The recently concluded 17th annual fashion show of Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar) was attended by many of the region’s most discerning fashion followers.
Titled “Reach”, the three-day event was hosted by Salam Stores at The Gate Mall. 
HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, Doha Film Institute and Reach Out to Asia, attended “Reach” and showed her long-standing support for local and international design. 
The event celebrated the end of another academic year for the students of VCUQatar’s Fashion Design programme by bringing together friends and family, VIPs and fashion enthusiasts from across the region.
The fashion show was opened by Sandra Wilkins, VCUQatar’s chair of Fashion Design, who reminded the students and the audience that “the only way to be successful is to work really hard and reach out”.
The collections by the senior 
students displayed a variety of innovative creations, using unique materials, while the concept of sustainability was explored by the sophomore students’ collections, which concentrated on the zero waste philosophy. The collections by junior students also impressed the audiences, with strong Arabic elements being represented through various Islamic patterns. 
Milan-based fashion designer and VCUQatar fashion show jury member Kristina Spirk, who gave a “Crossing Boundaries” lecture at VCUQatar during the week preceding the fashion show, urged the students to, “Find who you really are, and make this an essence of your development. Who we are is what defines our design and it’s the essence of the story of the creation.” 
Rami al-Ali, whose collections have been worn by the likes of Beyoncé, Aishwarya Rai and Diana Haddad, was the guest designer at the show. 
Meanwhile, a number of awards were given away on the final night of the annual event to “recognise and promote the extraordinary talent” among VCUQatar’s graduates.
These included the Salam Fashion Award and VCUQatar’s Golden Needle Award, among others. 
Thirty-two models displayed the students’ wares at this year’s show, while nearly 100 people worked backstage to ensure its success. 
The proceeds from the event’s ticket sales will be used to support the costs of sending the students on field trips as part of VCUQatar’s socially responsible initiatives.