Call to set up chamber for high-end fashion

It is high time Qatar that constituted a chamber for promoting and producing high-end fashion apparels and accessories, a well-known Italian designer told Gulf Times yesterday.“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 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, 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 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 specialised 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.More than 15,000 attend Heya expoThe 13th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition that concluded yesterday attracted more than 15,000 visitors throughout the five-day event, a 15% increase year-on-year, organisers have announced.Bringing together fashion enthusiasts, families and aspiring designers, the exhibition showcased more international brands of abayas and modest fashion collections than ever before with more than 300 local, regional and international brands attending from over 18 countries. More than 60 brands joined in this edition from Kuwait and Oman.This year saw the largest number of established and emerging Qatari designers, with more than 190 of exhibitors from Qatar, representing a 75% increase from the Spring/Summer 2017 edition.New partnership with Bedaya Center to advise aspiring young Qatari entrepreneurs on their professional path, along with previously forged partnerships with Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) and Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC), provided visitors with valuable expertise in everything from fashion marketing to finance, to how to get a fashion business off the ground. In addition, adding depth to this year’s programme were the collaborations with the Ecuadorian, Hungarian and Turkish embassies to help nurture and develop local design talent. Heya’s packed schedule of 11 workshops, five forums and four multi-brand show stopping fashion shows drew huge crowds. The event displayed the latest collection of abayas, kaftans, jalabiyas, evening gowns, veils and other accessories as well as perfumery and make-up.Highlights included a special appearance by renowned Indian celebrity TV star  Krystel D’Souza and film actress Sana Khan who hosted an insightful forum on ‘What’s In and Out on Social Media’, along with Omani influencer Areej Balushi, giving exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to meet with the Bollywood celebrities and ask questions around fashion, style and trends on social media in the fashion industry.In addition, the VCUarts Qatar hosted a series of workshops and forums developed to teach the basics of fashion design.Closing out the show was the exclusive Awards Ceremony with the top two prestigious awards going to Al Khoose for the Visitor’s Choice Award, and La Cremerie for the Exhibitor’s Choice Award.Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition was brought to visitors by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and delivered by partners Design Creationz, who put on a world-class fashion exhibition.Jawaher al-Khuzaei, acting director of communications and marketing at QTA, said: “The 13th edition of Heya Exhibition, held under the patronage of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, was a great success in terms of the number of participants, activities and the number of visitors, which is a sign of the position the exhibition has now as one of the most anticipated events in Qatar and the region.”  “The Qatar Tourism Authority supports private initiatives in organising innovative events locally, thing that enhances the diversity of the events’ programme, as supporting the private sector remains one of the core objectives within the authority’s strategy”, she added.