Design Week opens at Doha Design District

Shop Qatar 2021’s Design Week is open at the Doha Design District at Msheireb, featuring a series of fashion and cultural events, workshops, and more than 30 pop-up shops by local designers, entrepreneurs, and food and beverage outlets.The opening ceremony, in partnership with Instudio, was highlighted by a pink-themed fashion roaming show as part of the breast cancer awareness month.“Shop Qatar is one of the country’s most important retail and fashion festivals, inspiring across design disciplines in Qatar,” said Berthold Trenkel from Qatar Tourism. “Through events such as this, we are able to showcase Qatar and its offerings to newer audiences.”He was joined by Omar al-Jaber, also from Qatar Tourism, and Qatari designer and the District’s manager Shaikha al-Sulaiti at the event.“This year, our partnership with Doha Design District enables us to leverage this superb platform, and enable the sharing of the latest industry trends, with design workshops allowing aspiring artists and entrepreneurs to learn authentic craftsmanship,” Trenkel added.

The festivity, running until October 9, will host a private viewing of New York-based fashion designer Naeem Khan’s exclusive collection on October 8 from 4pm-6pm (reservations can be made by calling 44335588).Khan’s designs will also be showcased at Lagoona Mall on October 7 at 7pm.“We are thrilled to host the Design Week in Doha Design District, the art and creativity hub at Msheireb Downtown Doha," Msheireb Properties acting chief executive engineer Ali al-Kuwari said."It is part of our mission to promote the art and creativity scene in Qatar, offer a creative space for designers and artists to display their latest collections,” he added. “Visitors are welcomed for a whole week to enjoy the event and the workshops which enrich their knowledge and experience.”The event also serves as a platform for more than 20 local entrepreneurs to promote their products, and for local artists and designers to exhibit their work.One of the participating designers is Ghada al-Subaey, a renowned Qatari fashion designer and entrepreneur, who has been part of the fashion and design industry since 2012, and the creator and founder of “The Kayys”, and “1309”.Others include Qatari talents Aisha al-Mohannadi and Kaltham al-Kuwari who founded the Design House Interiors – a full-service interior design firm – which completed more than 300 projects and bagged the UK based International Property Awards for the category of Residential Interior for Arabia – Qatar; Mariam al-Muhannadi’s Lafemm, which was established in 2015 and started with abayas, and “concentrates on elegance and style while presenting femininity with a timeless touch of creativity”; WAAD, an award-winning Qatari fashion designer who created WAAD designs – an abaya brand launched in 2010 with a passion for unique abayas that are easy to wear; and creative fashion designer Maryam al-Darwish, who established her brand (Maryam al-Darwish) in 2015, and won the “Emerging Talent Award” from *Grazia magazine in 2018.According to the organisers, “Presented By”, a UK-based consignment store for sneakers and streetwear, also has a pop-up shop, giving patrons an opportunity to customise purchases.Other participants include Altair, Designed with Love by Noora F, Essentials by Dana, Five Fashion Line, Mono Mi, Pashmeen, Pattern by Wadha, The Fayve, Threadscorner, Volevo, Aldukan, Noor Stationary by Noor Ali Bahzad, INOYsport, Sonali Raman, Renkler, and Local Art by Roda.Doha Design District, in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) and other partners, will be hosting seven workshops: Candle workshop by Candeel on October 3 from 4pm-8pm, denim workshops by VCUarts Qatar on October 4-5 from 4pm-9pm, perfume-making workshops by Francis Hembert (VCUarts Qatar) on October 6-7 from 4pm-9pm, accessories workshop by Instudio on October 8 from 3pm-8pm, and skincare workshop by Instudio on October 9 from 3pm-8pm.Several venues within Msheireb Downtown Doha are taking part in this year’s Shop Qatar, offering residents and visitors unique and curated experiences, organisers said.