Under the patronage of HH Sheikha Hind Al Qassemi, Chairperson of Emirates Businesswomen Council, Majid Al Futtaim Fashion, the apparel retailing arm of Majid Al Futtaim Ventures, is partnering with the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs to create a platform to showcase the skills of its students.

The passionate collaboration has resulted in the creation of the 'Hands & Hearts' initiative, which aims to highlight the outstanding creative talents of the Al Noor children and young adults, along with Majid Al Futtaim Fashion partners, through a fashion event and auction scheduled for 1st November 2011. The fundraising event will welcome HH Sheikha Hind, as well as 500 high-profile guests at the Al Noor centre in Al Barsha.

As part of the Hands & Hearts initiative, Majid Al Futtaim Fashion has been working with the Al Noor students to design and produce a range of products for the fashion event and auction, including a Juicy Couture limited-edition tote bag, a range of clutch handbags, the newly launched IT'SUGAR branded t-shirts, and a limited range of luxury Jalabiyas. Among the exclusive pieces being sold at auction are also a series of large-scale murals created exclusively by Al Noor students.

"On behalf of Majid Al Futtaim Fashion and our franchise partners, we are truly honored to partner with Al Noor on such an exciting initiative," said Asil Attar, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Fashion "The Hands & Hearts event reflects our long term goals, which are to empower the Al Noor students thru investing in their training and supporting their development. Through this passionate collaboration we aim to enhance their lives by enabling them to gain independence and establish career paths in an exciting retail environment."

The Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs has been providing skill-based and vocational training to students for the past three decades, with the support of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, Ruler of Dubai.

"As one of the region's retailing leaders, Majid Al Futtaim Fashion is an ideal partner to showcase the skills of Al Noor's students while enabling us to further develop artistic and vocational opportunities for them. Funds raised through the Hands & Hearts initiative will help many of our students be given the skills and training, to help them integrate into employment opportunities in the UAE," said Isphana Al Khatib, Director.

The partnership comes in light of the 2012 plans for Majid Al Futtaim Fashion's social responsibility program, which would see the business introduce a scheme where young adults with disabilities are given the opportunity to work in a retail environment, starting on a volunteering basis but then empowered through vocational training into a full time position.