, chair of the fashion design department, announced the awards on the last evening of the fashion show. VCUQatar’s Golden Needle Awards, given to the most outstanding students in the fashion design department, were presented during the show to Samia Mohamed for Best Children’s Collection, Mahnoor Ansari for Most Outstanding Sophomore, Noor al-Mannai for Best Black Dress Collection, Kinda Morshed for Best Junior Collection, Dylon Sergei Adonis for Most Outstanding Junior, Jurasova for Most Outstanding Senior and al-Nuaimi and Bermejo for Most Outstanding Senior Collection.
Special Recognition Awards were presented to two seniors from the Richmond campus, Tian and Zuraf, while Special Recognition for Outstanding Leadership was presented to Taha. Wilkins also announced that al-Nuaimi, Fatima Maki and Noor Abdulla’s collections were chosen to be showcased at VCU Richmond.
For the fourth consecutive year, W Doha Hotel & Residences sponsored the W Doha Fashion Award, presented to the most outstanding and innovative VCUQatar fashion design student of the year. Clara De Lama, director of marketing at W Doha, presented the award to Thomas.
The award includes the opportunity to use W Doha, and another W Hotel around the globe, as a platform to showcase her collections at various events happening throughout the year.
The Salam Fashion Award, introduced last year by Salam International Investments chairman and CEO Issa Abu Issa to support a graduate’s transition from student designer to a career in design, was presented to al-Subaey. The award includes mentoring in the development and design of two bespoke collections that will be sold exclusively within a dedicated space at Salam Stores, Doha.
The fashion show is part of the annual activities of VCUQatar’s fashion design programme to develop the country’s growing fashion industry, with support from Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.
Below: Various collections being displayed on the ramp.
