Riyadh Fashion Week Opens With Vivienne Westwood’s First-Ever Runway Show In The Middle East
Carlo D’Amario, CEO of Vivienne Westwood, says, “today, fashion must go beyond aesthetics — it must be a connection between cultures”
Riyadh Fashion Week has returned for its third edition, with a special debut from Vivienne Westwood. The Maison’s first Middle Eastern runway show presents a capsule collection of timeless gowns, in collaboration with Art of Heritage – an institution that preserves Saudi cultural heritage and focuses on empowering women through their craftsmanship. Debuted are the intricately designed gowns – embroidered by Saudi artisans from the programme – alongside Vivienne Westwood’s exclusive Spring/Summer 2026 collection.
This partnership celebrates the beauty of cultural convergence, merging tradition with creativity. Carlo D’Amario, CEO of Vivienne Westwood says, “global-local’ is a key concept for us. This is a concrete way to promote local traditions through an international perspective.”
Honouring the palm tree as a national emblem, the show was staged at the Palm Grove – a landmark that embodies life, resilience and prosperity – which was a true way of paying homage to Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and historical identity. HRH Princess Nourah bint Mohammed Al Faisal, CEO of Art of Heritage, added, “Heritage is not a relic of the past, but a living force. Riyadh Fashion Week allows Saudi craftsmanship to speak to the world with authenticity and creativity.”
The Lebanese-Australian model, Jessica Kahawaty, took to the stage in an elegant lavender gown embellished with intricate displays of gold detail.
Saudi’s Vision 2030 emphasises the importance of education and advocacy for a knowledge-based society, with the aim of education being accessible to all. Carlo says “our main interlocutors are young people between 18 and 28 years old who drive change. Education and inclusivity are key, and as part of our show, we have invited around 100 students from local fashion schools to attend and will be hosting a mentoring session with students prior to the show.”
With 30 runway shows from October 16-21, and a grand finale of Stella McCartney’s closing, Vivienne Westwood has graced the week with an unforgettable start.
Lead Image Courtesy of Instagram /@rawankattoa