Latest news with #SaudiFashionCommission
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Riyadh Fashion Week Calls on Saudi, International Designers to Join Official Show Calendar
RIYADH CALLING: Riyadh Fashion Week is finalizing the official calendar for its third edition, and appealing to fashion houses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and internationally, to apply for a space by July 15. Riyadh Fashion Week describes itself as a curated platform for emerging and established designers, and said the audience is filled with global industry leaders, buyers, press and tastemakers. More from WWD The Best Amazon Prime Day Fashion Deals on Our Shopping Editors' Summer Style Mood Boards The Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2025 Fashion Deals to Shop With Major Early Access Discounts Today The Best Swimwear Brands That Fashion Insiders Always Pack for Summer Vacation 'This is more than a runway,' said Burak Cakmak, chief executive officer of the Saudi Fashion Commission. 'It is a statement of creative identity, innovation and ambition. Riyadh Fashion Week provides a high-impact opportunity for designers to tell their story on a global stage.' The organization said the upcoming edition will continue to spotlight 'the creative breadth of Saudi fashion while building meaningful bridges with international fashion markets.' In past years, the official calendar has featured a broad spectrum of brand activations. Organizers said that in addition to runway shows, participating brands can explore curated presentations, showroom exhibitions, trunk shows, retail pop-ups, creative takeovers, private dinners and immersive fashion experiences. 'This multiformat approach ensures that both emerging and established labels can present their collections in ways that reflect their identity and strategic goals. Whether targeting buyers, press or direct-to-consumer audiences, the calendar is designed to offer brands flexible and high-impact moments throughout the week,' organizers said. Saudi-based and international fashion brands across ready-to-wear, couture, menswear and streetwear categories are eligible. Organizers said designers selected for the upcoming edition will receive the support of a 'world-class production and communications team, ensuring every presentation is delivered with international standards in mind, from show production to media coverage.' Applications can be made on the Riyadh Fashion Week website. Best of WWD Why Tennis Players Wear All White at Wimbledon: The Championships' Historic Dress Code Explained Kate Middleton's Looks at Trooping the Colour Through the Years [PHOTOS] Young Brooke Shields' Style Evolution, Archive Photos: From Runway Modeling & Red Carpets to Meeting Princess Diana Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Saudi fashion could be the next big thing after Paris and Milan: Here's why
Saudi designers showcase modern interpretations of heritage garments at Expo 2025 Osaka, led by the Fashion Commission/ Image: SPA TL;DR The Saudi Fashion Commission made a strong impression at Expo 2025 Osaka with a day of programs celebrating education, culture, and emerging design. Local designers are reshaping Saudi Arabia's image by blending heritage and innovation in thoughtful, authentic ways. The industry is embracing sustainability, supporting talent, and becoming a real part of the country's economic and cultural growth. Saudi Arabia's fashion industry is undergoing a deliberate transformation. As part of the country's broader cultural and creative development efforts, fashion is being approached as a platform for education, heritage preservation, and local talent development. At Expo 2025 in Osaka, the Saudi Fashion Commission demonstrated this shift through a dedicated day of programming at the Saudi Pavilion. The event included panel discussions, educational sessions, and a curated exhibition of contemporary design work. The aim was to provide a grounded look at how fashion in Saudi Arabia is being shaped by its own narratives and priorities. Designs Rooted in Heritage and Education The exhibition featured ten garments drawn from two major initiatives supported by the Fashion Commission. These pieces reflected active programs designed to support emerging designers through hands-on learning and cultural exploration. Saudi Heritage Revival Program : In collaboration with Swarovski , this program involved 26 Saudi designers who were tasked with translating traditional Saudi heritage into modern, sustainable fashion. Using eco-conscious materials, including Swarovski's renewed crystals, participants created designs that integrated historical elements with future-oriented craftsmanship. Selected designers received opportunities for international exposure, such as a residency at Dar Al Hanouf and participation in a Swarovski-hosted academic competition. Traditional Handcrafts in Contemporary Design: This initiative brought together 25 designers in early 2025 for an intensive workshop focused on Saudi architecture, textiles, and artisanal methods. The garments produced during the program reinterpret traditional forms into updated silhouettes. Initially showcased at the Saudi Cup, these works are now part of an international exhibition circuit, with Osaka as a significant stop. These initiatives fall under the Fashion Commission's Education and Talent Development track, which focuses on building foundational skills and career pathways for young designers. Focus on Cultural Continuity A recurring theme during the Osaka event was the importance of maintaining cultural continuity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like for Working Pros BITS Pilani Digital Apply Now Undo Rather than discarding tradition, designers are being trained to reinterpret it with relevance to contemporary contexts. In a panel discussion, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission Burak Cakmak highlighted the value of intellectual and cultural exchange. He described Saudi design as a means of connecting tradition with modern life, rooted in heritage but accessible to a global audience. International participants echoed this sentiment, noting shared values between Saudi and Japanese design traditions. These included a respect for craftsmanship, narrative through clothing, and attention to detail. The garments on display reflected these themes. Each piece was tied to place, memory, and community, showcasing fashion not just as product, but as cultural expression. Saudi Fashion Is Becoming an Industry, Not Just a Scene The Commission's work doesn't end with exhibitions. It's helping build an entire ecosystem that supports the fashion sector from the ground up. That includes training programs, mentorship, international collaborations, and a growing emphasis on sustainability and production at home. Designers like Mohammed Khoja, founder of Hindamme, and Yousef Akbar are already proving what's possible. Khoja's work draws heavily on Saudi heritage, using design to tell stories about tourism, tradition, and national identity in a fresh, modern way. Akbar focuses on sustainability, using recycled fabrics and digital tools to cut waste. His studio is paperless, and his designs are meant to last, not just for a season, but for years. Both designers agree: this is a moment of transformation. Saudi fashion is gaining global attention, and with the right support, it could soon become a key part of the country's creative economy. What is Saudi Fashion Commission? Established in 2020, the Saudi Fashion Commission was created to oversee, regulate, and grow the Kingdom's fashion sector. It works under the Ministry of Culture and is one of eleven cultural commissions that form part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan. Here's what it does: Develops and implements national strategies for fashion Licenses and supports all fashion-related activities in the Kingdom Hosts events, competitions, and exhibitions Promotes research and education in traditional and modern design Builds local supply chains to support self-sufficiency Represents Saudi fashion in global forums Its structure is formal, but its mission is personal, develop talent, protect heritage, and make Saudi fashion globally relevant without losing its soul. What This All Means Moving Forward Saudi Arabia's fashion industry is no longer on the sidelines. It's becoming a serious space for creativity, commerce, and cultural expression. And it's doing so on its own terms. From Riyadh to Jeddah, young designers are learning, experimenting, and building something bigger than a trend. They're building a new identity for Saudi fashion, one that honors the past but looks ahead with confidence. The Fashion Commission isn't trying to copy global models. It's doing something more important: creating a fashion ecosystem that fits Saudi Arabia, supports its people, and opens space for real innovation. FAQs 1. What does the Saudi Fashion Commission do exactly? It supports the development of the fashion sector across Saudi Arabia, from education and training to event organization, international partnerships, and regulation. 2. How is sustainability being addressed in the Saudi fashion industry? Designers and programs are focusing on recycled materials, reduced waste, and ethical production. The Commission also promotes sustainability through its programs and competitions. 3. Why is fashion important to Saudi Vision 2030? Fashion supports job creation, cultural exchange, and economic diversification. It also helps shape the country's image and boosts national pride.
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Riyadh Fashion Week issues final call for designer applications ahead of 3rd edition
DUBAI: Riyadh Fashion Week (RFW) is gearing up for its third edition, with organizers issuing a final call for designer applications. Fashion houses from across Saudi Arabia and around the world have until July 15 to submit their proposals for inclusion in the official calendar. A post shared by Riyadh Fashion Week (@riyadhfashionweek) One of the Middle East's most anticipated fashion events, RFW offers a platform for both emerging and established designers to showcase their collections to international buyers and industry leaders. The official calendar will feature a broad spectrum of brand activations beyond traditional runway shows. Designers can also take part in curated presentations, showroom exhibitions, trunk shows, retail pop-ups, creative takeovers, private dinners and immersive experiences. Saudi Arabia-based and international fashion brands across ready-to-wear, couture, menswear, and streetwear categories are eligible. 'This is more than a runway,' said Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission. 'It is a statement of creative identity, innovation, and ambition. Riyadh Fashion Week provides a high-impact opportunity for designers to tell their story on a global stage.'
Fashion Network
04-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Saudi designers feature in some of the world's fashion capitals
Saudi designers are out again in force this season, representing their country in the showrooms and stores of some of Europe's capitals. Several young Saudi designers have set up shop at La Samaritaine in Paris and Selfridges in London, and have featured in the calendar of Europe's leading fashion weeks, hoping to catch the eye of buyers. 'Paris is the established heart of fashion design, and the whole world is there during fashion week. It's the best place to display Saudi creativity. We're proud to showcase how much our labels have grown, how they are inspired by the whole world, tapping Saudi heritage to develop unique products,' said Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission. First Paris visit Backed by the Saudi 100 Brands programme, some of these labels have been discovering Paris. For example, designer Reem Al Kanhal and her eponymous women's ready-to-wear label. Al Kanhal presented her collections in Paris for the first time under La Samaritaine's majestic skylight. She hails from Riyadh, and started in fashion as a self-taught designer, before attending a course in 2007. Three years later, Al Kanhal founded her label and opened a showroom in Riyadh, which she has since closed, but is now planning to open again. 'I've been in fashion for a long time,' said Al Kanhal. Some of her creations have been worn by celebrities like Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud and model Naomi Campbell, and the Saudi Fashion Commission's support enabled her to gain new visibility by featuring in showrooms, and to train on the financial and administrative aspects of running a label. Showing at a fashion week is the dream 'The world of fashion is so vast that you have to establish your own identity if you want to succeed. You can't make a name for yourself with something that isn't you, and that isn't new,' said Al Kanhal. She draws inspiration from her Bedouin heritage, adding to it a contemporary twist, as she did in her 2015 collection, fashioned around the burqa her grandmother used to wear. Al Kanhal was supported by relatives as she started in business, and her label is now present at shopping malls in Saudi Arabia and in pop-up stores, in addition to having its own e-shop. Relying on her almost two decades' worth of experience, Al Kanhal is now keen to take part in Riyadh Fashion Week. 'I feel ready,' she said. Tala AbuKhaled founded her Rebirth label in 2021. She started her business after training in fashion design and modelling at Esmod Dubai. She too draws her inspiration from Saudi heritage, to which she adds elements of foreign cultures to create women's ready-to-wear looks featuring lace, embroidery, twine thread and Raffia palm leaves. After taking part in the Red Sea Fashion Week in 2024, Rebirth is now an established name in Saudi Arabia. It operates showrooms in Riyadh and New York, and has exhibited in Italy. Saudi and global influences 'I design clothes for those who wear them, and for those who see them too,' said AbuKhaled with a grin. With her airy, slightly bohemian luxury style, she has recently returned from Milan, where she presented her collection during the city's fashion week. AbuKhaled said the feedback was extremely positive, as audiences are in general impressed by the talent of young Saudi designers, who are bringing fresh zest into fashion by tapping their heritage. She said that many fashion brands are currently active in Saudi Arabia, and that it 'can only get better.' Several Saudi labels exhibited men's and unisex collections at the La Samaritaine showcase, among them Mirai. The latter is the brainchild of two childhood friends, Abdulrahman Tarabeh, who studied engineering and lived in Japan for nine years, and Omar Shabra, who studied medicine. After Shabra visited Tarabeh in Japan, they began to think about clothes inspired by Japanese culture and style. In 2022, they launched Mirai, a unisex ready-to-wear label blending their Saudi roots with Japanese fashion. Middle East the main market Mirai is present in Riyadh and Jeddah with pop-up stores, and a little less than two years ago it also featured in Milan. Shabra and Tarabeh strongly identify with their creations, and they eschew a seasonal logic, releasing products when they feel the time is right. Mirai was soon spotted by fashion aficionados in Saudi cities, who appreciate its timeless garments bearing Japanese names. One of Mirai's bestsellers is a brown jacket weaved in Japanese fashion, whose name tsuchi means 'earth'. Khalid Al Masoud also exhibited at La Samaritaine. He is the creative director and founder of the Awaken label, and came back to Paris a year after showing at Paris Fashion Week. He also showed in his home town during Riyadh Fashion Week in 2024, and is currently distributed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, at Harvey Nichols. In 2025, Awaken is keen to expand into Europe, notably in France and Spain, as well as Japan and China. International plans When Al Masoud launched Awaken in 2019, he decided his influences would be his Arabian heritage and streetwear culture. He wants to design fashion for the whole world, and his creations are a message about openness and contemporary relevance. Awaken is positioned in the premium ready-to-wear segment, chiefly for men, and featured at the Saudi Cup international horse race. It also staged a design competition for saddles for dromedaries. While Paris is an interesting showcase for the Saudi Fashion Commission, the latter has also been active in other European cities. Six Saudi fashion designers have taken over a space on the second floor of Selfridges in London, aiming to attract new customers and, chiefly, to strike commercial deals. Negotiations are ongoing, and executives at the Saudi 100 Brands programme said their designers have been well received in the UK.
Fashion Network
04-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Saudi designers feature in some of the world's fashion capitals
Saudi designers are out again in force this season, representing their country in the showrooms and stores of some of Europe's capitals. Several young Saudi designers have set up shop at La Samaritaine in Paris and Selfridges in London, and have featured in the calendar of Europe's leading fashion weeks, hoping to catch the eye of buyers. 'Paris is the established heart of fashion design, and the whole world is there during fashion week. It's the best place to display Saudi creativity. We're proud to showcase how much our labels have grown, how they are inspired by the whole world, tapping Saudi heritage to develop unique products,' said Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission. First Paris visit Backed by the Saudi 100 Brands programme, some of these labels have been discovering Paris. For example, designer Reem Al Kanhal and her eponymous women's ready-to-wear label. Al Kanhal presented her collections in Paris for the first time under La Samaritaine's majestic skylight. She hails from Riyadh, and started in fashion as a self-taught designer, before attending a course in 2007. Three years later, Al Kanhal founded her label and opened a showroom in Riyadh, which she has since closed, but is now planning to open again. 'I've been in fashion for a long time,' said Al Kanhal. Some of her creations have been worn by celebrities like Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud and model Naomi Campbell, and the Saudi Fashion Commission's support enabled her to gain new visibility by featuring in showrooms, and to train on the financial and administrative aspects of running a label. Showing at a fashion week is the dream 'The world of fashion is so vast that you have to establish your own identity if you want to succeed. You can't make a name for yourself with something that isn't you, and that isn't new,' said Al Kanhal. She draws inspiration from her Bedouin heritage, adding to it a contemporary twist, as she did in her 2015 collection, fashioned around the burqa her grandmother used to wear. Al Kanhal was supported by relatives as she started in business, and her label is now present at shopping malls in Saudi Arabia and in pop-up stores, in addition to having its own e-shop. Relying on her almost two decades' worth of experience, Al Kanhal is now keen to take part in Riyadh Fashion Week. 'I feel ready,' she said. Tala AbuKhaled founded her Rebirth label in 2021. She started her business after training in fashion design and modelling at Esmod Dubai. She too draws her inspiration from Saudi heritage, to which she adds elements of foreign cultures to create women's ready-to-wear looks featuring lace, embroidery, twine thread and Raffia palm leaves. After taking part in the Red Sea Fashion Week in 2024, Rebirth is now an established name in Saudi Arabia. It operates showrooms in Riyadh and New York, and has exhibited in Italy. Saudi and global influences 'I design clothes for those who wear them, and for those who see them too,' said AbuKhaled with a grin. With her airy, slightly bohemian luxury style, she has recently returned from Milan, where she presented her collection during the city's fashion week. AbuKhaled said the feedback was extremely positive, as audiences are in general impressed by the talent of young Saudi designers, who are bringing fresh zest into fashion by tapping their heritage. She said that many fashion brands are currently active in Saudi Arabia, and that it 'can only get better.' Several Saudi labels exhibited men's and unisex collections at the La Samaritaine showcase, among them Mirai. The latter is the brainchild of two childhood friends, Abdulrahman Tarabeh, who studied engineering and lived in Japan for nine years, and Omar Shabra, who studied medicine. After Shabra visited Tarabeh in Japan, they began to think about clothes inspired by Japanese culture and style. In 2022, they launched Mirai, a unisex ready-to-wear label blending their Saudi roots with Japanese fashion. Middle East the main market Mirai is present in Riyadh and Jeddah with pop-up stores, and a little less than two years ago it also featured in Milan. Shabra and Tarabeh strongly identify with their creations, and they eschew a seasonal logic, releasing products when they feel the time is right. Mirai was soon spotted by fashion aficionados in Saudi cities, who appreciate its timeless garments bearing Japanese names. One of Mirai's bestsellers is a brown jacket weaved in Japanese fashion, whose name tsuchi means 'earth'. Khalid Al Masoud also exhibited at La Samaritaine. He is the creative director and founder of the Awaken label, and came back to Paris a year after showing at Paris Fashion Week. He also showed in his home town during Riyadh Fashion Week in 2024, and is currently distributed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, at Harvey Nichols. In 2025, Awaken is keen to expand into Europe, notably in France and Spain, as well as Japan and China. International plans When Al Masoud launched Awaken in 2019, he decided his influences would be his Arabian heritage and streetwear culture. He wants to design fashion for the whole world, and his creations are a message about openness and contemporary relevance. Awaken is positioned in the premium ready-to-wear segment, chiefly for men, and featured at the Saudi Cup international horse race. It also staged a design competition for saddles for dromedaries. While Paris is an interesting showcase for the Saudi Fashion Commission, the latter has also been active in other European cities. Six Saudi fashion designers have taken over a space on the second floor of Selfridges in London, aiming to attract new customers and, chiefly, to strike commercial deals. Negotiations are ongoing, and executives at the Saudi 100 Brands programme said their designers have been well received in the UK.
