Ten local amateur fashion designers have been shortlisted by a panel of judges to win the Abaya Design Award, sponsored by Persil Abaya Shampoo and organised by the team behind The Bride Show.

The Award offers undiscovered talent the chance to display their creativity, skill and flair for fashion in front of an audience of thousands as their unique abayas are modeled down the catwalk on the final day of The Bride Show Abu Dhabi in February.

More than 100 enquiries were made to enter the competition, sponsored for the first time by Persil Abaya Shampoo which is especially created to make sure black remains black and to care for the elegant Abaya, particularly when it is embellished with delicate material and crystals.

Entrants were asked to submit mood boards to express an elegant, classical Abaya design suitable to wear to a glamorous wedding, providing details of the style, materials and embellishments.

Of the ten finalists, Jose Allen Villena is the only man but he doesn’t believe that will hold him back from creating a masterful and beautiful abaya.  “I have been aware of the competition in the region for the last few years and have been anxious to take part so I can showcase my talent and offer a twist on the traditional abaya,” he said. 

“I’m incredibly excited to be short-listed and am now working hard to create an abaya which is innovative yet wearable and elegant.  I can’t wait to surprise the audience at The Bride Show Abu Dhabi when it is modeled on the catwalk.”

Abaya Design Awards 2

The awards, which were open to UAE residents only, have been designed to provide a platform for undiscovered talent in the UAE. Villena, a UAE resident from the Philippines, joins three UAE national finalists, two women from India, two from Bangladesh and aspiring designers from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

“The Bride Shows in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become synonymous with providing a platform to showcase both new, untapped talent and emerging designer collections,” said Daphne Cota, Exhibition Manager, IIR Middle East, organisers of The Bride Show.  “We never fail to be impressed by the creative flair out here in the UAE and we’re all looking forward to seeing how our designers transform their visions into beautiful abayas.

“Winners from the design competitions we have held in the last 10 years have gone on to launch their own fashion lines and secure internships and full time positions in respected fashion houses and online retailers”.

The Bride Show Abu Dhabi is the first must-attend event in the 2011 calendar for all fashion lovers, beauty aficionados, and of course, blushing brides to be and their entourage of family and friends.  As such, the event, which attracts thousands of women every year, is the perfect arena for budding fashion stars to showcase their unique creations to Arab women and expatriates who like to have their finger on the pulse and be ahead of the curve.

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