Dubai hosted its first India Fashion Week over the weekend. Here’s a look at the best and the rest of the event.
Dubai debut
Unlike bigger and bolder fashion weeks around the world, India Fashion Week in Dubai (IFW) started out small – as a two-day event that was held on Thursday and Friday. The event was also a closed-door affair, where seats were not on general sale and select fans of the 20-plus designers presenting were given opportunities to win tickets through participating radio stations and local newspapers. The VIP list of those officially invited to attend the shows, which took place in the Godolphin Ballroom of Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, consisted largely of UAE socialites and friends of the designers.
While the turnout was decent inside the show arenas, a two-hour delay on day one made for an uncomfortable wait, while the scene was a tad frenzied back of house. The exhibition space in the lobby of the ballroom wasn’t as bustling as expected but still attracted a stylish crowd of under-40s who tried on reasonably priced costume jewellery, Indian separates and embroidered pumps.
Best newcomers
A welcome inclusion to IFW were fashion students from FAD International academy, one of India’s leading arts and design schools, who put on two shows. Thirty students flew in to present 70 of their creations.
On day one, the standout show was Steam Punk autumn/winter 2015, with its avant-garde, industrialised pieces and heavy ornamentation, inspired by the steampunk subgenre.
On day two, India to the World 2015 displayed the most creativity, presenting a global aesthetic compared with more traditional Indian silhouettes. Hand-dyed fabrics, innovative digital prints and traditional embroidery were the hallmarks of the collection. Eve Jaso, a radio presenter at Dubai’s Channel 4’s 104.8, did a turn in some pieces.
Rising star
A young talent worth watching in the coming years is Shweta Wahi. The 23-year old showed her collection for the first time at IFW in Dubai but is no stranger to the subcontinent’s fashion circuit, having taken part in nearly 30 fashion events to date.
In Dubai, Wahi sent barefoot models down the catwalk in a riot of colours, her collection consisting of flowing jalabiyas, westernised separates and flowing abayas with a desi twist. The range was a fusion of Indian and Arabic fashion and clean lines were the order of the day.
Room for improvement
One of the fashion finales was staged by the husband-and-wife team Falguni and Shane Peacock. As expected, they delivered romantic, ultra-feminine evening gowns, sari-inspired skirts and cropped tops and layers of chiffon in jewel tones. Wearable, regal and blinged to the nines, the show was a fitting ending to the UAE event.
While IFW showed great promise, the organisation needs tweaking. The event was billed as a feast for the eyes and while many designers came up with the goods, the delays and reshuffling of shows, from day one to day two, ruffled fashionable feathers.
On the upside, organisers did manage to secure the Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu, who dazzled for the designer Archana Kochhar in pieces heavy with gold metalwork, emerald velvet and Celtic-inspired motifs. Going forward, it would be nice to see key accessories and accents from IFW’s shows trickle down to the malls, not least fretted nose-rings, long multi-string pearl necklaces with oversized sapphire clasps and silk-chiffon skirts weighted with embroidered hems.
rduane@thenational.ae
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
