Celebrity designers to showcase Spanish fashion, culture Wednesday

Some 15 outfits highlighting Spanish fashion and culture will take centre stage on Wednesday at Shop Qatar’s “International Fashion Show” at Mondrian Doha.

 “I will be presenting my ‘Candy’ collection for the first time in Qatar, some 15 gowns of mini couture. I am trying to bring Andalucia to Doha,” renowned Spanish fashion designer Alejandro Resta told reporters. He was joined by his fashion brand director Carlos Sanchez Caballero.Resta dedicates his new collection to his grandmother named after her, who passed away last month. “She taught me how to sew,” he stressed, adding that Candy also lived in Andalusia, an autonomous community in southern Spain, “the culture of which is very much related to Arab history.”The couturier noted that he will be showcasing a “very traditional Spanish fashion, very flamingo style” at the event – a display of more than 100 looks and latest trends for 2018. Entry is free but seats will be given on a first-come-first-serve basis.Apart from Resta’s collection, the International Fashion Show will also showcase creations by celebrity designers Fouad Sarkis and Nour Fathallah (Lebanon), Maria B, Imran Rajput, and Thaher Baqer with an appearance by Pakistani actor and model Imran Abbas. “I really love to dress women, especially Qataris,” Resta stressed, recounting his first visit to Doha in November 2016. He comes to Doha regularly for his individual clients. He said he was impressed and fell in love with the abayas – its refined fabric and “the fashion style of Qatari women.”Resta, who is followed by many Qatari fashion designers on social media, also conducted a three-day certified course on fashion design in Doha (from January 21 to 23) as part of Shop Qatar, teaching enthusiasts with various design techniques.According to Caballero, they brought their atelier in the city of Valencia, Spain to Doha, Qatar for the masterclass.“What we try to teach is all the creative process from the beginning like choosing the fabrics until the end, from pattern-making to how to produce a gown,” he explained. “All the cutting, sketching and modeling, we taught everything in three days.”Caballero said the course got a positive response from the participants who were passionate and persistent to learn the art of crafting, sewing and the techniques on how to be more creative.He added that they were surprised with the quality and profile of participants – from young fashion students in universities and colleges to professionals.The fashion show, set to start at 7.30pm this evening, will also see Sarkis showcasing his 16 couture dresses from his new ‘Glamour Retro’ collection.A Lebanese who is based in Turkey, he operates 40 shops under his name in different countries around the world. “Our dresses are everywhere in Arab countries and the US, among others,” said Sarkis, who took part in a fashion show in Doha five years ago.Meanwhile, Fathallah noted that her collection is simple yet refined compared to other designs.“I worked with different fabrics and colours, and the cuts are different as well,” she said. “You can’t find the same cut in many dresses and I follow very soft and unique colours, it is more like pastel.”