Dubai & Moduse conquering the world fashion stage

Dubai is a city increasingly on the radar of the international fashion industry — a proudly Arab fashion capital with a high expatriate population.  Dubai plans to become a global fashion platform. An eclectic mix of designers and a line-up of off-runway events will help to catch the global industry’s attention. Let’s have a quick look on how Dubai has conquered the world fashion stage and at Moduse — a fashion-tech brand with a mobile and an online magazine set to launch in early November.

On 23 April 2015, H.E. Cav. Mario Boselli, the Honorary President of the Camera Italiana Della Moda (National Chamber of Italian Fashion), organizes Milan Fashion Week and the Arab Fashion Council. Mario Boselli stated during the announcement press conference,” Arab Fashion Week is the new landmark of the Fashion Industry and to be on the Calendar alongside New York, London, Milan & Paris.”

The first edition of the Arab Fashion Week (AFW) was held in Dubai from 31 October to 2 November 2015 in the presence of the industry’s heavy names.

Dubai Fashion Week has stepped into the spotlight since its inception. It all kicked off in 2015 with the first Arab Fashion Week, which was a major turning point for fashion in the region. Can you believe how far it’s come? Fast forward to February 2023, when Arab Fashion Week transformed into Dubai Fashion Week, aligning itself with global fashion calendars. This was a game-changer, making it easier for designers to showcase their work on an international stage.

There is another fashion event in Dubai which has been popular for 9 years already. It is International Fashion Week Dubai (IFWD). Presently International Fashion Week is held twice a year in Dubai, Paris, Milan featuring Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter collections. The brand will soon be launched in new destinations such as London, New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Mumbai, Goa, Beirut, Lisbon, Barcelona and Cairo.

The concept of IFWD is to bring top local and international designers from all over the world under one platform to showcase their talents to the global market. IFW is bringing diversity in the segment and promoting technology, business and fashion together.

Since its launch in 2015, IFWD is a platform for more than 80 countries & 500 fashion designers to participate in international fashion week Dubai.  

The Fashion Week features Fashion Shows, Exhibitions, International Fashion Awards and the Emerging Designers competition. Top models from different nationalities catwalk designers wear on the runway. International Fashion Week Dubai is the only fashion week in Dubai which has taken various initiatives, such as the “International Fashion Awards”, Awarding deserving designers and fashionista’s to encourage and motivate them. Furthermore, “Emerging Designers Competition” Supports emerging talent by involving them in the competition. 

IFWD receives support from various local and International Media, Influencers and Bloggers. One of them is Moduse – a fashion-tech brand with a mobile and an online magazine. The Moduse app is designed to transform the online shopping experience for fashion enthusiasts while providing a platform for stylists and brands to promote their work. It features a catalog of partner clothing items and an intuitive tool for creating stylish outfits. Users can share their looks on a public feed, where others can discover and shop their favorite styles through links to partner stores. Farfetch, Stuart Weitzman, and Scarosso are the first partners of Moduse. In the app, you can explore curated outfits from Moduse stylists, digitize your own wardrobes, and use the outfit-creation tool to find perfect matches between your existing wardrobe and catalog items, making smarter shopping choices. The app also allows you to receive feedback and recommendations from the Moduse community.

1. Tell us a few words about yourself and your idea of online shopping and wardrobe. 

I’m Olesia Kostieieva, the founder of Moduse. As a fashion enthusiast with a background in technology and management, I started Moduse to address a personal challenge. Despite my love for self-expression through fashion, I often struggled to style myself and make my wardrobe functional. Like many others, I faced the familiar problem of “piles of clothes but nothing to wear.” Finding professional styling help was difficult, and every time I found inspiration on Pinterest, I wondered, “Where can I buy these clothes or something similar?” That’s when I decided to create Moduse—to make shopping and styling easier, helping people like me explore and enhance their style.

2. Where do you see your brand and yourself after 5 years?

In five years I see Moduse as a global fashion community where people exchange ideas, feedback, and shopping recommendations. The platform by then will have to integrate AI solutions, making the styling and shopping experience almost effortless. The Moduse brand will be well-established, recognized for its commitment to supporting the community, providing valuable tools, and offering expert guidance.

3. What is your inspiration to continue positively for your brand and yourself?

My inspiration comes from the beauty of the world and the desire for self-expression within it. I believe the fashion community has immense potential for creativity, exchange of ideas and mutual help and support, but it’s hindered by fragmentation and the inaccessibility of services for many people. I believe that Moduse can bring significant value by bridging these gaps and creating a more inclusive and connected fashion ecosystem.

4. Brief us about your future plans?

We’re planning to launch Moduse.com online magazine, continue developing our mobile application including expanding partners network and introducing more interactive features like stories, stylist feedback. 

With the help of my incredible team, the concept has evolved into an app that offers digitized wardrobes, community engagement, and educational content. Our upcoming online magazine, Moduse.com, will further expand this vision by uniting fashion enthusiasts, experts, and creators into a thriving community.