W Doha Hotel & Residences and VCUQ Fashion Award winner announced

April 18, 2015, Doha – Qatar: W Doha Hotel & Residences and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar declared Maryam Al Darwish as the fifth recipient of the “W Doha and VCUQ Fashion Award”. The announcement was made during the 16th Annual VCUQ Fashion Show held on Thursday, April 16th at Salam, The Gate Mall.

As part of W Doha’s commitment to supporting emerging local talents across arts, fashion and music, the winner would be given the unique opportunity to showcase her collection to esteemed VIPs and guests in a fashion show sponsored by the hotel. “This year was the toughest for us so far. The graduate students’ collections were truly impressive and we would like to congratulate not just everyone who participated, but the mentors as well who honed these bright young minds to be the fashion designers they are today,” said Safak Guvenc, Area Manager of Qatar and General Manager for W Doha Hotel & Residences, who was part of the panel of judges that decided the winner. 

The show dubbed “Thread” also featured works of VCUQ’s fashion design sophomores, juniors and seniors. In addition, the event welcomed three student guest designers from the VCU campus in Richmond, Virginia. As an added inspiration for the budding designers, world-renowned grand couturier Stéphane Rolland was invited to take over the runway and share his latest collection. 

Ticket proceeds would be used to support the costs of sending VCUQ students on a Reach Out to Asia service trip to Bayat Vocational School in the Klaten region of Indonesia. During the trip, students would provide vital instruction in art, design and crafts to the students of Bayat, enabling them to use their new skills to launch a sustainable career.