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)
Short Url
Updated 24 March 2025
Follow

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.

 

 


Arab models share festive red looks for holiday season

Updated 24 December 2025
Follow

Arab models share festive red looks for holiday season

  • Bella Hadid and others post images on social media
  • Stars promote their labels and fashion collaborations

DUBAI: Several Arab models, including Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid Imaan Hammam and Shania Shaik, have been sharing holiday-themed looks on social media, many featuring red tones.

US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Hadid has been promoting holiday gift sets from her fragrance brand Orebella. In one image shared on Instagram, she wears a red off-the-shoulder top paired with denim jeans, accessorized with red boots and red-tinted glasses.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bella (@bellahadid)

Her holiday sets include the brand’s skin perfume collection, and a travel-size duo featuring Salted Muse and Nightcap.

Nightcap, launched in August, is reportedly a homage to Hadid’s favorite horse from her childhood. The fragrance has been characterized as warm and spicy, with notes of ginger, cardamom and vanilla.

Salted Muse features top notes of sea salt, pink pepper and carbon dioxide extract, followed by heart notes of olive tree accord, fig and lavender. Its base notes include cedarwood, sandalwood and amber.

Bella’s sister, Gigi Hadid, also released a winter collection for her clothing brand Guest in Residence, featuring sweaters, beanies, scarves and socks in seasonal colors.

Meanwhile, Hammam, a Dutch Moroccan Egyptian model, appeared in red as part of a festive campaign for Estee Lauder, a label she has worked with on multiple occasions.

The model shared images from the campaign on Instagram, showing her posing in a red gown alongside Karlie Kloss and Paulina Porizkova, set against oversized holiday decorations and baubles.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Imaan Hammam (@imaanhammam)

Hammam was announced as a global ambassador for the US cosmetics company in 2023.

She spoke about the appointment in a recent interview with Estee Lauder: “This is the most amazing opportunity to represent and empower girls around the world.

“As a Moroccan-Egyptian woman, I am incredibly honored to take on this role with such a long-standing brand that promotes diversity and women’s empowerment in the beauty space.”

Shaik, an Australia-born model of Saudi, Pakistani and Lithuanian descent, also shared festive content with her followers. In one Instagram post captioned “Holiday party season,” she wears 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.