The Qatar Fashion United by CR Runway took centre stage on Friday, transforming the football pitch of the 974 Stadium into a runway showcasing 21 Qatar-based brands and more than 150 designers from six continents and 50 countries.
A star-studded lineup of performances by renowned musicians, including DJ Jay Psar, Soo Joo Park, Ozuna, The Jerseys with Zakes Bantwini, Nancy Ajram, Kadir Al Sahir, DJ Snake, Cheb Khaleb, and Post Malone, wowed fashion aficionados and football fans.
The biggest fashion show ever was a history-making celebration of fashion, culture and music and was staged two days before the World Cup finals. Over 20,000 people attended the sold-out show including former footballers David Beckham and Ronaldo Nazário.
Qatar Fashion United by CR Runway was conceived by Qatar Museums Chairperson, H E Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, curated by French editor and visionary stylist, Carine Roitfeld, and directed by CR Runway CEO, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld.
Sheikha Mayassa said on the sidelines of the event that the fashion show is “an accumulation of years of hard work, QFU brought together people from all corners of the world, demonstrating the true power of culture — bringing together disciplines of fashion, music, art, heritage and football to connect people and transcend borders.”
“There could have been no better time to celebrate fashion and football than now, in the final days of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and I am so proud of all we have achieved - especially the Qatari and regional designers whose creativity and talent will lead the way for the future of fashion in the region.”
Maha Ghanim Al Sulaiti, Director of M7 and spokesperson for M7 and Qatar Creates, told The Peninsula that the event is a one-time experimental project that never happened before in the world. She also likened fashion to football. “It unites the world and different cultures – it’s a language people understand.”
“Fashion plays an important role in culture and sports, we see a lot of sports players or athletes are really engaged in fashion as well, it’s kind of a self-expression, your clothes express your culture, who you are and how you want to identify yourself, and there’s a clear connection in the sports world – there’s a lot of advancements in terms of fashionable wear for sports, not just wearing it for performance but also something that looks good as well.”
More than just a glamorous event, the fashion show has a deeper cause where all proceeds will go to Education Above All, a non-profit organisation that provides educational opportunities, with a special commitment to communities facing poverty and crisis.
AlJazi Hasan, International Engagement Manager of Education Above All, revealed to The Peninsula that the proceeds will be going to their several projects around the world and countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Myanmar, Zanzibar, Mali for primary education.
“There’s about 60 million out-of-school children in the world and this is only part of the projects we have. The proceeds will also go to secondary education in Gaza, Afghanistan – and this is the allocation we have so far.”
The epic fashion show and cultural gathering featured four runway presentations: Pearl Diving Performance which spotlighted Qatar’s traditional practices of pearl diving; Opening Act with national ambassadors representing the 32 countries qualified for the World Cup, all sporting customised jersey. One notable model is a physically challenged kid on a wheelchair, proving that fashion is for all.
Followed by Fashion World Tour – a grand celebration of exceptional works from designers from six continents; and A Night in Qatar and Final where haute couture and eveningwear created exclusively by international designers and brands for the event were presented. A performance by Post Malone was followed and a grand fireworks display concluded the event.
The Qatar Fashion United by CR Runway is the last event at 974 Stadium before it will be dismantled.
