Fashion finery at Souq Fashion launch

Mariel Haenn, Mary Ghobrial & Rob Zangardi

October 17, 2012 (Dubai, UAE) – SOUQ.com, MENA's (Middle East Northern Africa) leading online retailer, launched Souq Fashion last night. The new fashion site provides front row access to trend-leading designers from around the world, not previously available to MENA consumers. There is a focus on ready-to-wear and accessory labels with a strong celebrity following in the US and the UK including DL1961, Paper Crown, For Love and Lemons, Wildfox and more. Souq Fashion is also proud to champion the collections of some of the regions brightest design stars, including a wide selection of highly talented up-and-coming Arabic designers such as Dina JSR, Ronald Abdala, Contessa by Aly Fawaz, Abeer Al Suwaidi and Dima Ayad.

Souq Fashion offers more than 80 designers, in addition to new trends, and online style advice with a targeted demographic of 18-39-year-old women and men.

 “Our goal is to provide regional access to brands and leading trends spotted on the runway and red carpets throughout the world at a variety of affordable price points,” said Mary Ghobrial, CEO of Souq Fashion. “We are also showcasing for the first time key local talent to support the success of Arabic designers.”

The site celebrated this historic launch with a major event last night in Dubai, UAE, honouring celebrity stylists Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn who have partnered with the fashion forward site. They’ll provide styling “how-to” tips and new season trend presentations to SOUQ’s viewership. The stylists, known for dressing A-list celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Gwen Stefani, have earned international praise for their innovative visions. The glamourous evening welcomed Dubai’s most fashionable residents at a glittering party held at the XVA gallery in the DIFC Gate Village. Guests arrived on the red carpet to a barrage of awaiting paparazzi, and moved into the chic XVA gallery where they mingled with celebrity stylists Rob  and Mariel. A few lucky VIPs who had the good fortune to be styled by the pair the day before were also at the party in their styled outfits, which were later explained live at the party by the celebrity dressers. The evening was alive with fashion energy, and Souq Fashion signals the beginning of a new era for fashion in the Middle East.

“As the largest ecommerce platform in the region, with more than 8 million visits per month, we are the only ones at the forefront to launch fashion online in the Middle East,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO of SOUQ.com.