A Look Inside Dubai Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2025-26—What Happened
Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) Autumn/Winter 2025-26 started on February 1 at Dubai Design District (d3) with a mix of creative and unique designers.
Over six days, the twice-a-year event—created by d3 and the Arab Fashion Council—featured more than 25 new and well-known designers from different countries. They presented a mix of high-fashion and everyday clothing.
This year’s event displayed a variety of collections inspired by themes like sustainability, city-style glamour, and strong femininity.
Dubai-based Iraqi designer Zeena Zaki, who was named a Fashion Innovator by Forbes Middle East in 2024, opened DFW with a collection of bright, elegant, and bold designs, featuring flowing gowns and structured outfits.
Throughout the week, DFW designers BLSSD, Mrs Keepa, Dima Ayad, and Lama Jouni showcased their unique Autumn/Winter collections on the runway. Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco wowed the audience with stunning gowns decorated with detailed embroidery and rich fabrics. The show ended with Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, wearing the final look. Velvety Couture honored architect Zaha Hadid’s creative designs, while the New York Institute of Fashion introduced a 40-piece eco-friendly collection by new Indian designers.
This season’s fashion event featured models wearing outfits that mixed global styles and cultural influences, celebrating both traditional craftsmanship and modern fashion.
Indonesia’s TOTON by Makeover Indonesia combined traditional Batik art with recycled fabrics and innovative materials. Filipino designer Angelo Estera took inspiration from his travels to Moscow and the Silk Road, blending Russian and Eastern styles. Meanwhile, luxury streetwear brand Molato merged Morocco’s handwoven techniques with modern couture in its latest collection.
Victor Weinsanto, a DFW member and Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2023 honoree, introduced his new collection, ‘Cauchemar in the Kitchen.’ Presented by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), the collection mixed designs inspired by Maxim restaurant with Art Nouveau-style embroidery. It featured his signature bright prints and Parisian touch. Tunisian model Ameni Esseibi walked the runway in his designs again.
New Designers at DFW
Dubai Fashion Week introduced designers from different parts of the world. British-Iraqi designer Tara Babylon, based in New York, made her runway debut. She is known for bold evening wear and presented a collection with Middle Eastern-inspired prints and earthy colors.
Paolo Sebastian, a couture brand, showcased a romantic, fairytale-inspired collection. It became the first Australian fashion house to take part in DFW. “This collection tells the story of a maiden who falls from the heavens to bring light to darkness. We took inspiration from vintage Hollywood for the colors and textures to create a dreamy experience for the audience,” the design team shared.
DFW also welcomed Istanbul-based luxury streetwear brand Les Benjamins as its first Correspondent Designer. The brand presented its ‘Altai Turks/Altaicana’ Autumn/Winter 2025 collection, inspired by the traditions and mythology of the Altai people.
Ingie Chalhoub, who was named one of Forbes Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen in 2024 and featured on Forbes’ 50 Over 50 Global: 2025 list, presented Etoile La Boutique’s collection at Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) for the first time. She called this debut a “natural evolution” for the brand. “Fashion is a way to tell a story, and this collection celebrates different sides of femininity—effortless, playful, and strong. Dubai Fashion Week was the perfect place to showcase this vision to a global audience that values both modern and timeless style,” she said.
Another local brand, MANEL, also made its debut with its ‘Paris Day to Night’ collection, inspired by both Parisian fashion and Dubai’s style scene.
After last season’s closing show by Roberto Cavalli, Indian couture designer Manish Malhotra ended this year’s event with his first international runway show, introducing his World Collection for Autumn-Winter 2025-26. His designs featured flowing fabrics, structured silhouettes, rich brocades, pearls, sequins, and metallics. The collection included a mix of Indo-Western outfits, elegant gowns, and modest Arab-inspired kaftans and abayas, along with bold jewelry pieces. Models Valery Kaufman and Adriana Lima opened and closed the show, while well-known figures like film director Karan Johar and actress Malaika Arora attended the event.
Published: 12th February 2025
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