DUBAI: Saudi couture house Ashi Studio found itself in the spotlight this week when Hollywood star Zendaya wore one of its designs to a “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” fan event in Mexico City.
The actress, who plays MJ in the franchise, stepped out in a midnight-black floor-length gown from the label’s spring/summer 2026 couture collection, “The Beginnings.” The dress — Look 26 — hugged the body on one side and turned sheer on the other. Its delicate, web-like knit detailing offered a subtle nod to her superhero co-star.
Antique-treated threads, glass tassels and beaded fringe cascaded from the sleeves and down the back to the floor, while one side was finished with intricate embroidery.
The gothic mood was enhanced by Zendaya’s hair, which she wore in a voluminous updo with her bangs down.
The Mexico City stop was part of the global promotion for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” the latest installment in the blockbuster franchise in which Zendaya again appears opposite partner Tom Holland, who plays Peter Parker.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film is set four years after the events of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which ended with Parker erasing himself from the memories of everyone who knew him. It picks up with him living alone, fighting crime as a Spider-Man the world no longer remembers and watching his old friends move on without him — until a powerful new threat no one can see forces him back into action.
Alongside Holland and Zendaya, the cast includes Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Sadie Sink, Mark Ruffalo and Michael Mando. The film is due in Saudi theaters on July 29.
For Ashi Studio, the moment marked another high-profile outing on the red carpet. The label, founded by Saudi designer Mohammed Ashi, is one of the region’s most celebrated couture houses and showed on the official schedule at Paris Haute Couture Week. The house, which marked its 20th anniversary this year, has become a favorite among international celebrities drawn to its dramatic, sculptural evening wear.
“The Beginnings” collection draws on the Victorian era, using 18th-century corsetry techniques to cinch the waist and create structured, feminine silhouettes, along with fabrics that were distressed and burned during construction.
