Yesterday evening, in the heart of the UAE capital, Style.com/Arabia and luxury ecommerce brand Farfetch hosted an intimate dinner to fete the retailer’s latest expansion within the Middle East. The exclusive affair was held in celebration of the retailer’s recent signing of prominent Kuwaiti boutiques AlOthman and Al Ostoura and growing commitment to the Middle Eastern market, along with a partnership with Style.com/Arabia to support the Arab world’s burgeoning creative and fashion landscape.
Guests, including actress Razane Jammal; TV personality and Style.com/Arabia/MEN contributor Diala Makki; and designers Nathalie Trad, Ayah Tabari, Maha Abdul Rasheed, Ibtissam Saab, and Nadine Kanso, were graciously chauffeured from Dubai to Abu Dhabi courtesy of Careem, while prominent Abu Dhabi figures such as H.E. Noura Al Kaabi, Sheikha Alia Al Qassimi, Ayesha Alateeqi, Haif Al Hammadi, and the evening’s hostess, Amanda Gutkin, enjoyed what was dubbed as one of the most fashionable soirees in Abu Dhabi of recent years.
In one of the Emirates Palace’s antiquities galleries, a candlelit path led the way to an ethereally decorated table, featuring twinkling, Arabian-influenced décor laced with flowers and candles. Nez Gebreel, the CEO of Dubai Design and Fashion Council, Head Buyer and Fashion Director of AlOthman, Noor Al Sabah, bonded over their experiences in the retail industry and efforts to support emerging designers, while Razane Jammal and Nathalie Trad started a budding friendship. One of Style.com/Arabia’s favorite regional bloggers, Confashions from Kuwait, helped prepare a “fashion souk” of AlOthman’s most beautiful dresses, ranging from Giambattista Valli couture to Rosie Assoulin’s latest collection. “The Middle East is one of the most vibrant new fashion markets, and we’re excited to expand our presence here. AlOthman has established a strong brand over the past half-century, and we’re thrilled to partner with them,” remarked Stephanie Horton, Chief Marketing Officer of Farfetch.
The magical set and dinner, produced by event planner Jemma-Jade William and Emirates Palace’s chef Alexander Haebe, culminated with an imaginative dessert in which thirty pastry chefs constructed an ice parfait and rose essence plate live in front of each guest, topping it with personalized chocolate plaques emblazoned with his/her name.
During her speech, Style.com/Arabia’s Senior Editor Sofia Guellaty stated: “It was a night to celebrate our thriving retail industry, and the efforts of its key players to forge a strong fashion market in the Middle East. Everyone around the table has a role to play in this expansion. This night marks our coming together to establish the region as a strong fashion pole.”
After the dinner, a surprise performance by Emirati soul singer Hamdan Al Abri (who has notably performed with Kanye West, Erykah Badu, and Ziggy Marley) closed the event on an emotional high note.
More photos can be seen on Instagram marked with the hashtag #FarfetchXStyleArabia
