10 min
Dubai Fashion Week to lead global fashion season with its fourth edition taking place from the 1st till the 6th of February 2025; it's back and bolder than ever, poised to lead the charge in setting global fashion trends for the Winter 25/26 season.
DFW promotes Dubai on a global level with a highlight on Dubai’s excellence in creativity and fashion business to a worldwide audience.
MANEL made a stunning debut at DFW with the ‘Paris Day to Night’ collection, a tribute to Parisian roots and Dubai's vibrant fashion scene. The collection combined elegant tailoring, luxurious fabrics, and versatile designs that transitioned effortlessly from day to night.
MANEL's colour palette drew inspiration from Parisian winters, blending earthy tones with opulent hues and embodying their signature timeless, elegant, and effortlessly chic style. This was the highlight of the event right after Zeena Zaki captivated DFW audiences with a stunning opening show of eye-catching outfits in vibrant colours that communicated grace, confidence, and refined beauty.
Angelo Estera’s collection fused traditional Russian elements with Eastern influences to honour the ancient trade routes connecting the East and West, featuring a rich palette of red, black, and gold, representing luck, mystery, and cultural prosperity.
The show’s highlight was a breathtaking gown that blended intricate patterns with luxurious silk to create a striking work of art. This was complemented by Toton Januar’s 2025 collection, a powerful reflection of the designer’s response to global current affairs. With upcycled fabrics and innovative use of materials such as paper clay, Toton succeeded in his mission to create a profound collection that nodded fashion’s ability to merge sustainable innovation with traditional Batik craftsmanship.
The New York Institute of Fashion (NIF Global) partnered with the London School of Trends (LST) to shed a spotlight on the next generation of fashion designers representing India’s diverse cultural landscapes with innovative collections fusing luxury with sustainability.
The 40-piece collection reimagined heritage craftsmanship such as handwoven textiles, exquisite embroidery, and modern silhouettes with eco-friendly fabrics and trend-forward designs. DFW welcomed another introduction with its first Australian brand, Paolo Sebastian, with a highly anticipated invite-only showcase. The designer’s collection embodied his signature style that blends romance with contemporary elegance with dreamy silhouettes and fairytale-inspired designs. In contrast, DFW Member Victor Weinsanto's collection, ‘Cauchemar in the Kitchen’ infused his signature style with modern Parisian sophistication, inspired by the iconic motifs of the world-famous Maxim restaurant. The collection featured vibrant prints, a refined colour palette and intricate Art Nouveau-inspired embroidery.
Antoine Kareh artfully explored the interplay of light and darkness through ‘The Guardian Shadow’ collection with masterful contrasts and fluid silhouettes which brought a sense of realism and vitality to each piece highlighting the ethereal beauty of movement and structure.
The collection emphasised how shadows are crucial to defining form, depth, and dimension by strikingly blending artistry and couture craftsmanship. Day II closed with Velvety Couture unveiling an ode to the late architect, Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center with a blend of architecture and fashion. True to its inspiration the collection translated Hadid’s visionary spirit into a modern, wearable interpretation celebrating strength and individuality.
Etoile La Boutique’s invite-only showcase unveiled a multi-designer collection, ‘Twilight to Midnight’ with a seamless transition of styles, reflecting the elegance and allure of evening fashion, celebrated luxury, craftsmanship, and contemporary glamour.
Following its outstanding runway presentation, Etoile La Boutique hosted an exclusive event with the collection off the runway, at Gitano Dubai. Back on the stage, BLSSD, a UAE-born and bred streetwear and ready-to-wear label, impressed packed crowds with experimental styles, seasonal colours and bold designs that captured BLSSD’s classic creative approach to boundary-defying modern street fashion.
New York-based British-Iraqi designer Tara Babylon captured the runway with ‘Princess of Thieves.’ A collection bringing a warm and tropical vibe to winter.
The Middle Eastern-inspired palm tree prints and earthy green tones reclaimed what was once lost, like oil and palm trees expressed on desert prints woven into recycled cotton tapestry. Following this Middle Easter charm, DFW Member Dima Ayad celebrated diversity and female empowerment in a beautiful blend of seasonal colours, including rich tones and soft pastels. The collection featured elegant and modern designers with luxurious fabrics designed for women of all shapes and sizes.
Russia’s Viva Vox kicked off day four with a captivating collection in line with the brand’s bold and edgy signature style.
Creative Director Oleg Ovsiyov brought together daring silhouettes, vibrant colours, and experimental fabrics that reflected a staunch commitment to pushing fashion boundaries. Following the avant-garde display, DFW Member Lama Jouni's showcase emphasised practicality and utility, featuring a fusion of luxury and streetwear, including chic dresses and waist-enhancing separates celebrating the female form with a versatility of silhouettes on display. Meanwhile, CHOICE’s collection, inspired by the timeless tastes and subtle glamour of the 1970s, combined femininity with comfort with natural and lightweight fabrics perfect for the season.
Riva’s womenswear showcase blended timeless charm with contemporary sophistication featuring flowing kaftans with intricate embroidery and shimmering accents.
Designed to transition seamlessly from urban outings to intimate gatherings, this masterful collection captured the essence of summer with lightweight fabrics such as linen, cotton, and ramie. Dubai's breakout star Michael Cinco’s iconic presentation was graced by The Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig on the runway, featuring opulent gowns seamlessly blending classical influences with contemporary couture. From 3rd to 5th February, DFW forged bridges between designers and retailers with the Buyers Programme, an exclusive platform for industry professionals and emerging talents to connect and collaborate. Besides the designers, it included talents such as Amer (Lebanon), Amina Galal (Egypt), Bil Arabi (UAE), and many more brilliant personalities.
THAT Concept Store brought together a vibrant curation of fashion designers featuring their unique signature styles.
Hellessy’s refined, minimalist silhouettes, Christopher Esber’s effortlessly chic pieces, Khaite’s luxurious tailoring, and Philosophy’s artful sophistication. Also displayed were bold designs by Giuseppe di Morabito, Studio Amelia, Rock by GS’s street-inspired looks, and statement jewellery by Bil Arabi. Following the collaboration, SaiJamin unveiled Adiyuh: Memories and Dreams, a profound tribute to designer Jamilya Afashagova's childhood and her father's influence, intertwined tradition and modernity in a moving tribute.
The luxury urban wear brand Molato presented Beldi Beneath the Waves, blending Morocco's rich handwoven artistry with modern couture innovations, capturing the ocean's fluidity, motion and reflections in each piece.
Les Benjamins marked its debut as DFW’s inaugural Correspondent Designer with a collection drawing inspiration from the ancient traditions and mythology of the Altai people, an indigenous Turkic ethnic group. DFW's final was marked with the conclusion of the Buyers Programme, which showcased a wild collection of designers and their collections to a select group of international buyers creating a direct bridge between the 2 parties.
As the brainchild of Dubai Design District (d3) and the Arab Fashion Council, DFW has become the pinnacle of style, creativity, and innovation in the region.
Returning to its home at d3's global creative ecosystem, DFW is rewriting the rules of the fashion calendar by taking the coveted spot ahead of New York Fashion Week. DFW will set the tone for the Autumn/Winter 2025 season!
Commenting on the next season Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), part of TECOM Group PJSC, said: “We will once again commence the Autumn/Winter Season with our early February scheduling of Dubai Fashion Week. We also continue our hard work and focus on nurturing incredible talent and look forward to bringing visionary designers and influential buyers together through our new Buyers Programme for 2025. This powerful platform has been created to foster not only creativity but also impactful business opportunity and support Dubai’s – and our region’s – rapidly evolving contribution in the global fashion space and creative economic growth.”
DFW is renowned not just for showcasing creative collections from emerging and established designers but also for being the only fashion week that takes an active, hands-on role in advancing designers to the next level. The new DFW Buyer’s Programme for 2025 aims to create a world-class platform for designers to showcase their latest collections while providing buyers with direct access to a curated selection of talent.
But DFW isn't just about setting dates; it's about setting trends. The upcoming event promises a dynamic lineup of high-profile fashion shows, exclusive events, curated showrooms, capsule launches, brand activations, and insightful panel discussions. From established luxury brands to emerging designers, DFW will offer a comprehensive view of the fashion landscape, celebrating diversity, creativity, and sustainability.
DFW's reputation as a global fashion destination precedes it, with past editions featuring iconic moments like a presentation by Carolina Herrera and a runway appearance by none other than Naomi Campbell. With each edition, DFW reaffirms Dubai's position as a dominant force in the fashion scene, showcasing the region's vibrant creativity and unique perspective.
As the world eagerly awaits the unveiling of the Autumn/Winter 25/26 collections, DFW stands ready to redefine the fashion narrative, one runway at a time. Get ready to experience the future of fashion, where innovation meets inspiration, and Dubai shines as the ultimate fashion-forward destination.
19 min
