Classic Quilts Hosts the Popular International Quilt Show in Dubai for Quilting Aficionados

DUBAI, UAE, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --



For the fourth time since 2008, Dubai's first quilting store Classic Quilts & Quilting LLC are bringing The International Quilt Show (IQS) back with a bang.  Taking place from the 26^th of March till the 30^th of March 2014, the show will include participation from quilters not only based in the Middle East, but from all around the world. In addition, world-acclaimed quilt teachers, namely Ricky Tims, Ina Meyer, Debby Brown and Cindy Needham, will be visiting Dubai to share their years of quilting knowledge with all those interested in this beautiful art. Through the show, Classic Quilts & Quilting hope to empower people to draw out their talent through quilting and showcase it.

This year, the IQS will have three major components. The Quilt Exhibition, held in the Dubai Festival City Mall, also called a 'Caravan of Quilts,' will showcase quilts crafted by quilters from all over the world and includes a competitive element. Quilting Workshops are dedicated to help quilters learn the latest techniques in quilting from the international quilting masters. They will get the rare chance to work alongside these teachers and to acquire hands-on appreciation of the labour that the whole quilting process demands.  As in the past shows, the Charity Quilt (a quilt that is made by quilters in Dubai) is raffled and proceeds given to a Charity. This year, the Charity beneficiary is Dubai Cares.

Referring to the trends in quilting shows on an international scene, Shanker Ramakrishnan, founder and owner of Classic Quilts & Quilting LLC, and the founder of IQS Dubai, said, "The art of quilting is popular in Europe, the States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Dubai is rising fast to be a global player in the quilting arena, as a result of the shows that we have organized over the years in this city. Last year the footfall for the exhibition last year was 3,000. This year, with the international house-hold names in the quilting arena joining us, we anticipate a much higher footfall."

A quilt is made of three layers that are sewn together.  It invariably looks like a blanket with a conglomeration of patchwork in various shapes, sizes and colours. While the origins of this beautiful art is unknown, it is thought that it had a prominent place in history in the use in garments. In fact, the first recorded piece of quilted garment was found on a carved statue of an Egyptian Pharaoh from the era of 3400 B.C. In time, as its very nature offers protection from the harsh climate situations, it became widely used in all sorts of furnishings, from bedspreads to wall hangings.

Mala Ramakrishnan, Managing Director and Creative Head of Classic Quilts & Quilting LLC, who was the first to start a shop dedicated to quilters in the Middle East, says, "Quilting is an art which is very close to my heart. Through Classic Quilts & Quilting, I want to be able to address the needs of emerging quilters and aspirants by creating opportunities for them. In quilting I have found my metier, and I hope that those who take part in the workshops and the visit the show find it too!"

The event is organized in conjunction with Al Fajer Information & Services, and Dubai Festival City Mall. Representatives of the international brands sponsoring the event are Mikhail Chtcheglov, the Area Manager, Bernina International Switzerland, Darren Denning, CEO, Handi Quilter Inc., USA, and Daryl Guidotto, General Manager, Horn Sewing Cabinets, Australia.

For more information on the International Quilting Show, please visit http://www.quiltsdubai.com

About Classic Quilts:

Classic Quilts & Quilting was established in June 2005 in Dubai by Mala Ramakrishnan, a long-arm quilter who felt a need for a quilt shop in the region as there was no dedicated quilt shop in UAE at the time. The quilt shop was established with an objective of making and selling quilts, providing quilting services, holding classes for beginners in quilting, and providing notions and fabrics for quilters residing in the UAE and its neighbouring countries.

Classic Quilts & Quilting is the go-to place for all high quality quilting related accessories such as fabrics, notions, threads, sewing machines, sewing machine tables and cabinets, readymade quilts and quilting services. It also is the sole distributor of Bernina sewing machines for the UAE, Kuwait and the Sultanate of Oman. Classic Quilts & Quilting are also sole distributors for the Middle East for HandiQuilter, USA that sells Mid Arm and Long Arm Quilting machines. The shop is also the sole distributor for Horn of Australia Sewing cabinets in the Middle East.

For more information on Classic Quilts & Quilting, please visit the website on: http://www.classicquiltsdubai.com

Press Enquiries:
Ms. Aishwarya Ramakrishnan
Tel. No: +9714-3497943 (10AM-7PM; all days of the week)
Email address: aish@classicquiltsdubai.com