The Islamic Fashion and Design Council (IFDC) announced its collaborative partnership with the 2015 International Textile Fair (ITF). The partnership was formed through IFDC and ITF’s mutual support and admiration of the Islamic and modest fashion sectors, which have been allocated a unique and dedicated platform at this year’s textile fair in Dubai.

For the duration of the fair, a Modest Trends section will feature informative hijab tutorials, a designer showcase of 2016 Spring/Summer iFash ensembles, and the opportunity for ITF attendees to engage with IFDC representatives on iFash™ (IFDC’s coined term for “Islamic Fashion”) trends.

Islamic Fashion and Design Council (IFDC) Founder and Chairwoman, Alia Khan said that they are pleased to partner with ITF and produce the Modest Fashion Area for the fair. This will include vibrant exhibits, fun and interactive tutorials, a lively panel discussion, and more. There will be something for everyone.

One of the fundamental objectives of IFDC, Khan explained, is to support Islamic/modest fashion and design, and of course, the designers, stylists, artists, working toward the demands of this multi billion-dollar market. To do this, IFDC actively seeks to undertake initiatives that would support and provide positive exposure and added revenue streams for these stakeholders, which include fabric suppliers and textile developers.

If the Islamic fashion designers and fabric suppliers collaborated to cater to the overwhelming demand of the $484 billion Islamic fashion market, they could put a serious dent in their respective potential. IFDC is focused on making this happen as they work toward creating and supporting effective initiatives between these industry players, said Khan.

Together with ITF, IFDC has invited a number of iFash™ designers to display pieces from their 2016 Spring/Summer collections in a showcase within ITF’s Modest Trends Area. IFDC will also present a number of hijab tutorials each day of the fair, where attendees can get creative inspiration on hijab styling by some of the region’s trendiest stylists and bloggers. Both the showcase and tutorials will highlight the use of different fabrics in Islamic fashion, and what a difference fabric texture, color, print, and quality along with creativity can make!

Fabric plays a bigger role in Islamic fashion than one often considers. In some cases, the sole inspiration for the Muslim consumer’s purchase choice is based on fabric and how it is draped to achieve the perfect modest or iFash™ look.

The International Textile Fair is an important platform where they all can get inspired – it’s truly a space where creativity knows no bounds. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Islamic Fashion and Design Council representatives at both the Modest Trends area and the IFDC booth, situated alongside the Modest Trends Area.

In addition to the showcase and tutorials, IFDC will also present and host a panel discussion on 26 April at the ITF at 16:30. The topic of the discussion will be: Artistic Flow Begins Here – A Look at Creativity in Modest Fashion Through Textiles.

The discussion will explore how iFash designers select and use different fabrics and accessories for their designs and creativity, what end-users gain from these choices, the psychological influences that the texture, tone and colour of fabrics have on the end-users.

ITF 2015 would bring together over 200 exhibitors from Italy, Portugal, Turkey, India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and other international markets.

UAE is the world’s fourth largest trading centre of fashion and apparel, with the presence of about 150 apparel manufacturing companies that account for about 5.5 per cent of the world’s annual textile and clothing sales.

ITF will run from 10:00 until 18:00 on 26 April and 27 April 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.