Asian, Gulf style on display at Dubai fashion week

By Martina Fuchs

DUBAI (Reuters Life!) - Designers from around the world will display their work this week in the Gulf Arab city of Dubai, which is making a bid to place itself on the international fashion map.

"It's my fifth season, I love coming to Dubai. I love the diversity of Dubai and it's still young. In a couple of seasons it's going to be very international," Troy Costa, a Mumbai-based designer who created his menswear label in 2007, told Reuters at the show fittings.

"For every fashion week to get on the international road map it will need a good 10, 12 seasons. Dubai is only in its sixth season, but it's definitely going to happen," said Costa, who has designed clothes for top Bollywood film stars.

His Cuban-inspired spring/summer 2010 suits collection 'Un dia en Habana' featured distressed denim, Prince of Wales checks, with a touch of Bohemian styling and moccasins.

The fabrics use waxing techniques, enzyme treatments, crushing and blotching.

"I believe Salsa is the only masculine dance form. Salsa is the medium. That is why I have designed it for the international travel trend. The colors are very masculine," Costa said.

"It's young, something men will want to do in the future, mix and match."

Dubai made a name for itself from lavish projects such as man-made islands in the shape of a palm, hotels for the super-rich and immense shopping malls but has taken a hit during the financial crisis. Now many projects are on hold.