The combined physical and digital edition of the event wrapped yesterday following three days of shows presented by 17 designers from across Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East.

This was the first edition of Arab Fashion Week Men’s held since the signing of a strategic partnership between event organisers, the Arab Fashion Council, and Dubai Design District (d3).

The virtual collections were shown via livestream on Facebook platforms, garnering over 125 million views in total, according to figures supplied by the Arab Fashion Council.

On the first day of shows, Dubai-based label Amato kicked off proceedings with a black and white film featuring Bollywood star, Asim Riyaz, and French-Lebanese designer, Eric Mathieu Ritter’s Emergency Room label impressed with its collection of unique vintage materials and dead-stock fabrics that are locally sourced to create one-of-a-kind pieces.

On day two, Saudi designer, Khalid Aljammaz, the creative director of 1886, in collaboration with the Saudi Style Council, presented a streetwear collection in a fashion film shot entirely in the planned and under-construction Saudi Arabian city of Neom.

The event was wrapped up on day three with a physical show from Dubai-based Lebanese designer, Rabih Rowel’s Anomalous label, which saw Dubai Design District’s main boulevard become the runway, lined on each side by cars from show sponsor, Mini Cooper, in which the media and celebrity attendees were seated.

“A year and a half has passed since the beginning of the pandemic, but the Arab Fashion Council and Dubai Design District have united the fashion system in the region and demonstrated resilience and agility by successfully pivoting its platforming in a continued commitment to support the region’s fashion industry,” said Mohammed Aqra, the Arab Fashion Council’s chief strategy officer.