In another edition of glitz and glamour, the second Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Doha brought together a galaxy of emerging and established fashion designers from the region and Qatar.
For the first time featuring at least three fresh graduates from Qatar, the MBFWD second edition provided a platform for emerging local talent to showcase their prowess to an international audience.  
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Doha selected young emerging designers who had recently graduated with fashion lines based in Qatar. Noor al-Mannai, Malia Bennet Henry and Amina al-Malki showcased their collections which were sponsored by McNair Chambers.
Mahnoor Ansari, who earlier this year won three awards at Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar (VCU-Q) fashion show ‘Reach’, was also selected to showcase her work at the three-day MBFWD fashion extravaganza that recently concluded at Shangri-La hotel.
Like its previous edition, the show received a large multi-cultural audience on all three days with fashionistas swarming the MBFWD ramp.
“The second Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Doha exceeded our expectations and enhanced the position of the event among the fashion lovers and fans in Qatar. This event reflects Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles and Mercedes-Benz commitment in supporting arts, culture and beauty,” said Khaled Sha’aban, General Manager of NBK Automobiles, the exclusive dealer of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar. 
“We will continue to support such community celebrations, in collaboration with our valued partners, we thank all designers and models who fascinated the audiences with their design and beauty and look forward to meet again in the coming edition,” the GM added.
The second edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Doha had over 20 designers participating from around the world including some world known brands. The show opened with some premier designers from Qatar and other countries in the region presenting their collection.
These included Meriem Belkhayat (Morocco), Saher Dia (Lebanon), Gazal Mishra (India), Noor al-Mannai (Qatar), Jana (Qatar), AlMotahajiba (Qatar), Frames.Fashion (Qatar), and the finale by Kristina Fidelskaya from United Arab Emirates.
Considered to be one of the most celebrated Kaftan designers in Morocco and the Arab World, Meriem Belkhayat’s exquisite designs are masterpieces that embody Moroccan authenticity and elegance.
Meriem Belkhayat was born into a family of artists; her father is a famous singer and her mother is a Kaftan designer. Her mother’s atelier used to be in the family home, and Meriem found it hard to imagine her future “without needles, scissors, colours and all things related to fashion.”
Meriem Belkhayat Atelier has dressed many Moroccan and Arab celebrities and royalty, which has brought much attention to the brand.
The brand was founded by self-taught fashion designer, Saadia, who started by sewing for her friends and sisters simple dresses until she made a discrete entrance to the world of the Kaftan.
With a team of over 30 artisans, she developed a ready to wear line of both Jellaba and Kaftan that she later exposed in her boutique in downtown Casablanca. Her designs are known to be simple yet elegant. 
Saher Dia is a Lebanese fashion designer born in Abu Dhabi and established his atelier in 1997. His start into fashion commenced at a young age. His inspiration then and until today is the “beauty and femininity of women.” Dia’s passion and approach are expressed in classic and elegant designs that define his style.
The premier project of Alsiddiqi Holding, Almotahajiba is an upscale, luxury fashion brand for abayas, jalabiyas, and sheilas. With its start in Souq Waqif, it soon went on to produce classic and elegant garments for the modern day woman to wear. With more than thirty-six branches operating across the MENA region, Almotahajiba is now one of the best known names in the fashion world. Devoted to dressing the modern day Arab woman without them having to compromise their identity, Almotahajiba promises stylish, classy, and beautiful conservative fashions.
The day was closed by Kristina Fidelskaya who is a contemporary luxury fashion brand spearheaded by, designer Kristina Fidelskaya. With its headquarters in Dubai and production in Italy, the brand currently features a range of luxurious designer pieces with plans of expanding to a full collection of ready-to-wear, jewellery and accessories.
“The MBFWD is getting grander. This year we had more designers and the show was spread over three days. A majority of our models had come from abroad, especially from Milan (Italy) and the designers represented the entire region along with emerging Qatari talent,” Rahat Mansoor, the Director of MBFWD, told Community.
The second day of the show showcased the designs of Lamaz (Saudi Arabia), Keren Millen, Milly, Pinko, Sckali (Qatar), Malia Bennet Henry (Qatar) and Samant Chuhan from India.
The show concluded with the designs from Fahad Hussayn (Pakistan), Kara (UAE), Salma Musab (Kuwait), Yousef Akbar (Australia), Mahnoor Ansari (Qatar), Invee (Turkey), and Shaima Royal (Bahrain) with a grand finale by Sakba Mohammad Hamada from Kuwait.
Hamada, a young vibrant entrepreneur-cum-designer, founded his own company in the middle of 2013 in niche of Kuwait market. His passion for fashion and experience in the art of application of designs and aesthetics are the backbone of Sakba-Kuwait. A well-planned strategy, awareness of customer tastes and efficiency to predict the future trends are the strengths that lead him to success.
The brand, he says, is creating reality. The brand name presents the real meaning of elegance. All women’s fashion dreams come true with Sakba. Inspiring fashion brand with the standards of courage, loyalty and quality quickly made a clear identity in Middle East.
Salma Musab, also from Kuwait, reflects the beauty of the Middle-Eastern arts, by blending tradition with modernity. Salma works with fine delicate materials and embroideries.
The event received the sponsorship and support of Shangri-La Hotel Doha as Official Hotel Partner, Etihad Airways as Official Airline Partner, The Luxury Network as Strategic Partner, and Makeup District & Nazih as Official Beauty Partners. Media Partners included Fashion TV, Jamila, Hayat Jamila, Harayar and Ohlala.