The Fashion Industry in the Persian Gulf / GCC




 United Arab Emirates

As of late, fashion in the United Arab Emirates as well as entrepreneurship in the region has skyrocketed, and with good reason. Especially in Dubai, fashion is running at an all-time high with shows and designs that are expected to soon be going global. Dubai is predicted to be a worldwide fashion hub by the year 2020 and akin to the likes of fashion week occurring in Milan, London, Paris, and New York. Due to the predicted up rise in fashion in Dubai and The United Arab Emirates as a whole, there are billions of dollars which are being invested by top financiers into Dubai as of late. The Dubai Design District also called D3 is also being constructed at the moment which will be dedicated to the fashion industry and will house only the best in shopping as well as several design and fashion houses. One well-known fashion brand, Sauce, is doing extremely well with six locations in The United Arab Emirates alone. A female designer who is succeeding beyond belief and stresses the ideals of the empowerment of women is jewelry designer, Azza Fahmy. Her designs have coupled Egyptian and Islamic art together, and fused both into wearable jewelry, she has since been approached to be an advisor for Dubai Design District. Overall, things are only looking up in terms of fashion in The United Arab Emirates, with Dubai predicted to explode into the fashion scene shortly, the projections are indeed probable.

Qatar

With Sheika Mouza leading the way in terms of the fashion industry in Qatar with her fashion house and fashion investments, Qatar is slowly making its way to the top of the fashion world. Leading the way in terms of fashion in Qatar, Sheika Mouza perfectly blends the culture of beauty and merges it into the fashion spectrum pleasing the likes of many in Qatar. Qatar's fashion designs are led by Mouza and include designs comprised of modest styles coupled with cutting-edge design lines. Her fashion houses are quintessential with traditional Qatar fashion which is conservative, but with a touch of modern edge thrown in. Mouza is the epitome of a true fashion icon as well as a powerful business mogul with a great message underlying her fashion and financial empire, which is the emerging empowerment of women in Qatar as a whole. In addition to her own fashion houses, Mouza and her family purchased Valentino last year which ups her fashion footprint significantly. She also has a stake in the highly successful handbag manufacturer, Anya Hindmarch. With great pride, Qatar is also a vital part of the culture of wealth with many financial investments in a wide range of lucrative companies.

Kuwait

With many new and emerging designers in Kuwait, it's fashion industry is at an all-time high. Kuwait is starting to play a significant role in the fashion industry with exciting designs as well as designers starting to incorporate bright colors and unique style lines into their designs. The reason why Kuwait is succeeding so greatly in the fashion industry as of late is due mainly to the famed female designer, Sheikha Souad Jaber Athbi Al Sabah. She makes sure to maintain traditional elements into her designs which are illustrative of Kuwait as a whole. She brought forth the kaftan that has traditionally been worn, but she spruced it up in her own unique way and added distinctive elements and design motifs. Her kaftan designs have taken off like wildfire with the residents in Kuwait. She has both redefined the culture of beauty in Kuwait and many individuals are now singing her praises. She has received both the Fashion Designer of the Year Award as well as a coffee table book which includes her most prized designs. She also has a line of vintage fashion as well as her elegant kaftan collection. Due to her and a wide range of other fashion designers, Kuwait is starting to show real promise in terms of cutting-edge fashion styles.

Bahrain

Bahrain is playing a dramatic role in the fashion industry with a plethora of women designers leading the way. The five fashion designers that are making a splash in Bahrain include Sima Ahmed, Khaleda Rajeb, Adeeba Al Khan, Kubra Al Qaseer, and Shaima bint Abdulla Al Mansoori. Each of these women are making their way into the fashion industry in Bahrain as well as re-defining the culture of beauty. Starting with Sima Ahmed, she incorporates the use of oriental touches as well as luxurious textures and fabrics. Khaleda Rajeb designs sexy fashion styles, and most recently, she starting manufacturing her own textiles. Adeeba Al Khan includes designs in her styles which revel in both elegance and traditional Islamic clothing. She currently designs a collection of thoops and abayas. Kubra Al Qaseer designs with Western influences in mind and is the most notable fashion designer out of the five ladies. She is known as the founder of Bahrain's emerging fashion industry and many of her designs have already been featured in shows around the world. Lastly, Shaima bint Abdulla Al Mansoori is the leader of her own fashion label entitled Mansoori Couture. In addition, she supports a charitable cause named Fashion for a Good Cause which supports the Mother and Child's Welfare Society. With all the talented ladies front and center in terms of fashion designs in Bahrain, the fashion industry is only going to increase.