VCUQatar Presents Its Twelfth Annual Fashion Show Portfolio

April 21, 2011
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Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar presented its Twelfth Annual Fashion Show, Portfolio to a ladies only audience on 20 April, 2011 at the VCUQatar atrium.

‘Portfolio’ brought together the work of eleven seniors – Ahmed El-Sayed, Bekita Muwangua, Carla Mallari, Dana Elhaj Ahmad, Esra Sharab, Hissa Ismail Zainal, Khaltham Daham Al-Kuwari, Modawi Mohammed Al Ansari, Reem Alhajri, Selina Farooqui and Vanja Smitran – featuring a range with components of the traditional, handcrafted, modern, eclectic, architectural and glamorous. ‘I am who I was meant to be’ is what their theme ‘Portfolio’ was looking to highlight as the young designers presented their first installment of their professional portfolio. The collections – inspired by desert nomads, treasure boxes, abstract art, theatrical designs for suspenders, Turkish kilims, a circus, Her Highness’ wardrobe, the sea, seasons and imperfection – were a statement of what the seniors aspire to be as designers.

The Sophomore Collection, ‘Small Wonders’ were an assorted mix of self-expression in children’s wear. Moroccan and gypsy styles inspired one collection, Japanese origami was the basis of another, the colors of butterflies informed a third and the last was an experiment in surface design embellishment. ‘Radical Individuality’ the Junior Sportswear collection used fashion design as a provocation of art and identity and were an exploration of clothing as a matrix of identity and as a natural transmission from self to clothing to world.

South African guest designer Bongiwe Walaza’s collection was Africa inspired with a global appeal. “It is a fusion, Africa meets the world,” said Walaza. “The pieces are about the theme portfolio and not in any necessary arrangement, but put together from different collections” she said. Walaza said her collections were inspired by her childhood experiences of Africa, a diverse cultural country with different traditions, “almost all of them come true in my collection”. Tatum Keshwar, Miss South Africa 2008 was the guest model for the show.

The Golden Needle Awards were presented during the show to fashion design students – Dana Masoud for Most Outstanding Children’s Wear, Yang Soon Ju for Most Outstanding Junior Collection, Esra Sharab for Most Outstanding Senior, Dana Ahmad for Most Outstanding Double Major, Hissa Zainal for Best Senior Collection and Selina Farooqui for Special Recognition for Outstanding Fashion Student. The show also acknowledged the contributions Amwaj Textiles who were presented with the Friends of Fashion award, given annually to individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to VCUQatar’s department of Fashion Design.

The fashion show is part of the annual activities of VCUQatar’s fashion design program, to develop the country’s growing fashion industry, with support from Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

The Twelfth Annual Fashion Show, hosted at the atrium at VCUQatar, starts at 7:30 PM on 21 April, 2011; doors open at 6:30 PM with tickets being distributed at the door. Seating will be on a first come first seated basis. Doors close at 7:15 PM.

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