Doha, Qatar, 26 October 2019:   Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition officially opened its doors today, by Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, Executive Board Member at Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the patronage of Her Excellency, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC), Ambassadors, 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 29 October 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 from more than 250 brands from around the globe, as well as inspiring discussions on the business of fashion, the latest trends, beauty, textiles, and sustainable fashion. 

 

Jawaher Al-khuzaei from Qatar National Tourism Council said: “We are delighted to once again partner with Design Creationz to bring the 16th edition of Qatar’s pre-eminent fashion event, the Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition that showcases our rich heritage and talent. We are thrilled to see such a large increase in the number of local entrepreneurs participating in this edition.”

“We also welcome participating designers from all over the world, and hope they enjoy the event as well as Qatar’s authentic experiences.”

 

Day one saw an inspiring line-up of designers who exhibited their latest creations with spectacular fashion shows including; Debaj and Al Baccarat Fashion, as well as Malo Italy, Faggioli Atelier, Atelier.C Firenze and Positivity Couture. 

 

Tahani Al Otaibi, fashion designer of her own line, Tahani Al Otaibi commented on her participation: “I am thrilled to be sharing my collection with Qatar and the world here at Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition. This is truly an exceptional platform that gathers all modest fashion lovers from around the globe under one roof to showcase their creations and to learn more about the latest trends in the industry.”

 

The opening fashion show was followed by a celebrity talk with Halima Aden, the first hijab-wearing model who was hosted at the grand opening as a special guest, flown in by Qatar Airways. In collaboration with Narges Raiss, Contributing Editor for Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia Arabia and Esquire Qatar, Aden participated in the ‘Celebrity Talk: Breaking boundaries, a history of firsts’, where she shared her journey to success and the rise of modest fashion on the international fashion scene. 

 

Day one also hosted a talk in collaboration with Jeannie Lee, Head of Buyers at Galleries Lafayette, and Mr. Christopher Fink, VCUArts Chair of Fashion, on: ‘The International Fashion Scene in Parallelism to the Arabian Vogue’.

 

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.”

 

On Saturday, 26 October - the second day of Heya 16 - visitors can enjoy an array of fashion-forward events including a beauty workshop presented by Bioskinspa with tips on skincare at 5:00pm, a workshop by VCUArts Qatar at 6:00pm, and a workshop by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, participating at Heya for the first time at 6:35pm, all to be held on the main stage.

 

In addition to the workshops, day two of Heya will showcase a Talk by Elsbeth Blekkenhorst from Elisabietta fashion brand on ‘How to create your own online fashion 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. This edition will also showcase haute couture modest fashion from 11 different countries, representing 4 continents including neighboring Kuwait and Oman as well as India, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco, China, Indonesia, Italy and Georgia.

 

Proud partners of this edition of Heya, Maison de Joelle, W Doha, Tajmeel Academy, Intercontinental Doha the City, VCUArts Qatar, Bioskin Spa, Qatar Red Crescent, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), IDAM, H.E.N.K.S and Kaafe.

 

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