SOLE DXB!

Image of One and Four Studio

Over the years Sole DXB has grown into a three-day annual cultural festival spanning live music, workshops, film screenings, brand activations, contemporary fashion, art installations and the region’s most competitive streetball tournament for men and women. Sole DXB is now a strong figure in the region’s street culture scene, providing a local platform for this global community who shape the future of progressive street culture, at home and abroad. 

We had the pleasure of sending Leila Afghan to the festival to report on how the Regions most exciting festival is celebrating up and coming women in fashion and providing a platform for creatives and women interested in fashion.

This year's theme was the sounds and sights of Jamaica explored through a finely curated music line up, food and talks. Although from a turn of events, it was incredible to see Koffee headline and stand out performances from Rico Nasty, Sevana and Lila Ike. It’s important that festivals like Sole champion female artists and continue to do so through their curation choices. We were also spoilt for choice with talks including Sonjah Stanley Niaah, Vikki Tobak, the incredibly talented Photographer Petra collins and Sharifa Murdock and of course fire Dj sets from Cherelle Chamber, the incredible Mai sisters and Rashida. 

 Dubai plays an important role as the region’s biggest window to the fashion world and it’s especially important that we recognise the growth in the market for women as designers and also consumers. It was great to witness Sole taking this into consideration. We were especially interested the D3 Marketplace featuring up and coming female designers like Tania George, Engy Mahdy founder of One and Four Studio, Azra Dubai and more. 

(Pictured first) Jordanian designer Tania George has a Clothes for a Cause initiative to help women from war-torn countries. Every piece of clothing, or accessory from Tania George holds a little bit of hope, a lot of passion and a glimmer of light for a new fresh start. It’s incredibly positive to see SOLE supporting up and coming female designers.

We rounded up some of our favourite looks and moments from the weekend! Captured by Leila:

Thanks for having us SOLE DXB! We are excited to see what comes next from the festival and we hope to see even more female orientated activations, line ups, designers involved in the next instalment.