The film starring Pia Wurtzbach for Amato Couture will open the event on the new date of 28 March. Courtesy Amato
The film starring Pia Wurtzbach for Amato Couture will open the event on the new date of 28 March. Courtesy Amato
The film starring Pia Wurtzbach for Amato Couture will open the event on the new date of 28 March. Courtesy Amato
The film starring Pia Wurtzbach for Amato Couture will open the event on the new date of 28 March. Courtesy Amato

Fashion

Former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach to open Arab Fashion Week by modelling for Amato

Wearing the latest collection by designer Furne One, Wurtzbach will kick off the autumn / winter 2021 season

Sarah Maisey

March 23, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Arab Fashion Week is set to kick off in style with a filmed presentation starring former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach.

The pageant winner will sport the latest designs by Dubai label Amato Couture in a high-fashion video, which will be released on Wednesday at 8pm to mark the start of AFW.

The collection, entitled Inner Sanctum, is, as the label's Philippines-born designer Furne One explains, about a woman “finding her true self and facing her own fears".

When not modelling for Amato, the beauty queen-turned-model, who became only the third Filipina to wear the crown when she won the title in 2015, is now the Goodwill Ambassador for conservation organisation World Wildlife Fund in the Philippines and the UNAids programme.

Running digitally from Wednesday to Sunday, AFW will showcase the winter womenswear collections of designers from across the world.

This season's special guest is British-Italian designer Antonio Grimaldi, who will close the five-day event, with regional names such as Michael Cinco, Nohma Design, Euphoria, Aavva, Maliche and, of course, Amato also due to present their designs.

Other names taking part stretch the globe, with presentations by Jean-Charles Zakaria (Lebanon), Sophia Nubes (Italy), Ezra Tuba (Turkey), JAP Petelicka (Poland), Brazilian designers Andrea Conti and Sandro Barros, and Palestinian designer Ihab Jiryis.

Arab Fashion Week will run from Wednesday to Sunday. Courtesy AFW
Arab Fashion Week will run from Wednesday to Sunday. Courtesy AFW

Continuing a partnership with the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode of France (FHCM), five new French labels from Paris Fashion Week will also be participating in AFW. These are Heliot Emil, Germanier, Situationist, Weinsanto and Ester Manas.

As part of the Green Label initiative by the Arab Fashion Council, British brand Bav Tailor, Croatian name Krie Design and Italian designer Francesca Liberatore will present a sustainable collection following the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Jordanian designer Zain Farouki, meanwhile, will show a capsule collection on the theme of Human Expression, in collaboration with stationery giant Bic.

Featuring designers from across the globe, Arab Fashion Week offers a platform for emerging talents. Courtesy AFW
Featuring designers from across the globe, Arab Fashion Week offers a platform for emerging talents. Courtesy AFW

"By presenting these talented labels ... we give them the possibility to take part of a global conversation for a better world," says Serge Carreira, head of the emerging brands initiative at FHCM.

"More than ever, emerging designers push the boundaries by impressing a new view on the world. They are committed on sustainability, on inclusivity and on respect."

_________________

Read more:

Veronica Etro on the future of fashion: 'Now it's about doing less, but doing it better'

Kylie Jenner defends giving $5,000 to injured make-up artist following backlash over fundraiser

_________________

Two products to make at home

Toilet cleaner

1 cup baking soda 

1 cup castile soap

10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice) 

Method:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.

2. Add the essential oil to the mix.

Air Freshener

100ml water 

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this) 

Method:

1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.

2. Shake well before use. 

The specs

Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder

Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT 

On sale: now

Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

Fashion