By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter


The annual fashion show organised by Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCU-Q) welcomed yesterday French couturier Stéphane Rolland who presented some his haute couture designs on the ramp.
Titled ‘Thread,’ the three-day event being held at Salam, The Gate Mall, showcases the work of VCU-Q fashion design sophomores, juniors and senior students.
The grand couturier showcased a number of designs from his children’s, junior and senior collections which received loud applauses from the audience attending the second day’s show.
Rolland was nominated for the prestigious Molierre awards in 2006 and 2007, and became an official partner of the Cannes film festival for five years. He has dressed international stars such as Beyonce and Lady Gaga as well as royal family members and diplomats for the most important moments of their careers.
The senior collection is an eclectic mix of day to evening looks that reflect the individual aesthetic of each student. Tamader al-Sultan, Kinda Morshed, Malia Bennett Henry, Aisha al-Suwaidi, Maryam al-Darwish, Dylon Adonis, Marwa al-Said, and Soraya Teschner are the seniors.
‘Thread’ also presents a lineup of unique and individual creative looks that VCU-Q students have researched, experimented with, and now present for the audience in Qatar.
In addition, the show features the collections of three student guest designers from the VCU campus in Richmond, Virginia.
Sandra Wilkins, chair, fashion designer, said ‘Thread’ binds together the community of student designers.
“No matter how competitive we are, we are still a family. It is simply a about personal taste, following trends and interpretation to give everyone something relevant,” she pointed out. “Thread is the primary component of weaving, knitting, crochet and surface embroidery and essential to creating a cohesive collection.”
Issa AbdulsalamAbu Issa, chairman and CEO of Salam International, said show has firmly secured a place of expectation and interest in Qatar.
“When a fashion-related event is looked to in a busy community and people await it staging, that anticipation and excitement signified the strength of the event’s past success and future promise,” he noted.
A ticket to the show costs QR50 and all proceeds will be used to support the costs of sending VCU-Q students on a Reach Out to Asia service trip to Bayat Vocational School in the Klaten region of Indonesia.
During the trip, the delegate will teach and share their knowledge on art, design and crafts to students of Bayat. Through this programme, the beneficiaries will be able to use their new skills to launch a sustainable career.