Riyadh Fashion Week Shows Arab Talent to Everyone
Riyadh Fashion Week (RFW) started its second edition on October 17 in Saudi Arabia. Organized by the Saudi Fashion Commission, RFW takes place at three locations: Tuwaiq Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter, Digital City, and the JAX District. The event aims to be an important platform for designers in Saudi Arabia to show their collections to the world.
Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, stated that fashion’s contribution to the country’s GDP has grown from 1.4% to 2.5%. He said, “Last year was the first time we held Riyadh Fashion Week, and we wanted to see how it would grow and how the community would react. We saw a lot of excitement from brands and local shoppers, which encouraged us to expand this year with more dates and locations.” According to a 2023 report from the Fashion Commission, fashion sales in Saudi Arabia are expected to increase by 48% from 2021 to 2025.
Adnan Akbar, a brand from Jeddah, launched RFW 2024. The brand, named after him, began in 1970. Akbar has dressed famous people like Princess Diana of Wales and Bernadette Chirac, the former first lady of France. The collection shown at RFW featured feminine and light designs, sparkling with sequins and bright gold and silver colors. The main colors used were silver, navy blue, black, white, and maroon. Akbar’s children are continuing the brand’s legacy. His daughter, Adwa Akbar, is the creative director, while her brothers Abdullah and Abdulrahan, and sister Aya, manage the business.
Dar El Hanouf’s collection of mostly light-colored dresses is stunning. The fancy evening gowns have A-line and column shapes and are decorated with sequins, feathers, beads, and embroidery. Tima Abid, like Adnan Akbar, chose to highlight traditional Saudi heritage. Honayda displayed spring-inspired outfits with floral patterns, low waist designs, and bold red colors.
Thai actress Davika Hoorne and Saudi media star Lojain Omran sat in the front row with James Fallon, Chief Content Officer at Women’s Wear Daily, His Excellency Patrick Maisonneuve, the French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Francesca Airoldi, Chief Revenue Officer at Condé Nast Italia.
“Guests are seeing a setup that is tailored to each brand. I want to make sure each brand is displayed in the right way. That’s why the couture shows are held in beautiful places like Tuwaiq Palace, while the ready-to-wear shows will be in a modern area like Digital City. After that, we’ll have the shows in the Jax District, where the warehouses are. This is great for menswear and streetwear, and it fits well with the local communities,” says Cakmak.
Fashion in Saudi Arabia has grown a lot in recent years, according to Sara Murad, a senior TV presenter at MBC who attended the shows. “In the media, we didn’t used to focus on designers or talent. Saudi women have always been creative; they just didn’t always share it. They were doing things on a small scale for friends or family, or they would just dress themselves,” says Murad.
“Ten years ago, I was in the media looking for fashion talent, but most of them were too shy or lacked confidence. They didn’t want to be the first to talk about their fashion on TV,” Murad says. “Now, women designers are proudly sharing their work and want everyone to see it. The progress we’re seeing at Riyadh Fashion Week is a huge step forward. It’s emotional to see so many women and working moms involved—it’s a big change for women in Saudi Arabia. This is a moment of pride and love.”
Riyadh Fashion Week is still happening and has shifted from couture shows to ready-to-wear and streetwear.
Published: 23rd October 2024
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