Fashion Forward highlights

FFWD season six is introducing a new concept - The Showcase.

The Showcase
FFWD season six is introducing a new concept - The Showcase. The curated exhibition and retail space will feature a limited selection of premium Middle Eastern jewellery and accessories brands. Chosen solely for their for their originality and creative take on accessories, the brands will be exposed to visitors and buyers alike. All the brands are based in the Middle East or are of Middle Eastern origin and include Bint Thani, EXOCET, Precious by Francois Ayoub, Roula Dfouni, Vinita Michael, Alessa Jewelry, Sarah's Bag, and many more. It's a great start for consumers who are looking to spoil themselves with some of the creative fruits of the region.
Meet The Sartorialist
Photographer and blogger Scott Shuman also known as The Sartorialist gives a one in a million talk about his groundbreaking fashion blog which he started in 2005. At the core of The Sartorialist, Shuman wanted to create a two-way dialogue about the world of fashion and its relationship to daily life. Over the last ten years, his work has been acquired for the permanent collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography and has been featured in many monthly publications such as GQ, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, and Interview. In 2012 he was awarded the CFDA Media Award and has published three books of street photography with Penguin. Based in New York he continues to take photographs all over the world. www.thesartorialist.com
Amato
When you want to close with a bang, you close with Amato. The last show of FFWD has often been dedicated to the avant garde label whose designer, Furne One (pictured), is known for his fantastically elaborate and highly entertaining shows. More than just clothes, Amato is a world of couture that we are invited to. Theatrical, conceptual, out of the box chic and unconventional, Amato has presented collection after collection of pieces that look like art with the functionality of fashion. Though his pieces are viewed as modern classics, Amato's aesthetic comes from a space where cultures intermingle, elements of the East and West fuse and the urban and the global intertwine. These iseas are not only reflected in his clothes but in the whole production of the show as well.
www.amatohautecouture.com
In Conversation with Imran Amed
It's exciting to see the educational aspects of the fashion world presented to the public. FFWD will be presenting a conversation with Imran Amed, founder & CEO of The Business of Fashion (BOF). Education, business and the digital age in fashion - Amed's blog has gained a global following as a daily resource for fashion creatives, executives and entrepreneurs in over 200 countries. Essential for anyone who wants to break into the business, BOF was started by Amed in 2007 as a project of passion. The fashion business advisor, writer and digital entrepreneur will talk about how BOF has grown a legion of writers and fashion insiders in style capitals around the globe, to deliver insider fashion business intelligence on everything from emerging designers, new technologies and the latest news from global brands. www.businessoffashion.com
Madiyah Al Sharqi
This is one show, one designer and one point of view to take notice of. The best way to describe Madiyah's aesthetic is modern etherialism. Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi is the daughter of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, the Ruler of Fujairah, and grew up immersed in the world of high fashion. After graduating from the French fashion university, Esmod, Madiyah started her label and has been working ever since. With a multitude of awards and collaborations to her name, her shows and collections have an elegance and maturity that is not only fitting for the market but show a feminine sophistication and talented taste level.
www.madiyahalsharqi.com