The city of is Dubai abuzz with preparations of Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience that takes place tomorrow at The Dubai Mall. The Emirate is going all out to ensure this experience leaves a lasting impression. Arriving into Dubai yesterday, the Emaar Hospitality Group has welcomed us with much charm that continues to pique our interest. What will the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience offer? Well, at this morning’s press conference I found out first hand.
We started off by departing our hotel, The Address Downtown which is synonymous for everything that Dubai represents- class, sophistication and warmth. The press conference was held at the top of the Burj Khalifa! Talk about going a cut above the rest! I’ve yet to attend an event such as this in one of the world’s most famous buildings. We zipped up 124 floors (in what literally felt like 124 seconds) to the observation deck where those who live and breathe fashion awaited the hosts.
With a panoramic view of Dubai, it was hard to contain the excitement. But once Franca Sozzani, Editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia; Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties and Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares entered the immaculately bright white room, all focus shifted to what we came for.
The press conference started off with Mohamed Alabbar of Emaar Properties emphatically backing the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience and its importance to the region. “With over 205 nationalities in the city and a hub for over 2.5 billion people, the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience enforces Dubai as a true city that belongs in the fashion world.” Mr. Alabbar further said, “What the Champs-Élysées is to Paris is what The Dubai Mall is to Dubai.” Dubai indeed has many defining structures but The Dubai Mall is a fashion/lifestyle force to be reckoned with. And everyone from the casual shopper to the luxury enthusiast is excited for tomorrow’s Experience.
The ever glamorous yet calm Franca exuded confidence when taking her turn to explain why her and the publication have taken this on. “The Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience is completely new for us and it makes me very proud that Emaar has chosen Vogue Italia.” With the Experience focusing on nurturing up and coming new talent, Franca went on to say that “We all need the new generation and must support them and give them exposure. This is the perfect platform to do so.” Part of tomorrow’s Experience will give way to eight up and coming designers who will showcase their work. One of my favorite things Franca said was “Giving back is the new luxury and that is why we selected Dubai Cares as the charity beneficiary of the fundraising gala”.
The Vogue Dubai Fashion Experience has incorporated Dubai Cares, a philanthropic organization working to improve children’s access to quality primary education in developing countries. “Dubai Cares has provided education to more than 8 million children in 31 countries through design implemented programs,” Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares says. He is mostly excited about the collaboration because the Experience is a great platform to show that fashion and philanthropy can come together to achieve something for the greater good.
Dubai, known to be ‘the first of its kind’ to do anything in the Middle East, let alone the world has pulled all the stops in putting together the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience. Organized by Emaar Properties, a leading global property developer that is known as a ‘Lifestyle and Master Plan Developer’ and Vogue Italia (needs no introduction as everyone knows it as the ‘holy grail’ of all things luxury, fashion and lifestyle), have taken on putting together one of the biggest Fashion events of its kind. Dubai Cares comes in and completes the ensemble with a ‘feel good’ quality that goes beyond our closets. Stay tuned to hear from the eight up and coming designers whom will be showcasing their work tomorrow!