In an exclusive interview – International Producer, Investor, and Founder of World Fashion Week Dubai Svetlana Verina – talks to Aakanksha Naval-Shetye about shaping the world of beauty, influence, and opportunity and reveals her strengths through a successful journey marked by determination and unwavering resilience
Founder of World Fashion Week Dubai and the international alliance World Fashion Union, Svetlana Verina is a visionary entrepreneur and producer with a global mindset and refined aesthetic sense. Showcasing brands at the Cannes Film Festival and Fashion Weeks in Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Dubai, her journey is a story of resilience, reinvention, and bold leadership.
After the war in Ukraine began, she left her home and previous business life behind to start anew — building her international career across Europe and the UAE. Choosing the UAE was a strategic decision. Dubai is a future-driven hub with a booming fashion and luxury market. Here, Svetlana founded her new company and created World Fashion Week Dubai — a professional platform that unites designers, artists, and fashion houses from all over the world.
Her mission is not only to promote talents globally but also to position the UAE as a global capital of fashion and creativity. Through high-impact events and strategic collaborations, Svetlana empowers creatives and brands to reach international recognition. Her mentorship and development of talented designers and brands, includes Angelo Estera, AMR Couture, Gio Dress Couture, and others. Excelling in creating luxury experiences with backstage access and exclusive fashion events, her portfolio includes producing high-end fashion and investment projects in the luxury and lifestyle sectors.
Today, Svetlana doesn’t just create iconic events — she’s building a new global landscape where fashion, aesthetics, strategy, and inspiration become tools of influence and legacy. “Dream, faith, and action — a formula that changes destinies, even when you start from zero,” says the Fashion Czarina as we catch up with her for this exclusive interview. Excerpts.
Your journey began anew after the war in Ukraine. How did this turning point shape your resilience and redefine your purpose?
The war became a complete reset for me. Losing the familiar world revealed that resilience is not an inborn trait, but a daily choice to keep moving forward. That stage allowed me to redefine my purpose: not just to build a business, but to create a platform that unites people, cultures, and industries. This is how my mission in the UAE was born — to position Dubai as a global hub of fashion and creativity.
“Dream provides direction, faith gives inner strength, and action turns both into tangible results. This formula became my personal and professional principle. It is what helped transform the idea of World Fashion Week Dubai into a real international project.”
What led you to choose Dubai as your place of residence, and how has the city influenced your creative vision and leadership style?
Dubai is a symbol of the future. It concentrates energy, growth, global ideas, and cultural exchange. For me, it became both a source of inspiration and a stage for international projects. The city shaped my leadership style — multinational, agile, and innovation-driven.
As the founder of the World Fashion Week Dubai, how do you manage to balance the creative and commercial aspects?
I have always believed that fashion is not only an art form but also a business. Balance comes through strategy: every creative idea must be supported by a clear business model. World Fashion Week Dubai became the project where art inspires, while the commercial framework ensures sustainability and opportunities for designers worldwide.
What inner qualities guided you throughout your transformation and defined your path?
Discipline, intuition, and faith that true change begins within. These qualities helped me move forward, even when external circumstances were destructive.
“I am someone who values freedom, nature, and the power of inner growth. Everything I do in the external world begins with a state of inner harmony and a drive for development.”
You describe your formula as “Dream, Faith, and Action.” Can you tell us more about it and how it has influenced your success?
Dream provides direction, faith gives inner strength, and action turns both into tangible results. This formula became my personal and professional principle. It is what helped transform the idea of World Fashion Week Dubai into a real international project.
What is your vision for the future?
I see Dubai as a recognized global center of the fashion industry, where creativity and business merge into one ecosystem. My vision is to provide talents from around the world with a platform that elevates them to the global stage and sets new standards for the industry.
“Through fashion, I want to demonstrate that art has the power to unite. Regardless of country, culture, or language, fashion can serve as a universal bridge — creating space for dialogue, respect, and mutual growth.”
You mentor designers from diverse cultures and backgrounds. What do you look for in young talents, and how do you nurture them?
I look not only for those who can create beautiful collections but also for those who can think beyond — who see fashion as a cultural language and a tool for dialogue. I help them unlock their potential by building a system where they learn to think both as artists and as entrepreneurs.
Beyond titles and triumphs, who is Svetlana Verina at her core?
I am someone who values freedom, nature, and the power of inner growth. Everything I do in the external world begins with a state of inner harmony and a drive for development.
Name three words that best describe you.
Resilience. Inspiration. Leadership.
What deeper message do you hope to convey through your work?
Through fashion, I want to demonstrate that art has the power to unite. Regardless of country, culture, or language, fashion can serve as a universal bridge — creating space for dialogue, respect, and mutual growth.