A glittering hands-on session at Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 lets children experiment with colour, texture, and self-expression through mini couture creations

Sharjah, November 13, 2025

Scores of schoolchildren found themselves stepping into the world of couture at a hands-on fashion design workshop during the ongoing Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). Open to children aged eight and above, the session transformed a simple black-and-white dress sketch into a blank canvas for imagination. Armed with glue, coloured glitter, sequins, and thirty minutes of creative freedom, the young participants brought their fashion visions to life.

It didn’t take long before the tables were filled with colour. Eleven-year-old Hibah chose gold for the blouse and purple for the skirt of her design. “I want green glitter, please,” she called across the table, her tone polite yet urgent. “I want to give my dress a green belt.”

Nearby, Laura, also eleven, was equally absorbed in her creation, carefully gluing glitter outside the dress’s outlines to give it a puffed-shoulder look. “I love fashion and want to make a colourful dress for myself,” she said. “I’d like to learn sewing too, but today we’re just colouring.”

If some children used gold glitter to craft dazzling dresses, others took creative detours, like ten-year-old Jasmine who used it to give her model shimmering golden hair, inspiring other girls across the table.

“This workshop is called Fashion Design, but it’s really glitter couture,” said Lebanese artist, filmmaker, and workshop organiser Sara Mezher, who has been part of SIBF since 2017. “We focus on creating a couture line. Girls like to use colour and glitter to express themselves. No two dresses are the same, and that’s what makes it so special.”

Sara believes the exercise teaches children to embrace constraints while remaining inventive. “Sometimes we pick the colours for them and see what they can create. It’s fascinating; each design is unique. And this class isn’t just for girls; plenty of boys join too. Some even design dresses for their mothers or sisters.”

Beyond glitter and glue, the workshop nurtures social skills and confidence. “These activities help children express themselves, especially the shy ones,” Sara said. “Once they have the materials, they open up. They learn to share, communicate, make friends, and, most importantly, to have fun.”

As one of the many interactive experiences at SIBF 2025, the couture workshop reflects the fair’s commitment to creativity in all its forms. A haven for book lovers and curious minds alike, this year’s edition continues to bring a wealth of learning and joy under one roof.

For more information on the free-to-attend event, visit www.sibf.com.

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