Fashion designers in the Arab world are about to get their own reality TV competition.
Dubai One has announced the launch of "Fashion Star", which will begin airing in February. Featuring 12 aspiring designers, the contestants will create designs under the mentorship of internationally acclaimed Lebanese designer Reem Acra .
The judging panel will include Acra as well as Hanaa Ben Abdesselem, an internationally recognised Tunisian designer and Lancôme ambassador, and Ramzi Tabiaat, creative director of Kuwait online retailer Al Oustoura. A range of top fashion experts will also appear as guest mentors on the show.
"There are a lot of singing competition reality shows in the Arab world and none for fashion, so we wanted to introduce this and see how it goes," the general manager of Dubai One, Sarah Al Jarman said, according to Gulf News .
For this first season, the designers have been pre-selected by the show's producers.
"We were looking for established designers, more than just amateurs." Jarman said, according to The National . "Some of them already have their own lines. This was an opportunity for them to grow and to be challenged. They are from a range of countries, showcasing the designers we have in the region – from the UAE, India, Bahrain and Morocco, for example. They are all young and between the ages of 20 and 30."
"Fashion Star" was formerly an American reality show that launched in 2011 on NBC. The show was short-lived however, and was canceled after just two seasons. Will the concept fair better with an Arab audience?
The show is set to launch on Feb. 3 at 10 p.m. in the UAE. It will be broadcast in Arabic with English subtitles and run for 11 episodes.