(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Raynald C Rivera | The Peninsula
Doha: A Parisian-inspired first-ever Shop Qatar Design District launched yesterday at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) as a major highlight of the third edition of the country's only nationwide shopping festival.
The opening ceremony was attended by Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and member of the board of Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC); Hassan Al Ibrahim from QNTC; Ashraf Abu Issa, Chairman and CEO of Abu Issa Holdings; Machaille Hassan Al Naimi, President of Community Development, and Indian Ambassador P Kumaran.
Visiting the Design District is like stepping into the fashion capital of the world with its Parisian-inspired étoile (star) layout comprising six avenues namely Art, Tailors, Fashion, Design, Lifestyle, and Beauty coming to meet at the centre stage which also acts as a fashion show catwalk.
Eight days of attractive entertainment and cultural exchange awaits all visitors at the District which is open every day from 3pm to 10pm bringing a colourful showcase of local and international pop-up shops, cafes, fashion shows, workshops, master-classes as well as engaging design dialogue.
Design enthusiasts can stay up-to-date with the latest trends at the Fashion Speakers' Corner sessions or daily fashion shows. Other activities include 12 beauty master-classes and workshops by online-famous make-up artists and more than 60 pop-up shops showcasing unique and varied offerings ranging from professional tailoring to customisable casual wear, from handcrafted clothing and home accessories to make-up.
Mashal Shahbik from QNTC said, 'We are very excited to be launching this new concept for the first time in Shop Qatar. Whether you are a fashion enthusiast or you are simply seeking a fun time out, you are invited to experience and enjoy the truly unique line-up of indoor and outdoor activities this District offers.
She added, 'In each new edition of the festivals we organise in collaboration with public and private sector partners, we are always keen to provide exciting platforms for local entrepreneurs and home-grown talent to meet, learn from and engage with their industry peers from around the world.
In line with Qatar India 2019 Year of Culture, the District features latest creations by five renowned Indian fashion designers Raghavendra Rathore, Raw Mango, Tarun Tahiliani, Namrata Joshipura and Wendell Rodricks which will grace the District's catwalk.
Visitors can buy their collections at their pop-up stores too. All Indian fashion shows are ticketed at QR200. And, as part of Shop Qatar's entertainment programme, India's Bollywood singer Arjit Singh will take to the QNCC stage on January 18.
'India is a key visitor source market for Qatar. Following on Bollywood Week's great success in the 2018 edition of Shop Qatar, we are excited to have Indian culture so prominently represented - whether it is the fashion designers participating or the food outlets — at the Design District providing some of the first platforms for cultural exchange for this special year, said Noor Al Thani of QNTC.
A feature of the District is a Fashion Speakers' Corner which runs sessions about the latest fashion trends from both local and international designers.
Sessions are moderated by prominent Qatari artist Fahd Al Obaidli and are followed by a meet-and-greet with guest speakers and Q & As.
Another unique feature of the District is a special interactive art installation titled ‘Fashion Meets Art' by Al Obaidly, where visitors can experience a 360-degree immersion experience that combines art and fashion.
The District has an Art Avenue, where visitors find prominent local artists Yasser Al Mulla known for his sketch drawings, Muna Al Badr known for her canvas paintings and Mariam AlMulla and Radi AlHajri who share an open space for poetry and art improv expressions.
Virginia Commonwealth University-Qatar occupies the largest space at the District, offering local students an opportunity to share their latest creations, connect with the community and establish a customer base.
Twenty designers from Paris to Mumbai are showcasing their latest Spring/ Summer collections on the District's runway. With as many as three fashion shows every day, most are free and seats are available on a first-register-first-serve basis. Registration can be done through the Shop Qatar mobile app, Qtickets.com or at the District's registration desk.
Style-savvy residents and visitors are invited to learn about the newest trends in the world of hair and makeup through masterclasses and free workshops with 12 renowned makeup artists and influencers. Masterclass tickets for QR600 can be purchased on shopqatar.qa, Qtickets.com or at the District's registration desk.
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