M7 and Printemps Doha announced the launch of the second season of ‘The Collective’ Retail Incubation Programme, aimed to empower and equip emerging designers with the necessary tools and knowledge to develop a successful retail business.

Season 2 sees the expansion of the programme to a diverse cohort of seven Qatar-based and Arab start-up designer brands across categories such as abaya design, menswear, kidswear, footwear, and fashion accessories.

M7 Director Maha Ghanim Al Sulaiti said they are proud to continue their partnership with Printemps Doha in highlighting and supporting rising talents. She said that The Collective embodies their dedication to not only empower designers but give them the necessary resources and dedicated mentorship to become the talents of tomorrow.

The seven designers and brands for The Collective Season 2 are:

  • Tagreed Omer with her namesake evening wear brand, featuring unique hand-painted textile designs with unusual prints and patterns.
  • Jassim Aljaber and Mohammed Alghanim with Vittorio, an elegant and high-end fashion menswear brand.
  • Noof Almulla uses fabric as a captivating tool and stylish medium to complement and mirror individuality in the realm of fashion under her abaya brand, Lin.
  • Alanoud Al-Hedfa, an abaya designer, whose brand Drizzle focuses on timeless, elegant and minimalist pieces.
  • Fatma Al Mohannadi, a sustainability-focused kidswear designer who provides high-quality, eco-friendly clothing that is both stylish and comfortable under her brand NINTH.
  • Maryam Al-Malki and her self-named footwear brand which is brought to life through skilled artisans in Italy.
  • This season also includes a standout regional Moroccan designer Nadia El Ouaoui and her bespoke eyewear brand, REGARD SOMBRE.

Over the course of five months, these designers will be immersed in an intensive coaching curriculum, covering essential aspects of the retail spectrum, including – but not limited to – design and development, production and supply chain, marketing and communication, sales, distribution, and retail management. In addition, one-on-one coaching sessions will also be conducted.

Guiding these aspiring talents is M7’s dedicated team led by Roni Helou, a seasoned fashion designer from M7’s programmes department. The coaching sessions, conducted by industry experts, are designed to provide an in-depth understanding of each facet of the retail journey.

Printemps Doha General Manager Thierry Prevost said they are proud to continue their collaboration with M7. He said that the programme is a testament to their commitment to ‘creating an environment where emerging designers can flourish’.

The culmination of the designers’ journey will see the exclusive capsule collections showcased at a dedicated M7 x Printemps Doha concept store in November 2023.

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