Saudi fashion designers showcased their latest collections at an exhibition at the Hilton Hotel Jeddah on Saturday.
The three-day exhibition and fashion show, which ended yesterday, enabled Saudi fashion designers to show their designs on models strutting the catwalk.
Almost 30 reputed companies and fashion designers of national and international level participated in the exhibition with different collections, ranging from abayas, wedding dresses, bags, clothes, jewelry and other accessories. “
Saudi fashion designers need a boost to overcome obstacles they suffer from, especially since the fashion design field is based on creativity and innovation. It is our duty to embrace talents and praise them. As someone once said ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’,” said Afaf Al-Atafi, exhibition director at the organizer Alkhayal.
Alkhayal will conduct this exhibition on an annual basis. We will also launch a website to support Saudi designers, and give them a platform, she added.
The exhibition and the upcoming website are to provide a base for local and international fashion designers to be noticed by investors. They could help these talents on their way to success, said Al-Atafi.
Rawda Salami, an abaya fashion designer and entrepreneur, started her business two years ago. She loves to wear different styles of abayas. “I started to design my own abayas, to show more of the personality of the lady wearing it. As we wear our abaya on top of our clothes, it doesn’t matter how expensive your clothes are when the abaya always covers them,” said Salami.
It is very hard to develop a business, but it is fun, said Salami. “Participating in an exhibition like this gives us a chance to meet other women who are working in this sector and it gives us a chance to grow.” Aziza Mohammadi, a wedding fashion designer from Riyadh prepares all her dresses at home. She studied fashion design and material decoration.
“I started my business a year ago. I make all my dresses by hand. I design them and also work on them with beads and different materials. One piece takes me almost two months or more, depending on the design and work requirements,” she explained.
The fashion designers who participated in the show were Asma Bagader, Qwayma Azoz, Samhar Edris , Awayma Azoz, Liyla Wazna, Karen Millen and Demetrios.
Alkhayal organized the exhibition with the cooperation of the Women Welfare charitable organization under the patronage of Princess Latifa Thunayan. The exhibition and fashion show was attended by a number of entrepreneurs, royal family members, businesswomen, designers, female private university students and various government and training centers.
Saudi fashion designers converge on the runway in Jeddah
Saudi fashion designers converge on the runway in Jeddah
Tiffany Trump steps out in Saiid Kobeisy gown
DUBAI: Tiffany Trump is proving to be a fan of Lebanese designer Saiid Kobeisy’s designs.
This week, Trump’s 31-year-old daughter wore one of his gowns to the Kennedy Center Honors, an annual event held at the White House that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
For the occasion, Tiffany opted for a floor-length emerald-green velvet gown with a sweetheart neckline and long fitted sleeves, cinched at the waist with a slim belt and finished with a thigh-high front slit.
She has previously chosen Kobeisy for other high-profile appearances. In September, Tiffany wore another of his designs to the state banquet held during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the UK, stepping out in a blue quartz couture gown paired with a beaded clutch by the designer. Styled by Toni Breisse, the look was completed with jewelry by Samer Halimeh.
Tiffany is known for her affinity with Lebanese designers; at her 2022 wedding to Lebanese-born businessman Michael Boulos, she donned a custom-made Grecian-style gown by Elie Saab.
Tiffany chose her wedding dress as a nod to Boulos’ heritage. “It’s a Lebanese American wedding, so we were so happy to have Elie Saab create the magic,” said mother of the bride Marla Maples, according to People magazine at the time.
In January, she turned heads in a dress by Zuhair Murad at the Trump-Vance inauguration candlelight dinner, hosted at the National Building Museum in Washington. The custom chocolate-brown chiffon gown boasted an asymmetric one-shoulder neckline, and a dramatic cape-like sleeve.
