20th Edition of the fashion show was held at the Ooredoo Stage at Mall of Qatar in front of 200 specially invited guests and many onlookers

Dubai, UAE, April 29, 2019:  Designs by fashion design students from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) and students from the University’s Richmond campus were warmly received at the “EDGE” fashion show, which was presented by VCUarts Qatar, Qatar Foundation and Mall of Qatar on April 27. 

“EDGE”, the University’s 20th Annual Fashion Show, took place at the Ooredoo Stage at Mall of Qatar in front of a crowd of 200 specially invited guests, media, and many onlookers who were visiting the Mall. 

The show featured collections from sophomore, junior, and senior students from VCUarts Qatar, as well as three senior students from the University’s Richmond campus.  The designs ranged from “luxe-leisure,” jumpsuits featuring prints developed in collaboration with the Department of Graphic Design, to dresses embellished with messages that challenge the meaning of eveningwear.

The show was designed to support the vision of a uniquely developing fashion design industry in Qatar and to highlight the potential of the University’s graduates in becoming leaders of that movement. 

“We hope that this year’s show presents an unexpected and innovative approach to fashion design from a group of energized students who are ready to define the fashion market in Qatar and the region,” said Kimberly Guthrie, the Interim Chair of VCUarts Qatar’s Fashion Design program. 

“We were delighted to welcome Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar for their 20th annual fashion show. The talent and creativity showcased by the young designers was incredible and it was an honor to be able to celebrate the success of the students,” said Stuart Elder, CEO, Mall of Qatar.

VCUarts Qatar alumna Maryam Al Darwish, who graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design from VCUarts Qatar in 2015, was the guest designer at the show. 

The fashion event was sponsored by the Mall of Qatar, Salam International, HEYA, and partnered with Tajmeel Qatar International Beauty Academy, Trinity Talent Qatar, and MARTIANS.

A number of awards were given on the night. The Salam International Award went to Ayesha Rafiq for her collection titled, 'Apocalypse Now.'

• The award for Most Outstanding Sophomore (Academic) went to Safa Al-Hadithi
• The award for Most Outstanding Sophomore Collection went to E J Pagdangana
• The award for Most Outstanding Junior (Academic) went to Roudha A. Al-Mazroei
• The award for Most Outstanding Junior Collection went to Jude Zahran
• The award for Most Outstanding Senior (Academic) went to Heidi Rashad 
• The award for Most Outstanding Senior Collection went to Heidi Rashad

The awards for Senior Collection Richmond went to Lama Ali, Yuchen Chen, and Jessica Holt.

Three VCUarts Qatar students will have their collections shown at the home campus annual fashion show titled, “Shimmer” on May 8 in Richmond, Virginia. This year marks the 90th anniversary of VCUarts’ founding, and the 50th anniversary of the school’s fashion show. 2019 is the 20th anniversary of VCUarts Qatar’s fashion show.