Qatar Chamber Board Member and Chairperson of the Qatari Businesswomen Forum, Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani (third right), inaugurates the six-day 6th Merwad Exhibition at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), yesterday.
Qatari businesswomen and other foreign abaya designers participating at the sixth edition of Merwad Exhibition which opened at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) yesterday are upbeat about the growing abaya industry.
The six-day event, which was inaugurated by Qatar Chamber (QC) Board Member and Chairperson of the Qatari Businesswomen Forum Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, features the works of 135 Qatari businesswomen and several designers from the GCC states, Lebanon, Turkey and India. A total of 150 booths are showcasing the latest innovations in the field of fashion for fall-winter 2021, in addition to a variety of women’s supplies and accessories.
Globally, the market for Islamic clothing is projected to grow to $402bn by 2024, with a significant potential to take a much larger slice of the $2.5 trillion global apparel market, according to the Global Islamic Economy Report.
In Qatar, the market sentiment for the abaya fashion industry is equally positive. Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the expo, Al Ahmadani said neither the COVID-19 pandemic nor the previous blockade has deterred the abaya designers from moving forward.
She said: “Obstacles happen. But I found that these obstacles always bring more motivation and greater opportunities. And people even work harder and better, and invent new ideas. We can see from the pandemic how many new ideas came out especially through the youth and women.
“Through this exhibition, we can see how the economy is progressing in all sectors. And this is a very important sector worldwide. Women are really motivated and they work very hard. And I’m impressed with what I see every edition. It’s beautiful to introduce the designers to the market here and all over the world. We at Qatar Chamber, through the Qatar Businesswomen Forum, encourage and support all businesses, especially the ones by women and the youth,” Al Ahmadani added.
She also reiterated that the ongoing expo, which is sponsored by the QC and supported by the Qatari Businesswomen Forum, reflects the innovations of Qatari designers in the field of fashion and women’s supplies. She added that the expo’s previous editions presented a large variety of high-end Arab fashion and luxurious abayas, while the new edition also presents innovations that show the developments in the sector.
Al Ahmadani went on to reiterate the Chamber’s concern to support exhibitions held by Qatari businesswomen to help them promote their products, and stressed the Qatari Businesswomen Forum’s role in supporting businesswomen and stimulating them to maximise their contribution in the economic activity.
“I think the expo will be full. Everybody has been waiting and looking forward to it. And people have been talking about this from three months ago. It will be an enjoyable platform for the women to explore designs and network,” Al Ahmadani added, as she praised the innovations of the Qatari designers, and noted that the large Arab and foreign participation in the expo reflects the increasing development of the expo.
Earlier, Al Ahmadani was joined by the Director of Vouge Event Company Tamader Al Marri, and other leading Qatari businesswomen in touring the various pavilions at the expo.
During the event, Al Marri also reiterated the growing number of participating companies at Merwad Exhibition. She went on to thank the QC for sponsoring the event and the Qatari Businesswomen Forum for providing its support, which emphasised the key role played by the Forum in supporting the Qatari women and enhancing the role of businesswomen and entrepreneurs in the country’s economy.
