20th Edition of the fashion show was held at the Ooredoo Stage at Mall of Qatar in front of 200 specially invited guests and many onlookers

Designs by fashion design students from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) and students from the University’s Richmond campus were warmly received at the “EDGE” fashion show, which was presented by VCUarts Qatar, Qatar Foundation and Mall of Qatar on April 27.

“EDGE”, the University’s 20th Annual Fashion Show, took place at the Ooredoo Stage at Mall of Qatar in front of a crowd of 200 specially invited guests, media, and many onlookers who were visiting the Mall.

The show featured collections from sophomore, junior, and senior students from VCUarts Qatar, as well as three senior students from the University’s Richmond campus.  The designs ranged from “luxe-leisure,” jumpsuits featuring prints developed in collaboration with the Department of Graphic Design, to dresses embellished with messages that challenge the meaning of eveningwear.

The show was designed to support the vision of a uniquely developing fashion design industry in Qatar and to highlight the potential of the University’s graduates in becoming leaders of that movement.

“We hope that this year’s show presents an unexpected and innovative approach to fashion design from a group of energized students who are ready to define the fashion market in Qatar and the region,” said Kimberly Guthrie, the Interim Chair of VCUarts Qatar’s Fashion Design program.

“We were delighted to welcome Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar for their 20th annual fashion show. The talent and creativity showcased by the young designers was incredible and it was an honor to be able to celebrate the success of the students,” said Stuart Elder, CEO, Mall of Qatar.

VCUarts Qatar alumna Maryam Al Darwish, who graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design from VCUarts Qatar in 2015, was the guest designer at the show.

The fashion event was sponsored by the Mall of Qatar, Salam International, HEYA, and partnered with Tajmeel Qatar International Beauty Academy, Trinity Talent Qatar, and MARTIANS.

A number of awards were given on the night. The Salam International Award went to Ayesha Rafiq for her collection titled, “Apocalypse Now.”

The award for Most Outstanding Sophomore (Academic) went to Safa Al-Hadithi
The award for Most Outstanding Sophomore Collection went to E J Pagdangana

The award for Most Outstanding Junior (Academic) went to Roudha A. Al-Mazroei
The award for Most Outstanding Junior Collection went to Jude Zahran
The award for Most Outstanding Senior (Academic) went to Heidi Rashad
The award for Most Outstanding Senior Collection went to Heidi Rashad

The awards for Senior Collection Richmond went to Lama Ali, Yuchen Chen, and Jessica Holt.

Three VCUarts Qatar students will have their collections shown at the home campus annual fashion show titled, “Shimmer” on May 8 in Richmond, Virginia. This year marks the 90th anniversary of VCUarts’ founding, and the 50th anniversary of the school’s fashion show. 2019 is the 20^th anniversary of VCUarts Qatar’s fashion show.

Find out more about VCUarts Qatar at qatar.vcu.edu

About Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar

Established in 1998 through a partnership with Qatar Foundation, VCUarts Qatar is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, a top-ranked art and design program in the U.S.  VCUarts Qatar is celebrating a fruitful 20-year alliance between VCU and the Qatar Foundation that underscores the commitment of each institution to excellence, inquiry, discovery and innovation in a global setting.

VCUarts Qatar offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in fashion design, graphic design, interior design and painting and printmaking, a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design.  A vibrant community with global reach, VCUarts promises to instill in students a lifelong passion for education and the arts.

VCUarts Qatar offers valuable opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and connects VCUarts to the influential art and design world of the Middle East and beyond. The campus attracts renowned contributors to contemporary visual culture for speaking and teaching engagements, and hosts two major international events:  Tasmeem, a biennial art and design conference; and the Hamad bin Khalifa Islamic Art Symposium.

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, research and development, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa