14th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition opens at DECC

Doha, Qatar: The 14th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition was officially opened today by Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, Executive Board Member at Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Jawaher Al-Khuzaei, Acting Director of Communications and Marketing at Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA); Esraa Abel from Design Creationz as well as Ambassadors, VIP’s and media.

The five-day exhibition, which runs until Tuesday 30 October 2018 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), is set to bring a series of fashion-centric events showcasing the latest in Arabian and modest fashion, as well as inspiring discussions on women’s empowerment in fashion and the arts and a series of new experiences for visitors designed to educate, inspire and celebrate the growing global modest fashion industry.

Heya is delivered by Design Creationz with the support of Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) as part of its efforts to empower the private sector to attract and host global events. Jawaher Al-Khuzaei, Acting Director of Communications and Marketing at Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), commented: “We’re delighted with the breadth of participation in this edition of Heya and are proud of the continued growth of this exhibition. Empowering the Business Events sector continues to be a key part of our strategy to develop the tourism industry and draw international visitors, and we are particularly pleased to see that Heya has given rise to niche and professional exhibition organizers and suppliers over the span of its 14 editions.”

The opening day witnessed a series of fashion shows presenting a collection of abayas, jalabiyas and evening gowns by leading fashion brands from around the world, including Antonia Serena, Bouret, Lucia de Miguel and Inunez from Spain; Alter Era from Belgium; Luna Italia from Italy; Toska New York from the US; as well as Noon Design, Farasha, Closhe Couture, Sharifa Style, Hamdah and Bride Atelier from Qatar; and Caftan Lella Salma from Morocco.

Forums on the first day included Toska New York, world renowned US celebrity designer on ‘Running a very tough competitive fashion business’ and led by Marion Milenovic, co-founder of Tosca New York as well as a forum by Alter Era from Belgium on ‘What has Belgium fashion achieved from Antwerp Six to the present and how does their brand represent their country’ led by Co-Founders of the Belgian brand, Alicia Declerck and Zhanna Belskaya.

Abeer Alyaseen, renowned Kuwaiti influencer and makeup artist also made a special appearance through a dedicated make-up workshop where she offered valuable tips and advices for visitors.

On Saturday, 27 October - the second day of Heya - visitors can enjoy an hour-long fashion show showcasing the latest designs by QLabel from Qatar; as well as Sharifa Style and Al Bacarrat. The fashion show will begin at 7:30pm.

Guests can also participate in ‘Breaking Boundaries: Simply Women’ forum by Asma Al-Thani who recently made history by becoming the first Qatari to ski to the North Pole, where she will talk about her journey to empower Qatari women (6:40pm).

In addition, workshops designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs will be taking place in the evening including key industry players; ‘Haute Couture Draping Techniques’ by Instituto di Moda Burgo Qatar (Fashion and Arts Academy) (4:30pm); ‘Selecting Beauty Products: What Works and What Doesn’t’ by Tajmeel (Qatar International Beauty Academy) (5:30pm); ‘Selvert Skin’, a dedicated workshop on skin care by Maison De Joelle (6:00pm); and ‘Contemporary Pattern Development’ a workshop on fashion by Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ) (7:10pm).

Esraa Abel, spokesperson for Design Creationz, said: “Heya has evolved over the years, as people not only visit to shop and complete their collections, but also to learn about culture and modest fashion trends. The show this year is the most diverse it has ever been; we have designers from countries that have never been represented before, such as Belgium and the US. We have also dedicated a larger portion of the exhibition space to local talent, with more than 170 brands participating from Qatar alone, marking a 65% increase from the previous Autumn/Winter show in 2017.”

Held under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Heya showcases the largest display of local designers to date with more than 170 brands participating in this edition. Overall, more than 230 brands of abayas and modest fashion designs from 14 countries are represented, including neighboring Kuwait and Oman as well as India, Turkey, Sri-Lanka, Italy, Morocco, Hong Kong, Lebanon, China, Spain, Belgium, and the US.

The 14th edition of Heya offers shoppers and visitors an assortment of unique collections, from high-street apparel, couture and luxury, to the latest modest fashion evening gowns, leather accessories as well as perfumery and make-up. The ladies-only event is open to women and girls over 13 years old.

For more information on the 14th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition please visit www.heya.qa. Visitors can also download the Heya mobile app, enabling visitors to stay up-to-date with events and easily navigate brands and goods on offer. 

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About Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition
Held under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Heya provides a collaborative environment where up-and-coming local designers, female entrepreneurs and fashion enthusiasts can come together to showcase, inspire and motivate others in the industry.

Launched in 2007, and now in its 14th edition, Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition (Heya) has grown to become Qatar’s biggest platform for contemporary Arabian fashion. Welcoming exciting emerging designers to showcase alongside established global brands, Heya strengthens the country’s position as a major regional shopping destination and center for fashion innovation.

Heya14 2018 presents the latest Autumn/Winter collections from over 230 GCC and international brands, and this year welcomes four embassies to give visitors the chance to discover designers from Spain, Italy, Belgium and the US.

Featuring a large exhibition space, daily fashion shows and forums, and hands-on workshops, Heya attracts thousands of ladies from Qatar, the GCC and beyond who come to shop for exclusive collections and discover new designers.

A highlight in the region’s fashion event calendar, Heya is organised by Qatar Tourism Authority and delivered by Design Creationz, playing an important role in developing the country’s growing exhibition and conference sector.

For all media enquiries, Contact Qanect team: Ghina Chaaban on ghina.chaaban@qanect.com or Farrah Francis on Farrah.francis@qanect.com  

© Press Release 2018