Dubai-UAE: 16 May 2020 – Dubai Design District (d3) has joined the Arab Fashion Council on #AThread4Cause to combat COVID-19, with seven partners poised to create thousands of protection gowns and surgical face masks for frontline medical workers.

Dubai’s beating heart of creative design, home to more than 9,000 people and 385 companies, has pledged its support to #AThread4Cause – a campaign calling on UAE-based fashion designers to use their craftsmanship and haute couture flair to make surgical attire for the UAE’s healthcare industry.

Seven business partners with over 50 tailors and pattern makers, will make the medically certified garments. To facilitate logistics, d3 is set to host a unified distribution centre, to store and deliver the protection gowns and surgical masks produced by d3 designers as well as other designers based in the UAE. This will turn the d3 community into a strategic hub for personal protective equipment (PPE) made by luxury brands.

Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director of d3, said: “As the fashion capital of the Middle East, d3 is both humbled and delighted to support #AThread4Cause. With six d3-based designers, we aim to aid the life-saving work of vital medical staff by contributing to the UAE’s stockpile of gowns and facemasks. d3 is well-placed to be able to cater to the needs of the local population, as well as export to the rest of the world, heralded by the strong logistics and infrastructure of Dubai.  This will enable #Athread4cause to quickly receive the PPE carefully produced by highly skilled, luxury fashion designers across the Emirate.

She added: “Attracting and nurturing talent is a thread that binds our community together in line with the vision of the UAE’s leaders to foster knowledge, innovation and creativity. What we have seen today is the value design brings to society and the fact that d3 can collaborate in such a way is testament to the dedication, creative spirit and generosity of our community.”

“The Arab Fashion Council is proud of d3’s remarkable support to #AThread4Cause campaign by joining forces with us and its readiness to strengthen the emergency network of creative force. Due to this uncertain time, the Arab fashion industry has been able to highlight its strong capacity to operate a purely local value chain” said Jacob Abrian, Founder & CEO of the Arab Fashion Council.

Dubai based couture label, Michael Cinco, is among the seven d3 business partners taking part in the initiative. Michael Cinco and his business partner Sayed Ali said in a joint statement: “In exceptional circumstances such as this pandemic, it’s more important than ever to stand together. The future is not bleak, and it’s crucial that we provide people with something to believe in. We need to demonstrate the sense of belonging, community spirit and light that only fashion can bring to our world. We are proud to be part of d3’s response to #AThread4Cause and believe it demonstrates the value of fashion and design in Dubai.”

Yasmine Yeha, founder & creative director of Maison Yeya, who has been instrumental in working on the project since its inception, added: “We are facing an unprecedented situation, and we are all in this together. The UAE has worked extremely hard to address the current situation and the creative community stands ready to support these efforts because it’s our duty to stand united against this challenge.”

Cinco is joined by couture labels, Maison Yeya, and Amato, brainchild of creative designer Furne One are among the seven. Emirati designer Yara Bin Shakar, Egypt’s Marmar Halim, Arab/American designer Zaid Farouki and women’s clothing retailer Si Fashion make up the seven-strong group.

To provide the designers with ample material and to support local suppliers, d3 has established a partnership with a Dubai-based Saudi Arabian fabric manufacturer who will supply over four tonnes of technical fabric to the participating brands.

d3’s participation in #AThread4Cause comes after creatives, cosmetic brands and industry suppliers were called upon to join the Arab Fashion Council’s emergency network and support the community by producing PPE for frontline heroes. The initiative was established by the council’s charitable arm.

Companies that want to enrol in the initiative and contribute positively to the UAE’s efforts to curb coronavirus and protect the vital medical professionals across the country can apply through the Arab Fashion Council’s website.