VCUQatar Presents One of Many to Ladies Only audience

The event is open to the public on 6 May, 2010 and starts at 6:30 PM with tickets available at 5:00PM.

‘One of Many’ brought together the work of twelve seniors – Diana Zachariah, Dima Ahmed Masoud, Esra Kazem, Joanna Milaszius-Dallimore, Lama Sardar, Malak Al Mahmoud, Reem Al-Thani, Sabrina Christensen, Sacha Picard, Sahar Mari, Shaikha Al Sowaidi and Selina Farooqui – featuring a range with components of the traditional, handcrafted, modern, eclectic, architectural and glamorous. In keeping with the theme of preserving our precious resources, the designs encompassed the ideas the young designers are telling through their collection. The twelve collections were inspired by the Indian festival of colors, Holi; fairytale-like secret gardens; encounters with aliens; Victorian escapades; Queen Elizabeth; dreams and exotic locales; Islamic architecture; Cape gooseberry (a fruit); coming of age and typography.

The Sophomore Collection, “Closet Raiders 2020”, was inspired by three concepts: the silhouette of the 1920s, the futurism of 2020, and “closet raiders”, or children who take clothing from their parents’ closets and make it their own. The students explored one or more concepts while still retaining their personal voice, presenting the integrity of each design embellished by their impeccable craft. The Collection represented by the Junior students was loosely based on the themes of Globalization, Nationalism, and Recycling with their individual take on these themes combined with their own strong aesthetics and interpretation of Fashion.

Brazilian guest designer Maria Bonita’s collection showcased during the event was inspired by Anna Mariani’s pictures, taken over 15 years in seven states of the Brazilian northeast. The pictures in her luggage set the grounds for inspiring the collection designed by Danielle Jensen from Maria Bonita -15 long dresses in icy pastel, mixed with black and craft. Patricia Lobo designed exclusive colors and prints that were painted on the fabric by hand, and Bettina Terepins combined exclusive jewels and clothes that inspired the gold straps with Brazilian gemstones and chocolate diamonds.

During public night on 6 May, 2010 the show will also acknowledge the contributions of two members of the VCU community – senior students from the Fashion Design Department at VCUQatar, Sahar Mari and Joanna Milaszius-Dallimore. “Their dedication and conduct are the basis for them receiving this award as also their hard work in making this year’s show a success,” said Sandra Wilkins, chair of the Fashion Design department. They will be presented with the Friends of Fashion awards, given annually to individuals 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. Doha is one of the most multi-cultured cities in the world, setting new benchmarks in research and sustainability and these influences were reflected very vividly in this year’s show.

The Eleventh Annual Fashion Show, hosted in the VCUQatar atrium, starts at 6:30 PM on 6 May, 2010, doors open at 5:00 PM with tickets being distributed and the door. Seating will be on a first come first seated basis.