Online Saudi brand introduces sustainable streetwear

Created in line with Saudi Vision 2030, entrepreneurs seek to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and society. (Supplied)
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Updated 04 March 2022
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Online Saudi brand introduces sustainable streetwear

JEDDAH: Fashion comes at a startling environmental and social cost so, as awareness grows, brands are moving toward creating sustainable fashion that will reduce the industry’s environmental footprint.

Taking bold steps to embrace and implement sustainable fashion, Saudi brand Glamming Sisters launched their eco-friendly streetwear line to promote ethical fashion and its production.
Founded by four sisters and a brother, the online brand aims to create eco-friendly contemporary clothing that will inspire the Kingdom’s fashion culture while giving customers fresh looks with a comfortable fit.

One hundred percent of our fabric cutting scraps are recycled into fiber and used in new products and 33 percent of the energy used to manufacture our products comes from renewable resources. We believe that small contributions from different people will create a big positive impact in the future.

Fadiah Metaki, Glamming Sisters founder

It was created in line with Saudi Vision 2030 which has, as one of its goals, entrepreneurs helping to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and society.
Glamming Sisters founder Fadiah Metaki said: “One hundred percent of our fabric cutting scraps are recycled into fiber and used in new products and 33 percent of the energy used to manufacture our products comes from renewable resources. We believe that small contributions from different people will create a big positive impact in the future.
“We focus on using sustainable materials by taking small steps to improve environmental performance, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester made from plastic bottles, though our biggest challenge was to find a recycling factory in Saudi Arabia for which we had to collaborate with factories in Europe that are aware of sustainability and produce organic as well as recycled wearable high quality fabrics.”
Metaki’s modern urban streetwear fashion designs are based on two concepts. First, it is inspired by the Kingdom’s culture and society and second, the positivity and pleasant vibes it evokes when worn.
“Besides allowing customers to buy from our sustainable collections, our objective is to raise awareness on sensible consumerism and help the consumers to understand the importance of a sustainable environment and ways to save our nature for the future generation.”
The raw materials for the Glamming Sister is sourced from abroad, but the founders wish to make their brand 100 percent Made in Saudi to support the In-Kingdom Total Value Add program and local businesses.
Metaki added: “We have a future plan to build a recycling factory in Saudi Arabia with zero carbon emissions producing high standard eco-friendly fabrics.”
Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a growing hub for entrepreneurs, designers and local brands, and the Kingdom is coming up with ways to establish and promote sustainable fashion and maximizing local talent.


Amina Muaddi celebrates PETA win on Instagram

Updated 06 October 2024
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Amina Muaddi celebrates PETA win on Instagram

DUBAI: Jordanian Romanian luxury shoe designer Amina Muaddi took to Instagram to celebrate her win at the PETA Vegan Awards 2024.

Muaddi won the award for Best Vegan Heels in the Fashion category for her stylish Brito Slipper heels crafted from plexiglass and TPU.

“I won a @peta award for the Brito,” she wrote on Instagram Stories and shared a photo of the award.

Now in their 11th year, the PETA Vegan Awards celebrate fashion companies and designers dedicated to creating animal-friendly clothing, shoes, accessories and bags. The 2024 winners include Berlin-based GmbH for its innovative leather biker jacket and Armedangels for its eco-conscious recycled linen blazer, among others.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by AMINA MUADDI (@aminamuaddi)

Last month, Muaddi unveiled her latest pair of heels on none other than Barbadian superstar Rihanna as the footwear mogul was spotted at Milan Fashion Week.

Muaddi created a custom-made pair of Anok mules for the singer in a shade called butter satin, which Muaddi showed off on Instagram before hitting the streets at the now-concluded Milan Fashion Week.

The designer attended shows by Ferragamo, The Attico and Gucci and showed off apparel by each of the brands as she sat in the front row.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by AMINA MUADDI (@aminamuaddi)

She also turned heads at the Dior show at Paris Fashion Week last month, while French Saudi model Amira Al-Zuhair graced the runway for Danish fashion label Ganni.

Muaddi, who is a regular at Dior fashion shows, opted for a classic white button-down shirt and a sleek black satin pencil skirt. Her look was accessorized with a pair of dark, round sunglasses and a small, textured blue Dior handbag.

Since launching her eponymous footwear line in August 2018, Muaddi has attracted a loyal following of celebrities including Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber. Her brand, known for its distinctive footwear, bags and jewelry, has quickly become a favorite among the fashion elite.

Since the launch, Muaddi has enjoyed a series of successful events, notably her collaboration with Rihanna’s Fenty collection. This partnership was immensely successful, earning the Collaborator of the Year award at the 34th FN Achievement Awards in 2020.

A year after this accolade, Muaddi’s influence and success were further recognized when she was named one of Women’s Wear Daily and Footwear News’ 50 Most Powerful Women.


Tilda Swinton wears Maison Alaia as protesters interrupt film screening

Updated 06 October 2024
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Tilda Swinton wears Maison Alaia as protesters interrupt film screening

DUBAI: British actress Tilda Swinton wore an all-black ensemble from Maison Alaia on the red carpet at the New York Film Festival screening of her film “The Room Next Door.”

The simple design from the label, which was founded by late Tunisian couturier Azzedine Alaia, featured a black sweater and skirt, which Swinton paired with bright red heels.

According to a report by Deadline, the post-screening Q&A for “The Room Next Door” was interrupted by protesters chanting in support of Palestine as well as Lebanon, the recent target of Israeli airstrikes.

A spokesperson told Deadline: “Two individuals held a banner and shouted slogans in the theater during the Q&A following the NYFF screening of Pedro Almodovar’s film ‘The Room Next Door.’ They were peacefully escorted out.”

The protest reportedly drew some applause, along with some shouts calling for them to “go away.” Director Almodovar gave the group a chance to be heard as he and Swinton helped diffuse the situation.

“The Room Next Door” is Spanish filmmaker Almodovar’s first English-language movie. The picture won the Golden Lion at its Venice Film Festival world premiere as well as the Brian Award for Almodovar.

Swinton described the protest as “a dignifying thing for this festival,” adding: “These interruptions are uncomfortable, but they’re necessary, and it is relevant to our film. Syria is the room next door, Beirut, Gaza. Pedro’s film asks us not to look away.”


Georgina Rodriguez leads Guess holiday campaign

Updated 05 October 2024
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Georgina Rodriguez leads Guess holiday campaign

DUBAI: Guess this week tapped Saudi Arabia-based Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez as the face of its 2024 holiday campaign.

Set to launch this month, the collection includes a range of footwear, from high heels to boots, along with ready-to-wear pieces, outerwear and accessories.

Rodriguez, a familiar face for Guess, was photographed by the brand’s longtime collaborator Nima Benati, showcasing an array of looks from the new holiday line.

In one shot, she reclined on a sofa in a nude mini-dress embellished with diamonds. Another look featured her in a satin animal-print dress, paired with a shaggy pink coat and nude heels, accentuated by a bold red handbag. She also appeared in a long camel coat, belted at the waist, with matching snakeskin boots and a handbag.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by GUESS (@guess)

In another outfit, Rodriguez stunned in a deep red knit dress, styled with knee-high boots and a red handbag. She also posed in black-and-white photos, wearing a denim jumpsuit and pointed-toe heels.

Creative Director Paul Marciano emphasized their strong ongoing collaboration in a statement, saying: “Georgina perfectly embodies the spirit of the Guess woman — her beauty, confidence, and elegance make her the ideal face of our brand.

“Working with her over the years has been a wonderful experience, and this new campaign brings her iconic look and the essence of the brand to the forefront once again,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez said: “I was delighted when Guess asked me to be the face of the Holiday campaign. It is truly an honor to be part of the Guess family, and I am absolutely thrilled for the wonderful opportunity to be a Guess Girl again.”

Rodriguez was in Paris last week for the city’s prestigious fashion show. She attended the Messika and Vetements shows.

For Messika, she donned an off-the-shoulder, form-fitting silver dress with a metallic finish and slight draping at the bust, complementing her look with silver pointed-toe heels, a glitzy diamond necklace and matching earrings.

Meanwhile, for Vetements, Rodriguez was dressed in a sleek, off-the-shoulder black velvet mini dress that she paired with sheer black tights and classic black stiletto heels. For accessories, Rodriguez added a statement diamond necklace and matching earrings with her hair styled in a wet-look finish.


Naomi Campbell lauds ‘great impact’ of fashion creatives at 4th World Conference on Creative Economy

Updated 03 October 2024
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Naomi Campbell lauds ‘great impact’ of fashion creatives at 4th World Conference on Creative Economy

TASHKENT: Creative leaders and policymakers from around the world gathered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Wednesday for the opening day of the fourth World Conference on Creative Economy.

Opening the event was keynote speaker and supermodel Naomi Campbell, who lauded the power of the fashion economy in an interview with Arab News.

The conference, organized by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, is taking place until Oct. 4. In her opening remarks, Campbell said: “The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Inclusively Creative: A Shifted Reality,’ could not be more fitting. We are in a time of immense transformation, and this gathering is a testament to the power of creativity to not only adapt to but also lead these changes.”

The creative sectors are currently undergoing a transformation which can be a force for inclusive, sustainable economic growth. Cultural and creative industries are among the fastest-growing globally, generating annual revenues of nearly US$2.3 trillion, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

In a panel discussion titled “Threads of Inclusion: The Impact of Fashion on the Creative Economy,” Campbell explored how supporting up-and-coming fashion designers within Africa and the diaspora, especially in emerging markets, can build economies and yield growth.

“There is a such a great impact,” she told Arab News afterwards. “I think governments of emerging markets didn’t realize before the impact what their talent in fashion could do and bring to their economy. They now do and understand what it can do. They’re now taking it more seriously and that’s what we want. We want them to invest in their own and then that is also how we can get investors from outside too. It is crucial to invest in your own talent.”

Campbell, who has been part of numerous events in Saudi Arabia — most notably on the red carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival — said she had been impressed with the changes happening throughout the Gulf region.

“Women are getting opportunities that they never had before and that in itself is amazing,” she told Arab News, adding that many of these lay within creative fields.

“They are quickly embracing these roles and being included,” she said. “I just want to make people feel included because I know what it’s like to not be included. I don’t want people to ever feel that.”


Loli Bahia makes waves at Paris Fashion Week with Louis Vuitton, Chanel appearances

Updated 02 October 2024
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Loli Bahia makes waves at Paris Fashion Week with Louis Vuitton, Chanel appearances

DUBAI: French Algerian model Loli Bahia has been busy of late, walking for several brands at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week, including the latest Louis Vuitton and Chanel shows.

For Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer presentation, womenswear designer Nicolas Ghesquiere presented a lineup of layered looks featuring short, flouncy skirts and puffy-sleeved jackets, similar to Bahia’s runway style on the final day of Paris Fashion Week.

The in-demand catwalk star graced the runway wearing a black jumpsuit with a relaxed, tailored fit and a deep V-neckline, allowing a metallic, iridescent top to peek through underneath. The shiny fabric of the top, visible on the sleeves and chest, contrasted with the matte texture of the jumpsuit. 

The in-demand catwalk star graced the runway wearing a black jumpsuit with a relaxed, tailored fit and a deep V-neckline. (Getty)

She accessorized with a structured black handbag featuring metallic hardware and chain details, while her black pointed-toe shoes completed the look. 

The runway was set up in a temporary venue in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum, made from a mix of trunk facades. It ran through the center of the space and rose into a podium as the show started.

The models paraded tops that were cinched at the waist, their long necklaces and loosely fastened neckties swinging, Reuters reported. The pace quickened through the show, even as the silhouettes grew longer, to include robe-like overcoats that swept the floor and loose, bohemian trousers.

For the Chanel show, Bahia wore a layered ensemble featuring a black-and-white houndstooth set. (Getty)

Handbags came in all shapes and sizes, with some models carrying more than one, stacked like jewelry.

For the Chanel show, Bahia wore a layered ensemble featuring a black-and-white houndstooth set. The look included a cropped, double-breasted vest with a wide, oversized collar, worn over a sheer white blouse with voluminous sleeves. The matching houndstooth skirt had a mid-length hem with a thigh-high slit. The look was styled with a pair of statement black-and-white platform lace-up shoes. 

Without a creative director since June after Virginie Viard — who took over from Karl Lagerfeld after his death in 2019 — bowed out, Chanel’s studio designed the spring/summer collection, riffing on some of the label’s standards, from its trademark tweeds to lacy flapper dresses and flying jackets, AFP reported. 

But it was the feathers that stood out, used in ruff-like collars on crocheted bombers and on 1920s-style gowns inspired by the glamour of French writer Colette’s forays into music hall and cabaret.