Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition officially opened its doors yesterday, under the patronage of Her Excellency, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and attended by VIP’s from Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC), Ambassadors, Fashionistas, media and renowned fashion and lifestyle bloggers as well as representatives from Design Creationz, the long-standing event organisers for Heya.

The five-day exhibition, which runs until 30 April 2019 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), is set to bring a series of events showcasing the latest in Arabian and modest designs, as well as inspiring discussions on the business of fashion, the latest trends, beauty, textiles, and sustainable fashion.

Mashal Shahbik from QNTC, said: “Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition is the perfect example of local events that offer an authentic Qatari experience. Over the past few years, Heya has been at the forefront of the events calendar in Qatar. The exhibition is supported by QNTC as part of its efforts to empower Qatari entrepreneurs and provide them with a platform to promote their brands and to share their experiences with their counterparts in the Arab region and the world.”

"We thank all the partners who have contributed to the success of Heya throughout its 15 editions, and we look forward to more collaborations with partners from the tourism sector to offer greater diversity in local events and exciting experiences for visitors and residents alike," Mashal added.

The opening day at Heya 15 saw Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC) launch the Lean Fashion Program, the first of its kind in the country. The program is intended to equip aspiring designers and entrepreneurs with a holistic understanding of the fashion industry, helping them transform their ideas into a successful brand, with an exciting acceleration phase in Milan, Italy. To deliver the best content possible, an agreement was signed between QBIC and Fashion Technology Accelerator (FTA) - represented by its CEO, Ms Giusy Cannone - which is a Milan-based hub, dedicated to supporting fashion startups. Entrepreneurs who take part in this program will also learn how to grow their business and will be provided with invaluable opportunities to meet suppliers, distributors and potential partners who are based in Milan.

Hamad Bin Dashin Al-Qahtani, General Manager of QBIC commented: “As QBIC strives to expand entrepreneurial fields, we continuously want to provide entrepreneurs with the best possible opportunities to develop their ideas. The Lean Fashion Program will be partly delivered in the fashion capital of the world to ensure maximum impact and development, and we’re looking forward to working closely with FTA Milan”.

Day 1 saw Indian design extraordinaire, Suneet Varma, debuting as part of the Qatar-India Year of Culture, where his works are being featured under the Indian pavilion along with S3 by Sonali Raman, Pero and 3Clothing. The event was attended by VIPs, Ambassadors, media and influencers as this year’s edition opened with spectacular fashion shows including Varma, and Debaj. This was followed by a celebrity talk with Varma, moderated by designer Sonali Raman of S3.

Says Varma on his participation: “I am ecstatic to be debuting my collection in Qatar and I am impressed by the warm reception I have received. I look forward to collaborating with some of the exhibitors in the future, as I am excited by the burgeoning local fashion scene offering a high standard of craftmanship that has been showcased here at Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition.”

Heya is delivered by Design Creationz with the support of QNTC as part of its efforts to empower the private sector to attract and host global events. Esraa Abel, spokesperson for Design Creationz, said: “We are proud to have more than 250 brands participate this year, with many returning ones exemplifying what Heya stands for; a space for industry experts, leaders and entrepreneurs to collaborate and come together under one roof helping each other evolve. We are thrilled with the turnout and look forward to welcoming visitors over the next few days.”

The opening day also showcased haute couture modest fashion from 11 different countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, England, Sri Lanka, China, Morocco, Turkey, Belgium, and India.

On Saturday, 27 April - the second day of Heya 15 - visitors can enjoy an array of fashion-forward events including a beauty workshop presented by Guerlain, a workshop by Tajmeel with tips to Transform Natural Day Make Up to a Glam Evening Look, and a workshop by QBIC on The Lean Fashion Program: Creating Qatar’s Next Fashion Iconic Brand.

Held on an annual basis, Heya brings to the limelight the largest display of Arabian designers to date. With more than 250 brands of abayas and modest fashion designs, the event offers visitors an assortment of unique collections, from high-street apparel, couture and luxury, to the latest modest evening gowns, leather accessories as well as perfumery and make-up.

Proud partners of this edition of Heya are Maison de Joelle, Shangri-La Doha, Ezdan Hotel, Tajmeel Academy, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ), QBIC, Qatar Museums, Guerlain Spa, Qatar Red Crescent and Primary Health Care Corporation, while Lexus is the official car sponsor of Heya.

Heya is a ladies-only event. Children below the age of the 13 cannot enter the exhibition.

For more information on the 15^th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition, please visit www.heya.qa. Visitors can also download the Heya Mobile App to stay up-to-date with events and easily navigate brands and goods on offer.

Source: Press release

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Binu Cherian

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