Aspiring amateur fashion designers called up for Top Awards

Khalidja Al Lamki, the winner of the amateur category in 2007, on the catwalk with her design during The Bride Show Dubai.

Your chance to have your name and creativity flashed before thousands of people in the UAE is back. The Swarovski Young Designer Awards are providing a professional platform for aspiring fashion designers in the UAE to achieve national recognition and win a fashion internship.

The Awards, part of The Bride Show Dubai, are open to students and amateur designers and aim to throw the spotlight on undiscovered talent looking for their break into the notoriously tough fashion industry.

Ten finalists from both the Student and the Amateur design categories will be given the opportunity to bring their ideas to life and see their wedding dresses displayed on the catwalk by professional models as part of The Swarovski Young Designer Award Fashion Show on the last day of The Bride Show Dubai 2008.

The overall winner of the Innovation Award will win an internship at Swarovski or a dedicated fashion house. Furthermore, winners of each category will receive a Swarovski trophy and luxury gift hamper.

As is tradition for the Awards, a theme has been set for entrants to take inspiration. This year, the designers will be asked to reflect ‘the art of being intimate’ in their design for what is arguably the most important dress a woman will wear in her life.

Applicants to the Awards will submit a selection of mood boards, outlining their creative influences, their concepts and overall designs. A panel of judges, formed by eminent personalities and industry figures, will select top ten designs in each category which will then be designed and modeled. All participants will have access to invaluable workshops and mentoring, designed to develop their skills, from the Awards sponsor, Swarovski.

Swarovski, the world’s leading crystal company, is an integral partner with The Bride Show. Usually associated with global leaders of the fashion industry, Swarovski recognises the importance of nurturing young talent and developing new ideas and fresh creativity. The Young Designer Awards creates the perfect platform to reach promising future designers and help them break into the fashion industry.

"The response we have received in the last few years of the Swarovski Young Designer Awards has been overwhelming," said Werner Baumgartner, Managing Director of Swarovski Middle East. "We believe this is an important competition, which helps both students who have embarked on a path to a career in fashion as well as amateurs who believe they have an eye for creativity and flair. I am very much looking forward to seeing how this year’s participants will develop the theme, ‘the art of being intimate’ into a beautiful wedding dress."

The Bride Show Dubai is the largest and most prestigious bridal exhibition in the Middle East, making it the perfect arena for budding fashion stars to showcase their unique wedding dress creations to prospective brides and their families, Arab women and expatriates.

"Now in its 9th year, we are thrilled to build further on the success of the Swarovski Young Designer Awards at The Bride Show Dubai," said Daphne Cota, Exhibitions Manager for The Bride Show. "Seeing the finalists’ hard work pay off on the last day of the event is always very inspiring and we know our visitors love to see local creative talent in the spotlight and on the catwalk. The Awards continue to raise awareness and standards for young talent in the Middle East fashion industry."

Budding fashion designers who are interested in taking part should download an application form from www.thebrideshow.com. The deadline for submissions is 14 February 2008.

 - Lindsay Johnston, Total Communications Dubai - also photo