MDX Icon Show 2024 Wows World-Famous Judges

The Middlesex University (MDX) Dubai Icon Studio wowed audiences with the second edition of the MDX Icon Show on Saturday 18 May 2024. Organised by the university’s fashion department, the show provided a platform for 17 talented designers to showcase their cutting edge collections, offering them invaluable exposure to Dubai’s fashion elite.

VIP guests and judging panelists Michael Cinco, Ezra Santos and Yaser Albeer evaluated the students based on their concepts, aesthetics and technical skill. Michael Cinco is known for dressing international celebrities like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez, while Ezra Santos gained international recognition for his intricate designs, and was recently revealed as the designer of H.H. Sheikha Mahra’s wedding dress. Joining them on the panel was Yaser Albeer, Founder of The Designers Hub DXB and Creative Director of Yaser & Mayasa Textiles: the sponsor of this year’s prize.

Karin Mahmoudzadeh emerged as the evening's top designer with her winning collection ‘Mohajer’, inspired by Middle Eastern culture and her passion for music. She explains, “Music and fashion have a symbiotic relationship. Fashion often reflects the music people love, creating a unique cultural expression. I create a customised playlist for each collection to help me visualise the story and the general message I am trying to portray. I also like to draw inspiration from Middle Eastern culture, specifically Iranian and Kurdish culture. The Middle East has so much beauty to offer that is often overlooked.”

Tanya Saldanha’s collection, ‘The Curation’, came in second place. Meant to reflect the spontaneity that lies at the heart of artistic expression, her pieces embrace the beauty found in the abstract.

As the winner of the event, Mahmoudzadeh will receive materials and fabric from Yaser & Mayasa Textiles for future design projects, and gain access to Masterclasses from The Designers Hub DXB. The Designers Hub DXB is an initiative to support designers and fashion enthusiasts forge a career in the industry through masterclasses, workshops and conferences.

Vaishali Raj Sharma, Campus Programme Coordinator – BA Honours Fashion Design, commented: “Without a doubt, we witnessed the launch of 17 extremely talented designers during the Icon Show 2024. Each one of them has put their best foot forward, showcasing innovative techniques, mesmerising silhouettes, and a unique perspective on garment designs. The Dubai fashion scene, and indeed the world fashion scene, should keep their eye on the collections showcased on this catwalk; this is the future! Each designer should be incredibly proud of their achievements, and we look forward to watching their onward successes.”

Middlesex University Dubai is changing its BA Hons Fashion Design programme for the September 2024 intake, introducing more technical and digital elements into the design process. The programme- BA Hons Fashion-is now accepting applications for September 2024. Details are available here https://mdx.ac.ae/courses/undergraduate/ba-honours-fashion