8 days of fashion-forward activities all under one roof; attractive offerings for everyone
District to provide a platform for cultural exchange & fashion industry dialogue
Shop Qatar today launched its Design District kicking off eight days of attractive entertainment and cultural exchange for all its visitors. Open every day between 3 pm and 10 pm at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), the District brings a colourful showcase of local and international pop-up shops, cafes, fashion shows, workshops, masterclasses as well as engaging design dialogue all under one roof.
Running until Saturday 12 January, the District offers visitors a wide variety of artistic expressions. Design enthusiasts can stay up-to-date with the latest trends at the Fashion Speakers' Corner sessions or daily fashion shows. Other activities include 12 beauty masterclasses and workshops by online-famous make-up artists and more than 60 pop-up shops which will be showcasing unique and varied offerings ranging from professional tailoring to customisable casualwear, from handcrafted clothing and home accessories to makeup.
Mashal Shahbik from Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) commented, “We are very excited to be launching this new concept for the first time in Shop Qatar. Whether you are a fashion enthusiast or you are simply seeking a fun time out, you are invited to experience and enjoy the truly unique line-up of indoor and outdoor activities this District offers." She added, "In each new edition of the festivals we organise in collaboration with public and private sector partners, we are always keen to provide exciting platforms for local entrepreneurs and home-grown talent to meet, learn from and engage with their industry peers from around the world."
2019 Qatar-India Year of Culture
In line with the 2019 Qatar-India Year of Culture, Shop Qatar's Design District will prominently feature Indian culture through the five participating Indian fashion designers. From saris to couture to pret-a-porter beachwear, the latest designs of Raghavendra Rathore, Raw Mango, Tarun Tahiliani, Namrata Joshipura and Wendell Rodricks will grace the Design District's catwalk and visitors can buy their collections at their pop-up stores too. All Indian fashion shows will be ticketed at QAR 200. And, as part of Shop Qatar's entertainment programme, India's Bollywood singer Arjit Singh will take to the QNCC stage on Friday, 18 January to serenade his fans.
Noor Al Thani explained, "India is a key visitor source market for Qatar. Following on Bollywood Week's great success in the 2018 edition of Shop Qatar, we are excited to have Indian culture so prominently represented - whether it is the fashion designers participating or the food outlets - at the Design District providing some of the first platforms for cultural exchange for this special year."
Qatar is the most welcoming country in the region and Indian travelers can visit visa-free. As part of QNTC's efforts to promote Qatar as an attractive destination for Indian travellers, it opened its India representative office in Mumbai in early 2018.
Platforms for Exchange
Shop Qatar Design District's Fashion Speakers' Corner will run sessions where attendees will have a chance to learn about the latest trends shaping the fashion world from both local and international designers. Sessions will be moderated by Qatar's very own Fahd AlObaidli and will be followed by a meet-and-greet with the guest speakers and Q&As.
Platforms for Local Artistic Expression
In a special interactive art installation titled 'Fashion Meets Art' by Qatari artist Fahd AlObaidly, the District's visitors are invited to a 360-degree immersion experience that combines art and fashion.
And, at the Art Avenue, visitors will find prominent local artists Yasser Al Mulla who is known for his sketch drawings, Muna AlBadr known for her canvas paintings and Mariam AlMulla & Radi AlHajri who will share an open space for poetry and art improv expressions.
In addition, Virginia Commonwealth University-Qatar will occupy the largest space at Design District, offering local students an opportunity to share their latest creations, connect with a like-minded community and establish a customer base.
Fashion Shows
The District's Parisian-inspired étoile (star) layout has its six Avenues (Art – Tailors – Fashion – Design– Lifestyle – Beauty) come to meet at the centre stage which doubles as a fashion show catwalk.
20 designers from Paris to Mumbai showcasing their latest Spring/ Summer collections on the Design District's runway. With as many as three fashion shows taking place every day, most are free and seats will be made available on a first-register-first-serve basis. Registration can be done through the Shop Qatar mobile app, Qtickets.com or at the District's registration desk.
Make-up, Hair & Beauty Masterclasses & Workshops
Style-savvy residents and visitors are invited to learn about the newest trends in the world of hair and makeup through a series of masterclasses and free workshops with 12 renowned makeup artists and influencers. Masterclass tickets for QAR 600 and can be purchased on shopqatar.qa, Qtickets.com or at the Design District registration desk.
Follow Shop Qatar Online
To find out more, visit www.shopqatar.qa and follow the dedicated Shop Qatar social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
For further information, please contact QNTC’s Press Office on:
+974 4499 7882 or +974 3392 4466 | pressoffice@visitqatar.qa
About Shop Qatar
Shop Qatar is a month-long festival that celebrates the country’s diverse retail offerings. Held during the winter, the Festival invites residents and visitors to enjoy special experiences at malls, bazaars and in scenic outdoor spaces.
The Festival forms a part of NTC’s strategy to grow and diversify the country’s tourism offering, particularly in the area of family and urban entertainment. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of partners in both the public and private sector, residents and visitors can benefit from special travel, accommodation and retail offers throughout the country.
The first two editions of Shop Qatar, held in 2017 and 2018, contributed an estimated 1.06 and 1.5 billion QAR respectively, to the local economy. #ShopQatar
Find Shop Qatar online
www.visitqatar.qa/calendar
Facebook: QatarCalendar | Instagram: @QatarCalendar | Twitter: @QatarCalendar
About Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC)
Qatar National Tourism Council’s mission is to firmly establish Qatar on the global map as a place where cultural authenticity meets modernity, and where people of the world come together to experience unique offerings in culture, sports, business and family entertainment.
QTC’s work is guided by the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy (QNTSS), which seeks to diversify the country’s tourism offering and increase the sector’s contribution to Qatar’s economy by 2030. In 2017, the Next Chapter of QNTSS was launched, charting the next five years (2018-2023) of the tourism sector’s growth.
In 2018, QNTC launched a global destination campaign under the tagline 'Qatar, Qurated for you.' Curating requires professional or expert knowledge to select, organise and present unique experiences. As such, the Qurated campaign plays on the word's definition and the destination brand's iconic Q to underscore the country's focus on delivering tailored visitor-centric experiences.
Since launching QNTSS, Qatar has welcomed over 10 million visitors. The economic impact of the tourism sector in Qatar is becoming increasingly visible with 2016 estimates showing a total (direct and indirect) contribution to Qatar’s GDP of 6.7%. www.visitqatar.qa
