A Letter From Our Editor | Harper’s Bazaar Saudi Spring 2023
Bazaar Saudi’s Editor in Chief Olivia Phillips highlights the stories of inspirational women from the region who are shaping the future of the Kingdom in our latest Spring 2023 issue..
There are impressive women, and then there’s Shahd AlShehail, the creative director whose brand Abadia gets those who wear it quite literally stopped in the street, as Deputy Editor Jessica Michault can attest to. She interviews the designer – our cover star –whose beautiful, deep-rooted sense of wider purpose is woven into every single seam.
With a focus on supply-chain transparency, accountability, preserving heritage (and paying artisans a fair wage to do so), and sparking a truly global creative discourse, Shahd’s outlook on fashion as a whole is a clarion call to us all on how to do better. Ethical luxury has quite literally never been chicer.
We are always honoured to share the stories of these kinds of inspirational women in our pages, and Shahd’s is certainly not the only one. Our roster of equally formidable females continues with our exclusive shoot and interview with architect Sumayya Vally, appointed to curate the first-ever Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah. So, too, with Nadia Ahmad, the writer behind hit Netflix show The Exchange, whose first-person piece on how it was her mother’s power persona in male-dominated ‘80s Kuwait that inspired her to write the show on everyone’s lips right now.
Elsewhere, we delve into the nascent world of Saudi filmmaking and the women who are creating this industry in the Kingdom, the mesmerising new sculpture park in Riyadh and the sartorial splendour that came out in force at this year’s Saudi Cup. Harper’s Bazaar Saudi was on hand to capture it all with a 360-degree video booth and magazine pop-up that saw nearly 2,000 beautifully dressed guests pass by to say hello to our team and take Bazaar Saudi video for their socials.
Wishing you a beautiful Holy Month and beyond.
Editor’s Picks…
Photography: Amina Zaher. Styling: Nour Bou Ezz.
Editor in Chief: Olivia Phillips. Arabic Editor: Khulood Ahmed.
Art Director: Oscar Yáñez. Producer: Steff Hawker. Hair: Maggie Semaan. Make-Up: Jean Kairouz. Lighting Assistant: Mostafa Abdu. Fashion Assistant: Ugne Gelgotaite. Set Assistant: Omar Shaban.
With thanks to Al Seef Heritage Hotel.