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FASHION world innovators with designs on making an impression in the Middle East helped kick-start a whole new world of glamour in the kingdom.
The three-day Bahrain Fashion Week event at the Coral Beach Club, was organised by Payal Patel and Erin Pacoma, of Lotus Pi, as a taster of a fashion spectacular set to be held twice yearly from next March.
Organisers Payal Patel and Erin Pacoma, of event management company Lotus Pi, were thrilled by the outcome.
Payal said: "I have worked in the UK and New York and there was always a great buzz around Fashion Week so I wondered why we haven't done it here - particularly since there is a Fashion Week Dubai - and decided to put on the first Fashion Week over just three days to give people an introduction to the idea.
"The support we have received has been tremendous and people have been very excited about it. Bahrain is a very fashion conscious place so people are very interested to see something like this particularly since we have brought in new young overseas designers, not just the big names."
The event was opened by fashion conscious Shaikha Aisha bint Ahmed bin Saqer Al Khalifa and the first night kicked off with a display of abayas and cloaks from Bahrain's own Shejoon which incorporated various island landmarks, Arabic script, embroidery and crystal designs.
The models strutted the outdoor runway to the roaring sound of a funky traditional beat, looking like dark angels, their arms outstretched causing the flowing black garments to billow gracefully in the evening breeze.
As if to order, lightning dazzled lighting up the night sky as the designer, sporting a skin-tight dress in fire-engine red, took the stage for a bow.
Next up were the well-known Indian duo Sanjeet Anand and Rohit K Verma, whose credits include designing for Bollywood and English Rose Elizabeth Hurley.
Together the pair make-up Sarv Atelier which put on a dazzling display of gowns, saris and even a pair of bell-bottomed trouser suits featuring exaggerated netting pants reminiscent of the extremes of the 1960s.
There was also a Bahraini debut appearance by Indian beauty queen Priyanka Shah, last year's Miss Tourism, who added an extra touch of glamour to the event.
Designers and brands featured over the three days included 24-year-old wunderkind Andre Tan, from Ukraine, who has operated his own label since the age of 16, and Indian menswear guru Paresh Lamba who dresses some of the sub-continent's best known men.
Also on the catwalk were offerings from Larisa Katz who was born and raised in the former Soviet Union but now lives in the Netherlands.
In her work she uses fabrics to build dresses like sculptures combining materials and shapes to create romantic and timeless designs.
There was an appearance from the UK's Nataliya Dolenko, winner of Fashion TV's Young Designer Award, who showed off her unconventional approach to pattern cutting and fabric development with a collection featuring semi-transparent aluminium fabrics in vivid colours teamed with light hand-knitted fabrabics made from hi-tech Japanese yarns.
Though organised fairly quickly, the event attracted enthusiastic sponsorship from the likes of Ahlan, the celebrity and fashion magazine, and Aliyah Marie, Bahrain's new fashion brand.
There is also a possibility that a short section taken from the three days will be featured on Fashion TV.
Payal added: "It's been brilliant and we are already planning the next event which will take place in March."
And it's understood for the Coral Beach Club will be erecting a floating catwalk on the water in front of the venue to add a special Gulf element to the show.
What they say
Caroline Clabburn,
FD public relations
It's good to see Bahrain diversifying into a new area which will help promote the kingdom on the world stage and bring more attention and visitors to the island.
Marwan Haddad,
Director of sales and marketing, Marriott Executive Apartments
Like Fashion Week, Marriott is also new to Bahrain and being close-by I wanted to come and support the event. I think it is always good to introduce new things and I would like to see the Marriott getting involved next time round.
Carine Chaiban,
Film buyer, Orbit
Bahrain is a good place to hold something like this as the people are very fashion conscious. I hope it will get even more support in the future and I'm really looking forward to the next one.
Atif Ikram,
Brand manager, Junaid Perfumes
I think this is a good beginning, Bahrain is coming up like Dubai so I am sure in the future it will be bigger and better.
I think perhaps this was not the best time to hold it as it's the beginning of the holidays and many people are away. But anyway it's a welcome change.
