Saudi’s Arab Fashion Week Is Finally Here
The history-making event is the first of its kind for the kingdom
All eyes are on Saudi Arabia, with its very first edition of Fashion Week unveiled this Tuesday. Under the guidance of the Arab Fashion Council, the Riyadh-based event will showcase KSA’s best home-grown fashion designers at the glam Ritz-Carlton hotel.
Local brands including The Suitable Woman by Arwa Banawi, and Mashael Alrajhi are expected to show their collections during a total of 13 women-only catwalk presentations to buyers and style-watchers, with a trunk show from international department store Harvey Nichols also scheduled.
Opened by Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud, the honorary president of the Arab Fashion Council said the fashion has always been an interest of Saudi Arabia. “Our fashion council is trying to bring the fashion industry in Saudi Arabia to a whole new level, a whole new industry,” she explained.
Alongside local style taste-makers, the four-day event welcomes international guests including Jean Paul Gaultier, Roberto Cavalli and Yulia Yanina, with attendees taking to social media to share their first-person experiences.
The inaugural week has been beset by delays – opening two weeks later than planned, reported poor weather delays, and the event itself shrouded in mystery surrounding timings, attendees and even designers – but proceedings now appear to have found their footing, with a second edition already tentatively scheduled for October this year.