An eclectic mix of more than 250 brands from 15 countries across the GCC, Levant, and beyond will take centre stage at the 11th edition of Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition, scheduled from April 28 to May 2 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Held under the patronage of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the five-day exhibition will showcase a variety of designs, from couture modest fashion collections to evening gowns and everyday accessories such as abayas, kaftans, jalabiyas, veils, gowns, and other fashion pieces.
Qatar Tourism Authority’s (QTA) festivals and tourism events director Mashal Shahbik told a press conference yesterday that four international delegations will take part for the first time in the bi-annual event, welcoming designers from Japan, Spain, Portugal, and Germany.
She said that Heya 2017, in a joint project with the German Embassy and the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region (as part of the Qatar-Germany 2017 Year of Culture), will feature some of the fashion collections of two German designers.
“The growth witnessed by Heya over the past several editions reflects the ongoing efforts QTA and its partners have undertaken to develop this exhibition, as part of our strategy to enhance the Business Events sector and attract more business events tourists,” Shahbik noted.
“We are particularly proud of this exhibition as it celebrates our deep cultural roots and Qatar’s local talents in the context of the country’s modern and cutting-edge exhibition facilities,” she added.
Heya 2017 will display the collections of Qatari designers in 93 booths aimed at promoting and supporting local talent and entrepreneurship. It will also feature kimonos from one of Japan’s oldest textile manufacturers, Tsukamoto Group; and the latest abaya collection ‘Jeywn’ by popular Japanese designer Eriko.
Apart from the workshops and discussions at the event, Qatari fashion designer Fahd al-Obaidly will also welcome guests to the daily red carpet events.
Acclaimed fashion school Esmod, rated number five worldwide, will host four fashion workshops that will give visitors an opportunity to learn about designing creative modest fashionwear.
For the first time, the exhibition will open its doors to husbands, who can accompany their daughters and wives with children over the age of 13.
“We continually look at new and innovative ways to build on the show’s success, presenting the highest quantity of emerging and established design talent from more than 15 countries. We are extremely proud of the variety of Qatari design participation,” a spokesperson for Design Creationz, the company which has been delivering Heya for three years, said.
“Heya is now well established as a fashion platform. Our research shows designers exhibit not only for sales, but also to promote themselves and take advantage of the many marketing opportunities Heya provides them with,” she noted. “Thus, more and more brands are participating.”
According to QTA, Heya provides a high-profile platform and launch pad for established and up-and-coming local and Khaliji designers to tap into the vast economic potential present in the growing global modest and Islamic fashion market.
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