Saudi fashion designers showcased their latest collections at an exhibition at the Hilton Hotel Jeddah on Saturday.
The three-day exhibition and fashion show, which ended yesterday, enabled Saudi fashion designers to show their designs on models strutting the catwalk.
Almost 30 reputed companies and fashion designers of national and international level participated in the exhibition with different collections, ranging from abayas, wedding dresses, bags, clothes, jewelry and other accessories. “
Saudi fashion designers need a boost to overcome obstacles they suffer from, especially since the fashion design field is based on creativity and innovation. It is our duty to embrace talents and praise them. As someone once said ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’,” said Afaf Al-Atafi, exhibition director at the organizer Alkhayal.
Alkhayal will conduct this exhibition on an annual basis. We will also launch a website to support Saudi designers, and give them a platform, she added.
The exhibition and the upcoming website are to provide a base for local and international fashion designers to be noticed by investors. They could help these talents on their way to success, said Al-Atafi.
Rawda Salami, an abaya fashion designer and entrepreneur, started her business two years ago. She loves to wear different styles of abayas. “I started to design my own abayas, to show more of the personality of the lady wearing it. As we wear our abaya on top of our clothes, it doesn’t matter how expensive your clothes are when the abaya always covers them,” said Salami.
It is very hard to develop a business, but it is fun, said Salami. “Participating in an exhibition like this gives us a chance to meet other women who are working in this sector and it gives us a chance to grow.” Aziza Mohammadi, a wedding fashion designer from Riyadh prepares all her dresses at home. She studied fashion design and material decoration.
“I started my business a year ago. I make all my dresses by hand. I design them and also work on them with beads and different materials. One piece takes me almost two months or more, depending on the design and work requirements,” she explained.
The fashion designers who participated in the show were Asma Bagader, Qwayma Azoz, Samhar Edris , Awayma Azoz, Liyla Wazna, Karen Millen and Demetrios.
Alkhayal organized the exhibition with the cooperation of the Women Welfare charitable organization under the patronage of Princess Latifa Thunayan. The exhibition and fashion show was attended by a number of entrepreneurs, royal family members, businesswomen, designers, female private university students and various government and training centers.
Saudi fashion designers converge on the runway in Jeddah
Saudi fashion designers converge on the runway in Jeddah
Leslie Bibb shows off Ashi Studio look at Actor Awards
DUBAI/ LOS ANGELES: US actress Leslie Bibb showed off a gown by Saudi couturier Mohammed Ashi at the Screen Actors Guild gala in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The shimmering, body-hugging gown hailed from the designer’s Paris-based label, Ashi Studio.
Styled by Jeanann Williams, Bibb’s look was handpicked from Ashi’s Fall/Winter 1015 couture collection.
Ashi’s creations have been worn by celebrities and stars including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Penelope Cruz, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
Ashi became the first couturier from the Gulf region to join the Federation de la Haute Couture in Paris as a guest member in 2023. He was also the first Gulf designer included in the BoF 500 list, the Business of Fashion’s index of people shaping the fashion industry in 2023.
At the awards ceremony, “Sinners” claimed the Actor Award for best movie cast, a victory that sets up a face-off with “One Battle After Another” for the prestigious Best Picture prize at the upcoming Oscars.
Delroy Lindo accepted the Actor Award trophy with fellow “Sinners” cast members standing behind him on stage in Los Angeles. The Warner Bros movie tells the story of two brothers who set up a juke joint in the segregation-era US South and are confronted by a vampire in a tale that celebrates blues music and Black culture.
“Every single day we brought ourselves, we brought our hearts, we brought our souls, we brought our spirits to this endeavor,” Lindo said at the ceremony, which was streamed live on Netflix. “To be recognized by you all, thank you does not even begin to encompass the gratitude that we feel.”
“Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan, who plays two roles - brothers Smoke and Stack - was named best film actor. Jordan thanked his fellow nominees in a field that included “Marty Supreme” star Timothee Chalamet and “One Battle After Another” actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
“This ride has been unbelievable and I thank you for welcoming me in and making me feel seen,” Jordan said.
