The 13th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition continues to present a showstopper event for local designers, delivering a platform to foster Qatar’s fashion scene and empower entrepreneurship and knowledge-sharing.
Held under the patronage of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Heya is open to women and girls over the age of 13 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre until Sunday.
The event has been very positively received by visitors for the quality and variety of collections from Qatari entrepreneurs, as well as the dynamism of forums and workshops on offer for visitors, organisers said yesterday.
Visitors were able to browse a rich display of more than 300 local, regional and international brands of abayas and modest fashion brands from 18 countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Oman as well as Turkey, Morocco, Lebanon, Iraq, India, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Ecuador, Hungary, the UK, Spain, and Italy.
Representing a 75% increase in Qatari designers from the previous Spring/Summer 2017 edition, the event saw returning brands including Q Label and Al Motahajiba, as well as new exhibitors including; Neshel by Najeba, Sahar Al Hamoud and S STyle from Kuwait; and Romani Design, a unique brand from Hungary.
The 13th edition of Heya also features a first of its kind guidance partnership with Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development, a joint initiative by Qatar Development Bank and Silatech, to advise aspiring young Qatari entrepreneurs on their professional path.
This edition, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) and Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC) also continue their partnership with Heya to provide valuable insights for visitors in everything from fashion marketing to finance, and how to get a fashion business off the ground via daily workshops, forums and talks.
Responsible for delivering Heya, Design Creationz’s spokesperson Esraa Abel said: “The fashion sector in Qatar has been recognised as one of the driving industries to organically grow the private sector.”
In the course of the first two days of Heya, Bedaya Center has delivered workshops to advise aspiring young Qatari entrepreneurs on their professional path.
Featuring examples of success stories of young Qataris who have successfully established their businesses, the forums provided practical insight into the foundations and infrastructure required to develop a robust business in fashion.
In addition, the workshops by QBIC are designed to shed light on its unique mixed-use business incubation centre and its support services to help entrepreneurs with business ideas or those who want to grow their business.
Aysha al-Mudakha, CEO of QBIC commented: “The ideas and creations I’ve seen over the past couple of days could be the thriving businesses of tomorrow.
All these women have such passion and talent, all they need is the right mentorship and support, and we’re thrilled to be here and be able to help provide that guidance.”
The 13th Heya Exhibition will also see VCUarts Qatar hosting a series of workshops and forums developed to teach the basics of fashion design.
Today, the exhibition will see workshops aimed to empower up and coming Qatari designers to establish and grow their business.
At 5pm, entrepreneurs and designers can attend a workshop on ‘Bedaya’s Services and How it can Help you Attain your Goals’. At 5.45pm, VCUarts Qatar will host another workshop under the title ‘Fashion Design in the Digital Era’. QBIC’s al-Mudakha and Bedaya general manager Reem al-Suwaidi will present a dedicated forum at 6.40pm discussing how to ‘Get Started & Find Funds’ at 6:40pm.
Visitors are also invited to attend Heya and participate in workshops with key industry leaders, including ‘Makeup Tutorial with Lady Aysha’ by Maison de Joelle today at 5.25pm.
In addition to the learning opportunities at Heya, the 13th edition offers shoppers and visitors the opportunity to complete their Spring/Summer 2018 collections, from high-street apparel, couture and luxury, to the latest modest fashion evening gowns, leather accessories, as well as perfumery and make-up.
A workshop in session at the 13th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition.
