Istituto Marangoni to shape Saudi Arabia’s fashion future

Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, speaks at the Istituto Marangoni Ramadan event in Riyadh. (Supplied)
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Updated 24 March 2025
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Istituto Marangoni to shape Saudi Arabia’s fashion future

RIYADH: Milan’s fashion and design-focused Istituto Marangoni will launch in Riyadh in August in collaboration with the Saudi Fashion Commission.

At a recent Ramadan event co-hosted by Istituto Marangoni and the Fashion Commission, key players explained why the move is a game-changer for aspiring creatives in the Kingdom.

Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, highlighted the significance of having Istituto Marangoni in Saudi Arabia, stating that its presence will allow aspiring designers to receive education without the need for international travel. “Having an institution like this on the ground will make it much easier for anyone interested in the fashion sector to study, take short programs, or even combine work with education,” he told Arab News.

The new Higher Training Institute, located in the King Abdullah Financial District, will offer three-year undergraduate advanced training diploma programs across several disciplines, including fashion business, fragrances and cosmetics, fashion design, and fashion styling.

Stefania Valenti, CEO of Istituto Marangoni, said that students will also have the option to transfer to global campuses to complete their studies, to gain exposure to international fashion hubs. “We work with all the major global brands, and we aim to connect Saudi talent with international opportunities,” she said.

In an interview with Arab News, Valenti revealed that the institute plans to expand its programs beyond fashion and fragrance, with courses in product and interior design set to launch in the future. “We believe this should be the second wave of creative education in Saudi Arabia,” she said.

To mark the launch, Istituto Marangoni will offer 50 scholarships to Saudi students enrolling in its Advanced Training Diploma Programs, open to Saudi nationals holding a high school certificate or its equivalent.

 

 


Shanina Shaik hits the slopes with Net-A-Porter

Updated 25 January 2026
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Shanina Shaik hits the slopes with Net-A-Porter

DUBAI: Part-Arab model Shanina Shaik traded city streets for snowy peaks last weekend as shopping giant Net-A-Porter brought its destination style fest to One&Only’s newest ultraluxury property in Big Sky, Montana. The event attracted a glittering crowd of fashion insiders and Hollywood names — including Emma Roberts and Louisa Jacobson — all embracing alpine chic between runs on the slopes.

Shaik, an Australia-born model of Saudi, Pakistani and Lithuanian descent, who took to Instagram to share snapshots from the trip, was spotted among the well-dressed guests turning the mountain resort into a style set. “A few days in the Montana mountains is good for the soul,” she captioned her post on Instagram.

Roberts made one of the weekend’s standout sartorial statements with a slouched, fur-accented jacket layered over sleek black separates, merging apres-ski warmth with polished glamour.

Meanwhile, Jacobson, known for her breakout role on “The Gilded Age,” embraced casual luxury in elevated winter staples that complemented the event’s laid-back yet luxurious vibe. Aurora James added fur-trapper energy with her double-layered fur look, offering playful inspiration for winter layering.

Shaik ended 2025 sharing festive content with her followers. In one Instagram post captioned “Holiday party season,” she wore a sparkly maroon halter-neck dress with a plunging neckline.

The post took the form of a “get-ready-with-me” carousel, offering a glimpse of the beauty products she used ahead of a holiday event.

She also turned heads in Paris last year when she appeared in new images shared by Victoria Beckham Beauty. The model was featured in photos from a collaboration post on Instagram between her and the beauty brand, seen applying products such as the satin kajal liner and eye wear palette to create a soft, bronzed makeup look.

Shaik also attended the Victoria Beckham show during Paris Fashion Week, where the British designer presented her Spring/Summer 2026 collection at 17th-century Val-de-Grace Abbey. For the occasion, Shaik wore a chocolate-brown satin halter-neck gown with a high neckline and open back, styled with minimal accessories and glossy waves for a sleek finish.

Before the show, Shaik shared a behind-the-scenes video of her getting ready for the event.

“I am so excited for this show. I am obviously a huge fan,” she said in the video before breaking down the products she uses on her hair before styling.