Three winners of the ninth Swarovski Young Designers Awards were declared last night on the final day of The Bride Show Dubai.

Helen O’Connor walked away with first place in the amateur category for her wedding dress featuring broad crystal encrusted shoulders with unique decorative branches.

O’Connor, a South African who lives in Dubai, beat off the competition from nine other contestants, all of whom reside in the UAE, but hail from around the world, from Sudan to Sri Lanka. 

The student finalists waited in anticipation as Ayesha Chaudhary was called to the front for her cream backless gown, with translucent gauze covering the midriff.  Studying at the Centre for Executive Education (CEE), Chaudhary was short-listed from 10 finalists from five fashion institutes in Dubai.

Finally, Joseph Lalongisip from the Philippines took to the stage at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre when he was announced the winner in the innovation category, judged solely from all contestants’ innovative use of Swarovski crystals. 

His intricately made wedding dress featured over 1,000 Swarovski crystals and included a chiffon parasol as a modern day veil.

The finalists’ designs have been on display during The Bride Show Dubai, alongside more than 400 exhibitors from 13 countries from the fashion, beauty and travel industries.

The awards came to an exciting culmination when each design, made by both amateur and student fashion designers, was professionally modeled on the catwalk.  A panel of esteemed judges from the Middle East fashion industry examined the wedding dresses in terms of design, technique and innovative use of Swarovski elements. 

The Bride Show Dubai, organised by IIR Middle East, ran from April 23 to 26 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. 

The four-day event included fashion shows from renowned names such as Manish Malhotra, Amato, Ghanati Couture, Julea Domani, Tijan Trading and Rahmanian Haute Couture as well as high end shopping for brides-to-be and their families. – TradeArabia News Service