Riyadh Fashion Week reveals schedule of debut season in October

Riyadh Fashion Week has unveiled the official schedule of its debut season in late October with four days of shows, featuring runway displays by over 30 designers.

Scheduled to run from Saturday October 21 to Monday October 23, the season marks an ambitious attempt to build a vibrant local fashion scene and industry.
 
The season will focus exclusively on local talent, and does not include non-Saudi designers, unlike many fashion weeks in emerging style capitals. Among the notable designers are Adnan Akbar, noted for his couture quality bridal collections and grand gowns; Tima Abid, who has presented her Saudi accented couture ideas in the Paris season; Yousef Akbar, a creator of eye-catching evening wear; and Atelier Hekayat by Alia and Abeer Oraif, who specialize in contemporary glamour.

Riyadh Fashion Week is being hosted by the Saudi Fashion Commission, who hope to celebrate local creatives and sustainable craftsmanship. The Saudi capital, with a population of seven million, is the third most populous in the Middle East, and boasts potentially very high growth rates for fashion.  
 
“Riyadh Fashion Week is the next step in our efforts to build the full value chain in the country, supporting growth of the local fashion sector led by emerging Saudi talents,” said Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission.
 
However, the opening show on October 20, the only one that day, will be “an exciting show by a yet-to-be-revealed designer in a location that will soon be announced,” Riyadh Fashion Week said in an official release. Monday, October 23 will be devoted to menswear.
 
This new season also comes three months after Saudi 100 Brands, when the Commission brought a wide range of Saudi talents – in women’s wear, menswear and accessories – to show during the Paris haute couture season in July.
 
In Riyadh, pretty much every show will be staged in the capital’s emerging new hotspot, King Abdullah Financial District.
 
“Over only the past few short years, Saudi has invested heavily in local fashion talent and created a thriving fashion sector that is now receiving international attention. The country’s first-ever official fashion week is a milestone in a remarkable journey of transformation,” Çakmak added.