Dubai Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2026 edition continued its vibrant run on Tuesday evening, with an eclectic mix of designers from across the world presenting collections that fused heritage, craftsmanship and bold storytelling.
Co-founded by Dubai Design District (d3), part of TECOM Group PJSC, and the Arab Fashion Council, the event is widely regarded as the region’s definitive fashion platform. Running until 6 September, it has drawn international attention for placing Dubai at the centre of the global style calendar.
Emerging voices and bold perspectives
Day two opened with FLTRD, which set the tone with its showcase “Brings Bold Voices and New Perspectives to Dubai Fashion Week.” Featuring collections by ARAD and I AM, the platform reaffirmed its mission to spotlight creativity and self-expression while nurturing emerging talent in the Middle East.
Latin American storytelling
Latin American influence arrived through Erick Bendaña’s couture collection The Sun and The Moon. The show explored light and shadow, masculinity and femininity, through radiant golden gowns and ethereal silver designs. Embellished with celestial motifs and cultural touches from Nicaragua, the presentation evoked both ceremony and myth. Jewellery designed in collaboration with Panamanian jeweller Michelle Ferrer added further dimension to the cosmic theme.
Indian debut and architectural elegance
Indian label Fioletowy Studio marked its Dubai debut with Elevation, a collection inspired by staircases as metaphors for resilience and transformation. With supermodel and actress Lisa Haydon closing as showstopper, the collection emphasised artisanal craftsmanship, layered tailoring and cascading ruffles. Sustainability and storytelling were central to the 30-look presentation.
European grandeur and precision
Dutch couture house Chic & Holland unveiled 300 Hours, highlighting the painstaking detail behind each gown. Precision-cut crystals, corsetry and silhouettes inspired by European royalty brought baroque glamour to the runway. Founder Faiza Talat described the collection as a celebration of strength and softness in equal measure.
A poetic dialogue in couture
Maison Novague closed the evening with L’Écriture du Corps, a collection defined by sculpted forms and painterly hues of ivory, gold and midnight navy. Designer Fariba Pourkhajani sought to honour femininity with timeless elegance, blending quiet confidence with striking contrasts of structure and fluidity.
Italian design spotlight
Alongside runway showcases, the Italian Trade Agency and Level Shoes hosted an exhibition dedicated to Italian craftsmanship. Italian designers including Valentina Poltronieri, Le Twins and Gil Santucci are also set to take the stage, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global hub for design exchange.
Strategic partnerships
The event’s scale has been supported by partnerships with Dyson, Kiko Milano, Waldorf Astoria and Meta, alongside production support from Electra and Magnum. Fiji Water, Grow Healthy Food and Etcetera are among other contributors.
With five more days of showcases ahead, organisers say Dubai Fashion Week aims to strengthen its position as a platform where creativity, culture and commerce converge.
