In the Gulf Region, the fashion industry benefits from a cosmopolitan culture, blending rich diversity with entrepreneurship and the desire to do better, often skipping the rocky development stages of more mature markets. Instead, entrepreneurs in the UAE and its neighbouring states are leveraging best practices and creating cutting-edge solutions that do not only galvanise the fashion industry, but bypass many of the pitfalls and learning curves that startups are forced to navigate elsewhere.
As the industry pursues sustainable progress, technology has an important role to play in helping brands and businesses scale solutions and adopt new ways of working. At the latest Vogue Business Fashion Futures event, held at Dubai Design District (d3), we welcomed an array of companies and founders who showcased tools that have the power to transform the region’s sustainability practices.
Among them was a holistic clienteling solution combining blockchain and traceability with inventory management and loyalty tools. Embracing the intersection between fashion and culture, another showcased its ability to enable music artists to create tech-infused products. Together, these businesses demonstrate how technology can support the embrace of continuous innovation in the Middle East, while ensuring that sustainable practices are built into businesses upon inception.
Others illustrate the value of collaboration and recognise the importance of keeping a customer-first focus as business models evolve, especially when it comes to cultural requirements. A production partner shared insights into the local nuances and needs of the Gulf market, empowering brands that strike the balance between modesty and style to scale seamlessly. Meanwhile, a culturally representative content platform that embeds AI-driven efficiencies spotlighted how it aids local content experts and marketing teams to optimise their output. Finally, a premium luggage label shared how it tailors its French trunk heritage for relevancy among the region’s affluent shoppers.
The gallery below provides a virtual tour of the Vogue Business innovation showcase in Dubai and offers a peak at what’s possible in fashion when we embrace new tools and technologies.
