The innovative ideas and creativity of Saudi youth have contributed to a huge growth in the number of business startups in the Kingdom.
And among them is Mine Bags, which has found success in the highly competitive handbags market with its interchangeable products that allow customers to alter the look of items by switching between different brooches and straps.
Accessories for its leather bags are designed and made by other Saudi startups, NGOs, and charities.
Noor Zahid, of Mine Bags, said: “We thought of adding something to the bags to make them attractive to Saudi youth. Originally, we looked at embroidery, but it was difficult to embroider on leather.”
However, after further research they came up with idea of personalized brooches and leather bags designed specifically for the purpose. The handbags are supplied with single or multiple holes for the attachment of decorative brooches which are either machined or hand embroidered.
“Mine Bags’ motive was to involve as many local NGOs and charitable organizations as it could. We aim to bring the right pin with the right bag, with the right hole, while maintaining elegance and coherence,” Zahid added.
The startup’s main challenge was to find a regular supplier of quality leather but when the raw materials it required could not be sourced in Saudi Arabia the search shifted to Tunisia.
The company’s first line used off-cut leather from mass-produced, high-end brands.
Zahid said: “The atelier we contacted to make our bags told us they had no use for the (leftover) leather, so we decided against buying excessive amounts of it and used what they provided.” This helped the brand to be sustainable and affordable, and reduced the amount of waste.
Mine Bags also offers embroidered straps, tote bags, small pouches, laptop bags, and other items and has expanded its range to include on-demand T-shirts.
Zahid pointed out that products were designed with versatility, uniqueness, slow fashion, and practicality in mind while ensuring that components were multipurpose.
“You can change the brooches to fit wherever you are going and can use the straps with other bags. The brooches can also be used on clothes and as headpieces,” she added.
Although the brand is currently only sold in Saudi Arabia, the company has signed a contract to start supplying to Bahrain.
“Because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic we have noticed that people are more interested in local brands and designers, which is enabling new designers to emerge.
“So, during the lockdown, we focused on our made-in-Saudi line and once everything was open, we were ready with production,” Zahid said.
She also revealed that the brand was collaborating with fashion designer Nasiba Hafiz. Mine Bags products are available on Instagram at @mineofficially.
Startup of the Week: Saudi startup adds bags of choice to popular fashion items
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Startup of the Week: Saudi startup adds bags of choice to popular fashion items
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- Saudi startup adds bags of choice to popular fashion items
Loli Bahia showcases bold style in new campaign
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DUBAI: French Algerian model Loli Bahia has added another high-profile campaign to her portfolio, this time joining Swedish fashion brand H&M’s latest Autumn/ Winter 2024 collection.
In the first campaign image, Bahia, who is signed to Women Management Paris, was seen wearing a flowing black ensemble that includes a sheer, oversized top paired with wide-leg trousers. The outfit featured ruffled hems and a high neckline and was accompanied by a large black bag.
The second image shows the catwalk star in a crisp white blouse with structured, exaggerated sleeves, paired with a high-waisted black leather skirt detailed with silver studs.
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In another shot, she was pictured in an oversized dark fur coat layered over wide-leg pants.
The campaign also features British singer Charli XCX, Venezuelan musician Arca, British model Lila Moss, American skateboarder and artist Sage Elsesser, and British musician Sega Bodega.
The latest collection embraces a mid-century aesthetic, evident in its suiting with boxy jackets and micro skirts.
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The new drop features vintage-style opulence, with beading and studs adorning knitwear, heirloom-style mesh dresses, as well as leather and suede pieces.
The knitwear selection includes skirt suits in stretch wool, along with matching vests and shorts that are set to become wardrobe essentials.
The color palette spans a range of browns, from caramel to deep mahogany, with oxblood and green adding to the archival vibe. Black and white are used as accent tones.
Accessories in the collection include heeled pumps with statement round toes, studded loafers, and furry slip-ons. The bags are sleek and directional, while the jewelry ranges from minimal and angular to off-beat and earthy.
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“This collection is full of many special inspirations and quality materials. The leather, the knits, the sparkly separates – together the pieces showcase the strength of H&M’s fashion ability. It’s all about truly great clothes: real wardrobe icons. The campaign lets the fashion shine,” said Eliana Masgalos, the womenswear design director at H&M.
Meanwhile, Bahia is one of the most in-demand models in the industry, becoming a runway fixture in just a few months after a breakthrough Spring 2022 fashion season, where she walked in 65 shows.
She has walked for a host of prestigious labels, including Chanel, Tory Burch, Givenchy, Lanvin, Schiaparelli and Valentino. Bahia also fronted campaigns for Saint Laurent, Tod’s, Isabel Marant, Courreges and Max Mara in addition to starring on the cover of Vogue Italia.
Italy showcases 25 brands at Dubai Fashion Week’s ‘La Moda Italiana’ initiative
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DUBAI: Dubai Fashion Week is gearing up for its Spring/Summer 2025 showcase, with international labels set to hit the runway from Sept. 1-5.
This year, Italy will make a significant appearance at DFW with the launch of “La Moda Italiana: Dubai Edition,” a dedicated initiative introduced by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Arab Fashion Council and Confindustria Moda.
The initiative will feature 25 Italian brands across various product categories, including clothing, textiles, footwear, leather goods and eyewear. These brands will showcase the pinnacle of Made in Italy craftsmanship in Dubai Design District.
Valerio Soldani, the Italian trade commissioner, told Arab News that he believes this initiative will strengthen Italy’s relationship with the UAE, particularly in the fashion sector.
“Our trade exchange has been growing by double digits in recent years when it comes to the four pillars of Made in Italy: factory, fashion, food and furniture,” he said. “We think that fashion is also a good way to provide opportunities for Italian and UAE designers to collaborate, create new things, and blend cultures, industries and ideas.”
He believes this collaboration could happen through initiatives such as agreements with local retailers and partnerships between Italian companies and local designers to boost sales in the online channels across the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
“We have noticed that our fashion exports have been growing consistently in the last five years. So we thought — with our headquarters — to do something big, to have a big splash into the UAE market. And we decided to team up with the Arab fashion Council and Confindustria Moda to showcase Italian excellence, quality and innovation when it comes to fashion.”
The 25 brands, Soldani said, were carefully selected by the involved parties. “They provided an opportunity for many Italian companies to apply by submitting their lookbooks and Instagram accounts. Our partners at the Arab Fashion Council then chose a selection of 25 brands that best represent and align with the UAE’s tastes and trends in fashion.”
He said this provides Italian fashion startups with the opportunity to enter the GCC market.
Reflecting on the essence of Italian fashion, Soldani quoted Giorgio Armani: “Elegance is not about being noticed; it is about being remembered.”
He added: “I think that Italy is renowned and remembered all over the world because of quality, innovation, and sustainability, which is a very big topic right now for young designers, for customers all around the world, and it resonates with the efforts of the UAE in delivering cutting-edge solutions and driving innovation in these key areas.”
Saudi jewelry brand APOA celebrates Fashion Trust Arabia Awards nomination
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DUBAI: “Small wearable sculptures” is how the founders of APOA (A Piece of Art) describe their jewelry.
Within a year of launching their Riyadh-based brand, Saudi Princesses Mashael Khalid Al-Saud, Nourah Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Sarah Naif Al-Saud are thrilled that it has made the shortlist of finalists in Fashion Trust Arabia Awards’ jewelry section.
“We knew it was a long shot but we were very confident in our brand and the achievements we've made so far,” Mashael — the youngest of the three cousins — tells Arab News. “It was just such an exciting moment to learn we were in the top three.”
“I can't describe how I feel honestly,” Sarah adds. “We have worked so hard for it. We are so happy with this achievement.”
The idea for the brand arose in 2020, during the COVID pandemic.
“It was Sarah and Nourah who were talking about this at first,” says Mashael. “Then they asked me to join.” (“Mashael has amazing taste,” Sarah adds.)
“Sarah and Nourah are older than me, so they've shared a lot of their experience with me. We complement each other: Our fashion tastes are very different, but we balance each other out,” Mashael continues.
“We are cousins and we live together and we travel together. We’re always wearing each other’s clothes. And when we travel, we use each other's things. We’ve always had a love for accessories. We can't wear anything if we do not accessorize our outfit,” Sarah says. “We saw that there was a need in the market for fashion accessories. We wanted to make fashion accessories that are affordable and yet very dressy, so you can wear them for special occasions and you can keep them for a lifetime. These aren’t things you will wear and get bored with after a month or two, or a year or two.”
Since its launch in 2023, APOA — “injected with strong Saudi DNA” and inspired by culture, architecture, nature and travel — has dropped four eclectic collections, which the cousins call “chapters.”
“We call them chapters because, basically, it's like you’re reading a book. So, each chapter has a storyline — an idea or a whimsical thought behind it,” says Mashael.
The first chapter was a tribute to the Kingdom’s heritage of pearl diving and a way to put their Arab roots on full display. The latest is dedicated to “women on the go.”
While all design ideas come from the three founders, APOA has a technical designer based in Barcelona and the pieces are manufactured at an atelier in Italy.
“We work with our technical designer to basically clean up the mess of our ideas and put them on paper, so we can hand it over to the manufacturers. But each piece is approved by the three of us before that happens,” Mashael explains.
The founders celebrated another milestone earlier this year when they participated at Paris Fashion Week as part of the Saudi 100 Brands initiative.
“It was an immense experience,” Mashael says. “And we're very thankful, because not everyone gets this opportunity. We are part of this initiative that our government is funding. It takes people many years to join a show or to get this recognition. And we've got that in our pocket. It's literally a dream come true,” said Mashael.
“I get very anxious and nervous meeting people. I believe in my brand, but it's another thing trying to convince a stranger: ‘Yes, trust me, this brand is going places.’ Or, ‘These pieces are amazing.’ So, it was really nice seeing people from all over — publishers, buyers… we met a lot of amazing people in the industry.”
Before the announcement of the FTA Awards winners in Morocco, the cousins are already looking forward to chapter five, which will have a floral focus, as well as to their second collaboration with Saudi label Ashi Studio — a “very bold” piece, according to Sarah, that will launch in October.
Georgina Rodriguez spotlights Saudi Arabia ahead of reality show release
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DUBAI: Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez shared a video with her 62 million Instagram followers this week promoting Saudi Arabia, captioning it: “This is real, this is Saudi Arabia.”
Originally posted by Visit Saudi, the video shared by Rodriguez captures the diverse landscapes of Saudi Arabia, showcasing everything from the desert areas to the country’s seascapes. It highlights the Kingdom’s history and modern developments, featuring scenes of golden sand dunes, the Ithra cultural center, the ancient site of AlUla, the mirrored Maraya concert hall, the Red Sea and lush greenery in gardens and forests.
Rodriguez has been living in Saudi Arabia since January 2023 and has made a point of exploring the Kingdom, so much so that her experiences will be featured in her upcoming Netflix show.
She is set to return to Netflix with the third season of her reality TV show “Soy Georgina” (“I Am Georgina”), which will place a heavy focus on her life in Saudi Arabia. The new season will follow Rodriguez’s life after her move to the Kingdom with her partner, football star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
“What is true luxury like in Saudi Arabia? We will find out when Gio and her family settle in Riyadh with Cristiano's signing for Al-Nassr,” Netflix stated.
According to the announcement, the season will also show Rodriguez enjoying a number of firsts, including the opening of her first beach house, Villa Perla, to starring in an international campaign for a famous clothing brand and her biggest dream — making her debut at Paris Fashion Week.
Meanwhile, the star couple have been taking some time off from their hectic schedules to explore Saudi Arabia’s coastline and the Red Sea development in June.
The two took to social media to post photos from their relaxing getaway at what seemed to be The St. Regis Red Sea Resort. They were seen enjoying the resort and its pristine beaches along with their children.
“My world,” Rodriguez captioned her post.
The couple was also recently spotted enjoying a staycation at The Red Sea Project, where Rodriguez wore a necklace from the Egyptian brand Nado’s Jewelry’s Perle collection, featuring large, rounded links alternating between polished gold and diamond-encrusted surfaces.
Gigi Hadid named global ambassador for Rabanne scent
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DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Gigi Hadid has been named the global ambassador for French luxury fashion brand Rabanne’s new fragrance, Million Gold For Her.
In the campaign photos, Hadid is seen wearing a metallic gold two-piece set, consisting of a skirt and a cropped top made of reflective fabric. In the accompanying campaign video, she also appeared in a black suit.
Her hair was styled in loose waves and her makeup was subtle, emphasizing her blue eyes and neutral-toned lips.
In one of the images, Hadid is pictured holding the oversized perfume bottle for Million Gold For Her.
“Million Gold For Her reminds me of how Rabanne feels as a brand,” Hadid said in a statement. “It is powerful and beautiful, with rose, lavender and a salty mineral musk undertone. I love the balance. I think that a lot of my personality has masculine tinges to it, so I Iike the mix of feminine and masculine elements in a fragrance.”
Hadid took to Instagram to share behind-the-scenes shots of the campaign shoot.
“The making of the ‘million gold’ commercial was days of trying to keep a straight face through the joy and fun that is dancing with @stephengalloway on set,” she captioned her post. “Feeling golden being the newest ambassador of this iconic fragrance – many, many thanks to my new family at @rabanne and to all who made this week wonderful.”
One of the photos featured her enjoying lunch on set with the team, which included an Arab meal. The spread consisted of tabbouleh, hummus, batata harra, rolls and fattoush.
This month, Hadid released the Fall 2024 collection for her fashion brand, Guest In Residence.
The collection includes timeless pieces such as oversized sweaters, cardigans, and tailored knit sets, all made from 100% cashmere. These pieces come in warm, earthy tones and rich autumnal colors, combining functionality with fashion-forward designs that reflect Hadid’s personal style.