LONDON: The stage is set for the first major fashion week in the Kingdom and as designers from across the region frantically sew on the final sequin and trim those pesky hemlines, Arab News shares exclusive insights from Princess Noura bint Faisal Al-Saud, honorary president of the event organizers, Arab Fashion Council (AFC), who shed light on the importance of this seminal sartorial event in Saudi Arabia.
With the market for luxury brands well established in the Kingdom, some of the biggest names in international fashion are attending the event, which kicked off last night with a glittering opening ceremony. Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, French couturier Jean-Paul Gaultier and Russian designer Yulia Yanina will all be in attendance, as will British luxury department store Harvey Nichols, which is hosting a series of trunk shows with the AFC.
Attendees can expect an eclectic array of designs reflecting the cosmopolitan character of Arab style and will get a front row seat as the fashion industry’s who’s who from across the Middle East showcase their latest innovations.
“A lot of things have been changing in Saudi Arabia…. now we can invite everyone to come here and be a part of this change. We have so many talented designers in this country and such a love for fashion. Now we can show that to the world,” Princess Noura told Arab News.
“What we’re doing is a fashion event, but it’s beyond that: We’re opening doors to so many other things as well,” she added. The hope it that the inaugural Arab Fashion Week in Riyadh will set a precedent, bringing the country’s burgeoning style sector to the world’s attention while raising the profile of other industries in the Kingdom.
By inviting people from every part of the world to see Saudi Arabia, the event seeks to promote tourism, attract foreign investment and create employment opportunities, all of which are “pillars of Vision 2030,” Princess Noura said.
“It’s not just about women buying clothes. It’s about the knowledge they can gain by being creative, challenging people to think outside the box and bolstering creative industries across the board.”
Last December, the country stepped into the style spotlight when the AFC announced plans to open offices in Riyadh, claiming a spot on the Middle East’s fashion map amid bold statements that Saudi Arabia was to be a new hub for the region.
But it was news that the next Arab Fashion Week would be hosted in Riyadh that went global earlier this year, catching the international fashion community off guard as they rushed to secure a seat for the set of shows.
Demand for the event exceeded expectations, promoting organizers to postpone so they could increase capacity. Interest from the international community has been “really optimistic” and bodes well for an event that will “mark history,” Princess Noura said.
The first Arab Fashion Week in Riyadh is set to run from April 10-14 and is taking place in the city’s Ritz-Carlton hotel. With more than 13 fashion designers taking part — including renowned Lebanese-Italian talent Tony Ward and brands from Kazakhstan, Egypt and the UAE — it is the ideal opportunity to introduce the region’s brightest fashion stars to the Saudi market.
This will no doubt go a long way in supporting plans to develop a fashion city in Riyadh, creating a destination “with all the fashion brands in one place” as part of a push to encourage more global fashion houses to establish a presence in the Kingdom, according to Princess Noura.
“A lot of Arabs travel to Europe and the US to buy clothes. The idea is that they will be able to do this in their own country,” she said. “It’s a really exciting market for brands… Arab people care about wearing stylish clothes every day. We love to dress up, to show our sense of fashion, and that is really appealing for designers.”
By attracting foreign brands to establish a presence in the Kingdom, she hopes to “bring something new to the country” while building on a wealth of homegrown talent that lays the foundation for a flourishing fashion industry that could reach across the region.
“I’d like to see brands here that don’t exist in many other parts of the world and (I would like) to have manufacturing done in Saudi Arabia, creating more jobs for women,” Princess Noura said.
She isn’t the only one with high hopes for the country. Jacob Abrian, the 26-year-old CEO of the AFC, has similar dreams for the Kingdom.
“I’m so proud of Vision 2030. Not only does it support Saudi Arabia, but it will make it the hub of the Arab world… I’m proud to say that (the country) is going to surprise everyone around the world in a top-notch manner,” he told Arab News.
Arab Fashion Week comes to Riyadh
Arab Fashion Week comes to Riyadh
Versace, CH Carolina Herrera collaborate with Jessica Kahawaty for Ramadan campaigns
DUBAI: Australian Lebanese model Jessica Kahawaty took to social media to share images from her collaboration with Italian luxury label Versace for the month of Ramadan, days after the influencer worked on a Ramadan campaign with New York-based label CH Carolina Herrera.
The model and restauranteur — she founded Dubai’s Mama Rita eatery alongside her mother — shared a series of images promoting Versace’s Ramadan edit with her 1.5 million Instagram followers. Kahawaty was pictured in a pink floor-length dress with bell sleeves that boasted a neckline adorned with intricate pink, white and silver beads and crystals. Completing the look, Kahawaty is seen clutching a matching mini pink embellished purse while her voluminous brunette locks were styled in a 90s blowout.
“Ramadan with Versace,” she wrote, sharing closeup images of her look.
It is not the first time the model has worked with Versace. Last year, she teamed up with the brand for a campaign for Eid Al-Fitr.
“I’m finally a Versace girl,” she wrote at the time. “I’ve been wanting to work with Versace for years.”
“It’s a brand that speaks to my 90s baby self, a brand that never gave into fads or trends, one that remained true to its Italian ethos of family, togetherness, heritage and authenticity,” she added.
Released at the outset of Ramadan, CH Carolina Herrera’s Ramadan campaign starring Kahawaty features a curated edit of modest wear from the label, combining distinctive patterns and vibrant color schemes. In the photographs, Kahawaty wears various ensembles, including jumpsuits and striking, floor-length gowns.
Kahawaty has worked with luxury brands such as Tod’s, Prada, Boucheron, Chloe, Gucci and more.
She was also tapped by Boss for a new campaign this month. In the polaroid-style images she shared on Instagram, Kahawaty wore a brown bomber jacket paired with a crisp white shirt, complemented by a black bag adorned with a chunky gold buckle and chain.
Boss has released similar images for other A-list stars, including US superstar Demi Lovato, British model Jordan Dunn, Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor, Colombian singer and songwriter Maluma, South Korean actor Jeon Changha and Canadian Belgian racing driver Lance Stroll.
The digital campaign, which began in January 2023, initially starred US Palestinian producer DJ Khaled, US Dutch Palestinian model Gigi Hadid, Syrian Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini, Lebanese influencer and entrepreneur Karen Wazen, Emirati host Anas Bukhash and Iraqi para-athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi.
Yara Shahidi features in star-studded Cartier campaign
DUBAI: Part-Middle Eastern actress Yara Shahidi, K-Pop star Jisoo, Irish Oscar nominee Paul Mescal, British singer Labrinth and Hong Kong rapper Jackson Wang all star in a campaign by Cartier released on Tuesday.
“Grown-ish” star Shahidi, whose father is Iranian, stars in the new film and image campaign that celebrates the Trinity jewelery collection turning 100 years old.
Designed by Louis Cartier in 1924, Cartier is marking the centenary of the Trinity ring’s creation with the new campaign, the release of three new designs and, previously, a trio of parties.
Harvard graduate Shahidi, who is a brand ambassador for Cartier and a global ambassador for French luxury label Dior, was on hand as the label marked the occasion with a party in New York on Feb. 1.
“The Maison chose to host three near-simultaneous events in the three capitals where the three Cartier brothers — Louis, Pierre and Jacques — settled at the beginning of the 20th century. These are the cities where they built the Maison’s three temples: Rue de la Paix, Fifth Avenue and New Bond Street,” Cartier said in a released statement.
Author and Cartier family member Francesca Cartier Brickell spoke to Arab News about the jewelry house in February at Dubai's Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. The writer of “The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewelry Empire” shared insights into the family’s past, as well as the label’s unexpected beginnings.
Louis-François Cartier started as an apprentice in the jewelry trade and worked long hours before founding the business in 1847. “It’s so easy to imagine that Cartier today was always a big business, but it wasn’t – it was a startup. And it was a startup by someone incredibly poor and without money. There was a revolution the first year after he established it, and he thought the business would go under,” Cartier Brickell said.
While Louis-François’ son Alfred grew the business, his grandchildren, Louis, Pierre, and Jacques took the Cartier name further and forged bonds with royalty in Europe, the Middle East, and India.
For her part, Shahidi also starred in a campaign for French label Jean-Paul Gaultier in September 2023 and the 24-year-old was nominated for a NAACP Image Award earlier this year.
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the US-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The awards show honors outstanding performances in film, television, theater, music, and literature.
Shahidi was nominated for the outstanding actress in a motion series category for her role in “Sitting in Bars with Cake,” a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Trish Sie and written by Audrey Shulman.
Model Sandra Shehab partners with New York-based fine jewelry label
DUBAI: US Egyptian model Sandra Shehab took to social media this week to partner with US jewelry label David Yurman in order to promote the label’s Sculped Cable collection.
“My @davidyurman pieces always elevate the look,” the model captioned a short video, in which she can be seen trying on a set of the fine jewelry label’s signature creations. The Sculpted Cable collection is a play on the jewelry house’s signature cable motif. The updated version transforms the original twisted helix into a carved relief.
Founded in 1980 by David and Sybil Yurman, the jewelry house’s signature motif was created not long after. According to the brand’s website, David shaped 50 feet of gold wire into the first Cable design, with pink tourmaline and emerald end caps, in 1982. The twisted motif became a calling card for the brand, so much so that David described it as “the river that runs through all of our designs,” in a previously released statement.
In her post, Shehab shows off a pair of Sculped Cable bangles, including one bangle boasting hand-set pavé diamonds, as well as a pair of rings and earrings.
The New Jersey native came into the limelight in 2018 after appearing in Season 24 of “America’s Next Top Model.” Although she was eliminated in episode eight, coming in 8th place, she scored fans on social media for her portrayal of Muslim women on screen.
"I feel I represented my community pretty well. I wanted to show Muslim girls that they can do whatever they want. I hope they see that," Shehab said as she left the show.
The star is now spotted at fashion weeks around the world and has worked with numerous brands on social media.
Shehab attended Lebanese designer Elie Saab’s Fall/Winter ready-to-wear 2024-25 collection showcase at Paris Fashion Week in March and was in good company. The model was spotted in the crowd alongside influencers Olivia Palermo, Nathalie Fanj and Tamara Kalinic.
Shehab is also no stranger to the world of jewelry — her sister Amy is a fine jewelry designer and founded an eponymous label that has branched out into handbags and accessories.
Imaan Hammam fronts new fragrance campaign for Jean Paul Gaultier
DUBAI: Dutch-Moroccan-Egyptian model Imaan Hammam is fronting yet another perfume campaign for French luxury brand Jean Paul Gaultier — this time for their Scandal line. The luxury brand released both male and female fragrances for their new drop, Scandal Absolu.
The label released a series of campaign images, featuring the 27-year-old model alongside Dutch model Parker Van Noord.
While Hammam made her catwalk debut back in 2013 walking for Jean Paul Gaultier, she was only recruited to star in the brand’s campaign in 2021 for the launch of the So Scandal perfume range.
Meanwhile, Hammam recently made a head-turning appearance at the launch party for a new lipstick collection by Estee Lauder and Sabyasachi Mukherjee, wearing a mini straight-cut floral dress in a palette of green, white and black. She accessorized with black tights and black heels.
Her glossy locks were styled in a half-up, half-down hairdo. Embracing a bold makeup choice, Hammam opted for a dramatic glam look featuring sharp black eyeliner.
Taking to Instagram to share her excitement, Hammam called it a “dream collaboration” and thanked Estee Lauder and Mukherjee for the partnership.
The new matte-hued lipsticks, with shades named Calcutta Red and Rouge Bengal, draw inspiration from the vibrant palette of colors found in India.
Each lipstick is encased in packaging adorned with the signature Sabyasachi Tiger medallion, crafted from 24-karat gold.
Hammam was announced as the global ambassador for the US cosmetics giant in May 2023.
“It’s truly an honor and a dream to join the Estee Lauder family. I’m so excited to show you all the incredible things we have in store,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
Hammam previously spoke about what the appointment means to her.
“This is the most amazing opportunity to represent and empower girls around the world. As a Moroccan-Egyptian woman, I am incredibly honored to take on this role with such a long-standing brand that promotes diversity and women’s empowerment in the beauty space,” she said.
Hammam is one of the most in-demand models in the industry. She has appeared on the runway for major fashion houses including Burberry, Fendi, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Moschino, Balenciaga and Carolina Herrera. She has also starred in international campaigns for brands including DKNY, Celine, Chanel, Versace, Givenchy, Giorgio Armani and Tiffany & Co.
Gigi Hadid highlights collaboration with beauty brand
DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian model Gigi Hadid this week teased a new collaboration with US cosmetics brand Maybelline.
“It’s me, your resident @maybelline super stay gal,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing a mirror selfie wearing red lipstick and soft makeup. She was dressed in a white T-shirt featuring a smiley face, complemented by a black jacket. Hadid also showcased her new soft-bob hairstyle, which she debuted earlier this month.
The model then shared a close-up picture of a camera, hinting that she could be teaming up with the brand for a new campaign.
Last week, the model posted a picture of herself and wrote: “Lil glam with some of my new @maybelline faves — tattoo studio liquid liner, build-a-brow and plump lifter gloss.”
Last year, the cosmetics brand starred Chilean Palestinian singer Elyanna, Egyptian actress Amira Adeeb and Kuwaiti content creator Khattafya in its campaign for Ramadan.
The three stars promoted the brand’s Lash Sensation Sky High mascara, the Fit Me Vitamin C tint and the Superstay lipstick.
Hadid has had a bustling start to the year.
Earlier this month, she graced the runways of Chanel and Miu Miu during Paris Fashion Week.
The catwalk sensation walked the Miu Miu runway in a white-collared, knee-length dress featuring a slit down the middle. The ensemble also featured a luxurious brown fur coat, complemented by a sleek leather purse and stylish pointy-toed leather shoes.
For the Chanel show, Hadid — a mother of one — stepped out in a black knit dress featuring a turtle-neck collar. The dress was designed with a diagonal cut from below the waist, adorned with sheer fabric. She also sported a thin black belt with a gold clasp.
In February, she stunned the Versace runway in Milan in a black sheer, collared dress featuring intricate button-down detailing and a daring thigh-high slit. Complementing her ensemble, she sported black latex gloves and accentuated her look with sharp eye makeup.
She started the year in January with the French label Jacquemus’s show in France. She wore a textured cream-colored coat featuring exaggerated curved sleeves. The coat was layered over a crisp, white-collared shirt.