THE ARAB FASHION COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FACEBOOK, INC PIONEER THE FIRST MEN’S FASHION WEEK FOR THE MIDDLE EAST.

Dubai, 5 January 2021

The Dubai based Arab Fashion Council has pioneered the first men’s fashion week in the Middle East. Presented by Arab Fashion Week in partnership with Facebook, Inc Arab Fashion Week- Men’s will run from 28-30 January 2021. Thereafter, it will take place twice a year each January and June in line with the menswear fashion week calendar.

Reinforcing the Arab Fashion Council’s goal to establish a sustainable platform through which to champion fashion design talent from across the region, both established and emerging menswear designers from the UAE, Lebanon, Qatar, and Iran, have confirmed their participation in Arab Fashion Week- Men’s.

Furthermore, as part of a strategic partnership between The Arab Fashion Council and The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, four emerging menswear designers from Paris Fashion Week Men’s, have been selected to participate in the first Arab Fashion Week- Men’s.

“Emerging brands express a fashion forward view on the world. We are pleased to present some of these talented designers from the Paris Fashion Week® calendar in Dubai at Arab Fashion Week-Men’s, to allow them to increase their global reach.” Serge Carreira, Head of Emerging Brands Initiative, The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode

Arab Fashion Week- Men’s will commence on 28 January with designers premiering their collections through their individual expressions of digital creativity on Facebook Live and Instagram Live, allowing 2 billion users all around the world to view and pre-order the designer’s collections direct through Instagram Shopping and the ByTribute luxury marketplace.

“Facebook, Inc is pleased to partner with the Arab Fashion Council to present the first Arab Fashion Week- Men’s on Facebook Live and Instagram Live, as part of our combined mission to empower the creative community in the Middle East.” Joana Jamil, Strategic Partner Manager, MENA, Public Figures & Social Influencers at Facebook.

Arab Fashion Week- Men’s is powered by the Arab Fashion Council’s commitment to the principles of equality and progress across the region.

Men’s style in the Middle East has long been expressed through statement timepieces and high-performance cars with fashion taking a backseat. The Council recognized that the recent popularity of international streetwear brands entering the market has fueled a moment for menswear in the region with more men expressing their style, personalities, and preferences through fashion. Arab Fashion Week- Men’s is a platform that celebrates creativity and freedom of expression not just of fashion for men but also for designers that embrace gender-neutrality.

“The world around us is changing, so too are attitudes towards fashion and nowhere more so than in the Middle East. Arab Fashion Week-Men’s presents the breadth of menswear beyond formal attire and streetwear and paves the way for men in the Middle East to embrace a more adventurous wardrobe.” Mohammed Aqra, Chief Strategy Officer, The Arab Fashion Council.

“As the only official fashion week established within the region, The Arab Fashion Council is thrilled to launch Arab Fashion Week- Men’s and to begin a new journey to shape the future of the emerging menswear market across the Arab world both by nurturing the creativity of regional designers and, through our continued support to international designers wishing to explore opportunities within the region.” Jacob Abrian, Founder & CEO, The Arab Fashion Council.

The official schedule will be announced two weeks prior to the event.

For more information, please visit www.dubaifashionweek.org Instagram @arabfashionweek @arabfashioncouncil

Notes to Editors:

The Arab Fashion Council^© is the world’s largest non-profit fashion council and an INGO for the Arab world, representing the 22 members of the Arab League.

Milestones:

COVID-19: The Arab Fashion Council partnered with the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Design District to mobilize designers to produce PPE to support health sector front line workers.

Beirut Explosion: The Arab Fashion Council and Marie Claire Arabia launched the Beirut Fashion Relief Initiative to support the creative sector whose businesses were impacted.

Partnership with the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode: The Arab Fashion Council together with the Fédération, co-presented “Arab Designers in Paris” and “Parisians in Dubai” a creative showroom exchange to showcase the talented designers of Paris and Arab Fashion Weeks in respective new markets.

Arab Fashion Week went digital: The Arab Fashion Council partnered with Facebook, Inc. to broadcast Arab Fashion Week October edition live to over 2 billion global users. The first virtual Arab Fashion Week was opened by Lebanese super star Maya Diab.

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