Day one of Fashion Forward Dubai Season 5 was wrapped up last night at Frioul, Madinat Jumeirah. After the talented three-man designer team behind The Emperor 1688 received a well-earned standing applause at the conclusion of their runway show, the crowds filling the Madinat Jumeirah conference centre quickly dissipated and the fash pack headed across the bridge to Frioul for the opening party.
Guests included front-rowers, industry influencers, press, designers and models, along with whoever else was lucky enough to snag a wristband invitation. In attendance was also Dubai-based designer Essa Walla, who has taken part in previous seasons of FFWD, as well as prominent Pakistani fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin of HSY. If you’re familiar with Frioul’s famous brunch setting, you wouldn’t have recognised the bistro last night, which was transformed into a swanky dim-lit lounge. Despite the fact that many may have been tired from the evening’s heavy mingling and long queues, excitement levels were still going strong as FFWD guests tromped on to party, though some high heels were perilously quivering, down the walk to Frioul, situated on the canal that runs through Madinat Jumeirah and Mina A’Salam.
The party gave industry members a chance to unwind and relax and dance a little against a beautiful backdrop of the Burj Al Arab and away from the runways and FFWD swarms. Even the water served to guess was fashionably on point, in the coveted Kenzo and Evian collaboration bottles. Beats were dropped by DJ Pippi, an Ibizan icon music maker, setting a clamorous tone to what’s expected to be a jam-packed weekend of show-hopping, shopping and inevitable social-climbing.
artslife@thenational.ae
