Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Emirati fashion designers are looking forward to the opportunities that will open up with the launch of the Design Commission Abu Dhabi (DCAD), saying the initiative comes at a pivotal moment for the emirate’s creative sector.
Launched on Wednesday, DCAD is a creative, strategic, and cultural platform aimed at accelerating Abu Dhabi’s creative economy.
Under the chairwomanship of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, it seeks to position the emirate as a hub for design, sustainable luxury, and cultural innovation.
Fashion designer Fatima Ali Mohamed said initiatives like DCAD are crucial in empowering Emirati creatives. “These initiatives are important as they open doors for fashion, jewellery, perfume designers and others, giving Emirati designers space to develop their talent,”she told Aletihad.
She added that the platform encourages designers to innovate while expressing their Emirati identity in their work.
“For instance, using traditional textiles - such as zari [traditional gold or silver metallic embroidery used in garments and accessories] - in footwear gives a cherished cultural element a modern character,” she said.
Fatima hopes DCAD will organise regular programmes, including monthly fashion-focused events across various design fields. “Such steps would strengthen Emirati industries and help uncover creative talents who are not yet widely recognised,” she said.
Emirati abaya designer Meera Al Awadhi noted that the initiative comes as local fashion increasingly reaches global audiences. “I receive orders from Muslims in the UK and Pakistan,” she said.
She said trends now blend traditional and modern influences seamlessly. UAE women’s traditional abaya has evolved in colour and style without compromising modest elegance.
Al Awadhi also highlighted the growing role of technology in design. “Technologies such as laser cutting have become important, offering modern, fast methods for production,” she said.
She added that DCAD would help designers expand beyond online workshops, supporting growth and serving as a reference for Emirati design.
