Following its iconic opening show starring international hijab supermodel Halima Aden, to a talk on the evolution of the abaya from Sheikha Hend Faisal Al-Qassemi, the first Dubai Modest Fashion Week (DMFW) drew to an impressive close this week.
The two-day style event that took place on Dec. 8-9 saw both established and emerging designers from over 20 countries take part in 40 fashion shows, with 50 brand booths, interactive workshops and talks, fashion and art exhibitions, plus 100 celebrities and influencers, gather at the city’s Burj Park to showcase the latest modest fashion trends.
Working toward coining Dubai as a hub for the multi-billion dollar modest retail industry in the Middle East, Sheikha Azza bint Rashid Al-Nuaimi, Mouza Obaid Ghubash, Diana Haddad, and organizers — Modest Fashion Week founders Franka Soeria and Özlem Sahin (Think Fashion) as well as Arif Ebrahim (Red Connect) officially opened the weekend.
Aden, the first Hijabi super model, walked the DMFW catwalk for the opening show, the Modanisa Fashion Show with Rasit Bagzibagli and Muslima Wear. Set within an open-air catwalk beneath the site of the Burj Khalifa, Aden’s fans got to see the international icon in action and get a glimpse of the star quality that has seen her grace the covers of Vogue Arabia and fashion magazines around the world.
Day two kicked off with a jam-packed schedule of shows from Selma Sari by Modanisa, Canadian modest teen brand Yours Truly, modest brand Huw Roman Tokyo and the US’ favorite Fllumae, as well as contemporary ready-to-wear Malaysian label, aere. This was followed by a show from one of modest fashion’s most established names, Kuwaiti brand Anotah.
“We are thrilled with the success of Dubai Modest Fashion Week. This weekend we have welcomed some of the modest fashion industry’s shining stars from around the world to this truly innovative city. With its position as the center for modest fashion in the GCC, this is another step in strengthening the movement’s already burgeoning influence on the mainstream fashion industry,” said Franka Soeria, DMFW co-founder and co-creator of Think Fashion.
Özlem Sahin, DMFW co-founder and co-creator of Think Fashion added: “Our aim with Modest Fashion Week is to engage international and local ground-breaking fashion talents, and to show the world that trendsetting design and modest fashion go hand-in-hand. The past two days have undoubtedly highlighted the diversity and depth of this fast-growing industry and further cemented its influence.”