DUBAI: Saudi designer Honayda Serafi, founder of the label Honayda, made history this week by debuting at New York City’s Saks Fifth Avenue, becoming the first Saudi woman designer to be featured at the luxury department store.
The collection available at Saks is her spring/summer 2024 Cosmos release, which draws inspiration from the achievements of women in space exploration.
It showcases bright sky blues and reds, with glamorous sequins and vibrant crystals that echo the shimmering stars. Electric blue taffeta, dark magenta crepe and soft lace create a variety of textures, while body-shaping silhouettes, modernized mermaid cuts and dramatic capes add to the collection’s dynamic character.
This collection also pays tribute to visionaries such as Syrian scientist Maryam Al-Astrulabi, celebrating their contributions to history.
From Priyanka Chopra to Lupita Nyong’o and Adriana Lima, Serafi has dressed many A-listers around the world. Since founding her label Honayda in 2016, Serafi has captured the attention of some of Saudi’s most stylish women and celebrities with her standout designs in elegant and sophisticated silhouettes.
In 2022, she became the first Saudi designer to showcase her collection at Harrods in London.
One of her achievements was designing a dress for Princess Rajwa of Jordan’s pre-wedding henna night celebration in May 2023.
The princess looked radiant in an ethereal white creation with gold embroidery that was inspired by Al-Shaby thobes of the Najd region in Saudi Arabia, where Princess Rajwa — who was formerly known as Rajwa Al-Saif — is from.
The henna night dress was inspired by Al-Shaby thobes of the Najd region in Saudi Arabia. (Supplied)
“When I first got the call, I was extremely happy and proud to be part of this exceptional and historical moment. What I am especially proud of is communicating the love story between the crown prince and Rajwa in the design itself,” Serafi told Arab News at the time.
In June, Rajwa attended King Abdullah II’s silver jubilee celebrations in Amman alongside her husband, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, in a bespoke gown by Serafi.
It was a flowy, floor-length gown in a deep red color. It featured intricate, silver embellishments along the cape-like sleeves.
“As the creative director, I am deeply grateful for her trust and encouragement, which serve as a key to unlocking boundless creativity and beauty in my designs,” Serafi previously told Arab News of the continuing relationship with the royal.
