The annual Ramadan festival Bisat Al-Reeh held in Jeddah gathers Royal Highnesses and the country’s social elites around local merchandise and products sold especially for charity.
Princess Hessa bint Salman decided to design luxury jewelry for the first time for charity.
“I decided to collaborate with one of the famous jewelry hubs in Riyadh that goes by the name Jihan,” Princess Hussa told Arab News. “He is known among the social lights that always go to him when looking for the perfect jewelry set for their weddings and big events.
Princess Hessa said Jihan contacted her to ask whether she would be interested in designing a special line especially for Bisat Al-Reeh.
As soon as the princess walked in the festival, the number of people attending and the number of local exhibitors who are looking to benefit themselves and their society impressed her.
“I am very happy to see how these women are all looking for different ways to collect money for charity and most of them only designing to exhibit at Bisat Al-Reeh like Princess Jawaher bint Abdullah who usually takes the center booth and proudly showcases her designs,” said Princess Hessa. “One-Hundred percent of the income goes to The National Home Health Care Foundation.”
She added: “What I’m doing is a one-time thing because I am not a professional jewelry designer and I never studied jewelry designing, I am just like any other woman who loved jewelry and glamour. Many princesses, queens and celebrities globally use their jewelry for a good cause where they hold charity auction and donate the money for a welfare society.”
According to Princess Hessa, jewelry can be an investment. “In many societies, women buy gold and jewelry for two reasons,” she said. “One is because it always complements your look and style and the other because they want to keep it for the day when they need to sell it and use the money. I am very excited to see women wearing my designs and my creations even though I am not a designer and this is just for charity I would still want to see people wearing what I made and what I think is beautiful.”
Jewelry exhibited at Sadeem, the princess’s booth, is inspired by Arabian different items.
“We have all seen how the Hollywood celebrities have been wearing turbans and head jewelry that was inspired from our culture but sadly we forgot about it,” she said. “This is what made me think about designing jeweled head pieces that I am sure will attract the younger generation.”
The princess used different stones, cuts, shapes and colors to make sure she has something for every taste. She also used an Eastern taste to the head pieces so they would go great with traditional and modern Ramadan thobes that are now trending.
“I wanted to capture the Ramadan spirit in the bracelets and the rings and wanted them to represent the holy month in a very luxurious way,” said the princess.
The princess expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped her making this event possible.
• [email protected]
Sadeem: Jewelry for charity
Sadeem: Jewelry for charity
Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad show new couture collections in Paris
- Saab’s collection uses light as central theme
- Exploration of structure, movement by Murad
DUBAI: Lebanese designers Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad presented their Spring/Summer 2026 haute couture collections in Paris earlier this week.
Saab’s collection referenced light as a central theme, expressed through elongated silhouettes and layered embellishment, according to a statement from the brand.
The runway featured gowns built on sheer bases, with metallic embroidery, sequins and crystal beadwork creating layered textures across champagne, gold, bronze and soft ivory tones.
Column dresses, deep necklines and floor-length gowns dominated the collection, while draped panels, embroidered capes and sheer overlays added movement.
Several looks incorporated fringed detailing and geometric patterns, with crystal embellishments catching the light as models walked.
Accessories were kept minimal, allowing the focus to remain on craftsmanship and surface technique.
Meanwhile, Murad’s collection also placed craftsmanship at the center of the show.
According to the house, the collection explored structure and movement, using corsetry to define the body and draping to create fluidity.
The runway featured fitted gowns and sculpted eveningwear built around structured bodices, many finished with dense embroidery, crystals and metallic thread.
A palette of champagne, pale blue, sage green, ivory and gold ran throughout the show, with strapless silhouettes, off-the-shoulder gowns and column dresses appearing alongside sheer panels, thigh-high slits and flowing trains.
Shorter dresses with crystal-encrusted bodices were shown alongside floor-length gowns, with sheer layers and extended trains.
