Monochrome Monday: The Diriyah Tan Edition

CairoScene

05-05-2025

Diriyah Tan may be the newest hue in town, but she's steeped in history. With raw textures, sweeping silhouettes, and artisanal design, going back to basics doesn't have to be boring.
May 05, 2025
Diriyah Tan takes its name from the historic Saudi district of Diriyah, the original seat of power for the House of Saud and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its palette mirrors the region's Najdi architecture - mudbrick walls fired by the sun, layered in straw, sand, and lime. These materials weren't decorative; they were functional, insulating against heat while anchoring structures in the earth.
That same ethos is now shaping fashion. Designers are channeling the neutral into dense cottons, raw silks, and sueded leathers - materials that absorb light rather than reflect it. The tone lends itself to silhouettes with weight: abayas cut like trench coats, tunics with architectural drape, accessories that nod to desert geometry.
Sabry Marouf | Alabastra Bag
Crafted in a palette that echoes the limestone relics of ancient Memphis, the Alabastra Bag draws from Egypt's alabaster vessels - objects once carved to hold perfumes and sacred oils. Sabry Marouf retools that lineage with clean lines and a modern clasp, anchoring the historical reference in sharp, contemporary form. Mashael Al Torath | Embroidered Abaya
The embroidery maps out regional craft traditions with fine precision, while the fabric's density and hue speak to the sunbaked terrain of Najd. Worn open or wrapped, it layers effortlessly. Karen Wazen | Bella Gold Sunglasses
The Bella frames bring sculptural energy to eyewear. In high-shine gold, they mirror the stark glint of light off sand and stone. Paired with Diriyah Tan, they become more of a provocation - glamour with edge, not gloss. House of THL | Dionysus Skirt Co-ord
Airy but anchored, this co-ord plays with proportion and ease. The pleats add kinetic form, while the colour grounds the set in desert-worn elegance. Designed with movement in mind, it feels just as relevant on the Corniche as it does among clay courtyards. Zyne Shoes | Topaz
Zyne's Topaz slides feature a textured upper that recalls the granularity of earthen walls. Handcrafted in Morocco, they hold their own in light and shadow, designed to be worn not indoors but out, against the sun. Aqui Beirut | Tate Suede Skirt
Precision-cut in brushed suede, the Tate skirt borrows from modernist design - clean, quiet, and tactile. The muted warmth of Diriyah Tan allows the shape to speak clearly: no noise, just structure. Redefined | Scarf Trench Coat
The trench coat gets a revision, not a reinvention. With its sculptural drape and off-centre fastenings, this piece uses asymmetry to shift the silhouette forward. It holds form without losing softness - tailoring that moves with intention. Lillian Ismail | 1/2 Beaded Saudi Gold 'Jeneh' Necklace
Minted in memory, the Jeneh necklace reinterprets Saudi currency through fine jewellery. One half beaded, one half coin - this duality speaks to heritage in flux. Moroccan Touch | Sonia Matching Set
Craft meets comfort in this embroidered set, where flow and form sit side by side. Its cut nods to caftan tradition, while the detailing brings it into sharp contemporary focus. Made for lounging, but styled like ceremony. Gissah Fragrances | Liquid Gold
Liquid Gold captures oud at its most refined—smoky, resinous, and deeply regional. The bottle, tinted in Diriyah Tan, feels more apothecary than vanity - an object with scent and story.