25% rise in local designers at Heya Arabian exhibition

Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition announced its 12th edition with exclusive ‘Qatar National Day’ inspired catwalk show hosted by local brands with an eclectic mix of global brands offering a variety of evening gowns, accessories and perfumes.  Under the patronage of H E Sheikha AI Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, the exhibition will take place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) from November 3 to 7.
Mashal Shahbik, Director of Festivals and Tourism Events at Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), told The Peninsula : “We are always happy to see the growth of Heya in past several years; it reflects all our efforts. We aim to attract more tourists coming from different corners of the world. This year we have increased 25% local designers from the previous edition. We are bringing designers from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, India, Turkey, Lebanon, Indonesia, Morocco, Hong Kong, Spain, Germany and Italy.”
“QTA recognises that successful tourism and business events must reflect Qatar’s society, culture and heritage at every touch point. We have worked closely with our partners at Design Creationz to ensure this edition of Heya provides a solid platform for local emerging and established businesses, designers, and institutions that will provide an enriching and well-rounded experience to our visitors. Whether they are shopping for the winter season or interested in setting up their own Arabian fashion business, fashion enthusiasts will find what they need at Heya,” she added.
The exhibition will showcase more than 150 abaya and modest fashion brands from emerging and established designers from 12 countries. The event is delivered by Qatari company Design Creationz, with support from Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).
Numerous fashion shows, workshops and conversations with fashion icons are woven through the must-visit edition of Heya. Alongside an exciting Qatar National Day catwalk show, the organisers have announced new partnerships to continue the events legacy of bringing innovative ways to support entrepreneurs.
Through collaborations with Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ) and Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC), Heya will provide its visitors with valuable expertise in everything from fashion marketing to finance, and getting a fashion business off the ground. Both exhibitors and visitors will be treated to a conversation with the French-Algerian model, actress and filmmaker Farida Khelfa, who will speak about empowering women to achieve in fashion, the arts and other fields.
Responsible for delivering Heya, Design Creationz’s spokesperson Esraa Abel said: “Our research has shown an important demand for Qatari made products. This Autumn/Winter edition will be more locally focused with over 60% of exhibitors being based locally. It is important for us to bring to the market new thriving Qatari talents. As Heya is becoming a corner-stone of Qatar’s fashion scene, we have launched new partnerships with VCUQ and QBIC as part of our mission to show young Qatari designers the sky is the limit.”
The 12th edition of Heya will offer shoppers and visitors an assortment of unique collections, from high-street apparel, couture and luxury, to the latest modest fashion evening gowns, leather accessories, and for the first-time perfumery and make-up.  “QBIC has always heavily invested in the advancement of female entrepreneurship. We’re proud to be participating in this year’s exhibition and extending our support to entrepreneurs from the fashion industry,” said Aysha Al Mudahka, CEO of Qatar Business Incubation Center.
Offering a unique flavour of Arabian heritage, the Autumn/Winter event will see returning brands including Debaj, Al Motahajiba, Al Dukan, and Harlienz, as well as new popular brands Q-Label, Dary collection, Modish, and Endemage from Oman. The exhibition will also complement Qatar’s cultural exchange “Year of Culture” with Germany, featuring two German designers who will host a fashion show of their collection followed by a talk. Two Italian designers will also present their collections through a new partnership with the Italian Embassy.  To ensure a comfortable atmosphere for its target market, Heya is open for women only except on opening day (November 3), during which men can accompany family members. Children below the age of the 13 cannot enter the exhibition.  Partners of this year’s exhibition include Qatar Germany Year of Culture 2017, How Women Work, Qatar Airways, Maison de Joelle, Shangri-La Hotel Doha, Adagio Apart Hotel, and Violetta Events.