QSF Puts a Spotlight on Local Designers with Heya the Summer Edition

For Immediate Release

8 August 2017

QSF puts a spotlight on local designers with ‘Heya – The Summer Edition’

Pop-up shops at Mall of Qatar to showcase modest fashion designs starting August 25th

Qatar Summer Festival (QSF) organisers have announced a collaboration with Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition to roll out Heya – The Summer Edition, a mall-based version of the popular exhibition, as part of the festival’s exciting retail offering.

Starting August 25th and up until the end of QSF (5 September 2017), local designers will showcase their latest abaya and Arabian fashion creations at pop-up shops spread across Mall of Qatar. Up to twenty designers will feature at the pop-up shops on two rotations with the first group exhibiting between August 25th and 29th; the second group will follow between August 30th and September 5th. Fashion enthusiasts and shoppers will be treated to an eclectic mix of contemporary modest fashion, including abayas, kaftans, jalabiyas, haute couture gowns and accessories.

Mashal Shahbik, Director of Tourism Events and Festivals at Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said, “We are very pleased to be partnering with Design Creationz to bring this new and unique feature to QSF. As Qatar’s shopping scene continues to grow, bringing a sampling of Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition to shoppers at QSF allows local entrepreneurs to benefit from the high footfall at Qatar’s malls, while providing visitors with an authentic Qatari experience during QSF.”

The exponential growth of the Islamic fashion market places the Heya exhibition at the forefront of fashion spending trends relevant to this region. According to the State of the Global Islamic Economy report (2016), it is projected to be worth $368 billion by 2021.

Ahmed Al Obaidly, Director of Exhibitions at QTA said, “Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition has steadily grown to be the hallmark business-to-consumer exhibition that promotes expressions of our Arab heritage. Taking a sampling of it beyond the traditional event halls at DECC to one of Doha’s newest retail and entertainment destinations comes as part of our efforts to stimulate consumer interest in the upcoming 12th edition of the exhibition planned for October later this year.”

Heya – The Summer Edition is being delivered by Design Creationz, organiser of Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition, Qatar’s longest running bi-annual fashion event.

Esraa Abel, spokesperson at Design Creationz said, “we are pleased to see local Heya participants return to take part in this special summer edition. All participants have signed up to be part of the upcoming 12th edition.”

The Heya – The Summer Edition pop-up shops form part of QSF’s exciting retail offering. Throughout the festival, retailers at participating malls are offering attractive shopping discounts that reach up to 50%. And, for every QAR 200 spent at any of the pop-up shops or participating outlets in these malls, shoppers can enter the mega raffle draw to be held on the final day of QSF (5th September) and have a chance to win one of 10 exciting cash prizes or a super luxury car.

Other malls participating in the Festival include Al Khor Mall, Doha Festival City, The Mall, Gulf Mall, Lagoona Mall and Landmark Mall.

QTA regularly ensures Qatar’s nation-wide festivals offer their platform for small local business and entrepreneurs to reach wider audiences. The Shop Qatar and Qatar International Food Festival festivals held earlier this year were designed with entrepreneurs in mind, each featuring dozens of local designers and food and beverage entrepreneurs, who provided an authentically Qatari experience to residents and visitors.

Held under the theme “Colour Your Summer”, QSF is a nationwide festival that celebrates the country’s family entertainment, retail and hospitality offerings. In its fourth edition, this year’s QSF stretches from Eid Al Fitr through to Eid Al Adha.

To stay up to date with QSF activities can follow the Qatar Events Calendar’s dedicated social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram (@QatarCalendar), Facebook (Facebook.com/QatarCalendar) and Snapchat (QatarCalendar).

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About Qatar Summer Festival (QSF)

Qatar Summer Festival (QSF) is a nation-wide festival that celebrates the country’s family entertainment, retail and hospitality offerings. Spanning more than two months during summer, the Festival invites visitors to colour their summer with attractive travel and hospitality packages to enjoy a wide variety of activities and cultural events across Qatar.

QSF forms part of QTA’s strategy to enrich and diversify the country’s tourism offering, particularly in the area of family and urban entertainment. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of partners in both the public and private sector, it has grown since its first edition in 2014 to become the longest-running event in Qatar’s growing calendar of annual festivals and events.

www.visitQatar.qa/calendar

Twitter and Instagram: @QatarCalendar

Facebook: Facebook.com/QatarCalendar

Snapchat: QatarCalendar

#QSF2017

For further information, please contact QTA’s Press Office on:

+974 4499 7882

+974 3392 4466

For more information on Heya, please contact Design Creationz:

Please call: +974 7097 4990

Or email: