Fashion Forward event to take place in Dubai

The highly-anticipated Fashion Forward event is set to take place in Dubai later this month and organisers are hopeful that the show will enhance the city's status as hub for designer clothing.Held at the Madinat Jumeirah between April 26th and 29th, this is the first time the fashion extravaganza has been held in the UAE and it is set to become a bi-annual occasion.Chief executive officer and creative director of Fashion Forward Bong Guerrero said that 35 buyers have confirmed their attendance so far, tabloid! reports.”It's about time that this region gets a fashion platform such as this. This is an event which aims to provide a definitive movement to foster growth for designers in the Middle East,” he was quoted as saying.Some major international names are expected to head to the Gulf for the event, including New York-based Fashion Institute Of Technology, which has produced renowned brands such as Calvin Klein.A selection of the UAE's best designers like Essa, Ayesha Depala, Furne One and Michael Cinco will also be on hand to showcase their latest collections.Up to 18 different shows will go ahead throughout the four-day event and Mr Guerrero is hoping that some lesser-known designers will earn some recognition.”There's a lot of promising designers out there. This is our first season and it will be a true reflection of our Middle Eastern landscape,” he added.Although Dubai fashion events perhaps do not have the same appeal as major shows in New York, Paris and Milan, there is no doubt that the city is steadily emerging as a hotspot for designer apparel.The emirate has the biggest malls on the planet and it boasts a range of upmarket boutiques that are highly popular among the many celebrities who visit Dubai each year.A number of top brands have set up stores in the area and recent reports suggested that Abercrombie & Fitch will be the latest firm to target the Middle Eastern market.