It is high time Qatar has constituted a chamber for promoting and producing high end fashion apparels and accessories, a well-known Italian designer told Gulf Times.
"There is considerable interest among the local population for premium luxury goods and accessories," observed Valeria Mangani, Italian designer and former vice president of Alta Roma (the Italian Chamber for High Fashions).
"Qatar, with an abundance of financial resources, should not always remain a consumer state. Instead, the state should encourage those showing interest in manufacturing luxury premium goods and accessories at the local level,” she suggested.
The designer was in Doha to promote Italian brands at the five-day Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition which concluded at the Doha Exhibitions and Conventions Centre yesterday.
She is also the CEO of the Valeria Mangani Company, one of the prominent names to be reckoned with in the business of luxury goods.
Mangani, who had started the work to set up a school for fashion in Doha last year said there has been a growing interest in fashion apparels and accessories among the local youngsters and such a school would go a long way in promoting and developing the country as a top fashion destination.
The designer who is promoting Made in Italy Luxury LTT, led a team of four Italian companies at their pavilion in the Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition. BKIB, Anita Bilardi, Maison Vi, Kristal B were the four Italian brands that took part in the expo this year.
“Every time, we, at Alta Roma, introduce new brands at the exhibition in Qatar and as a result, our chamber has been able to send a large number of Italian firms to this country in the last six years since the start of the exhibition,” she said. Heya expo is held once in approximately six months and the previous edition was held in November last year.
“Organising two exhibitions of high end fashion apparels and accessories is no mean challenge and Qatar is doing an admirable thing to promote such businesses in a big way. And the growing numbers at the exhibition reflect the real potential of this country in the market of such premium goods,’ said the entrepreneur who also highlighted the need for a similar expo for local men to be held simultaneously.
This is because Doha now has such a massive convention centre which has adequate space for hosting two or three expos simultaneously. “Such simultaneous exhibitions would not only help the organisers of such events but they would also be able to encourage more acclaimed brands to exhibit their products at one time, at comparatively lesser overheads. This would also give more opportunities for customers to choose from, she added.
Mangani also plans to bring some fast developing brands specialising in footwear making from her country in the next exhibition. “Our footwear has extensive appeal and reputation across the Gulf region and Qatar is one of our main markets,” she added.
