Saudi Arabia’s capital city of Riyadh just welcomed internationally renowned names in fashion, from editors to supermodels, including, Iris Van Herpen, Giles Deacon and Halima Aiden, to celebrate the kingdom’s first ever fashion event, Fashion Futures. The three-day event will be hosting panels, talks, discussions and workshops pioneered by some of fashion’s biggest global figures. The event is set to encourage and aid the development of Saudi Arabia’s emerging fashion industry.
Fashion Futures supports the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan and falls in line with its plans to bring culture and modernize the country. The initiative was introduced by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and under the progressive plan, fashion is one of 16 sectors that will be nurtured and encouraged by the Ministry of Culture to grow. The new platform dedicated to fashion will bridge the gap between Saudi Arabia’s home grown fashion brands and talents, and the international fashion industry.
The Official Spokesperson of the kingdom’s Ministry of Culture, Abdulkarim Alhumaid, said in a statement, “By bringing together a diverse group of fashion experts from both the Kingdom and around the world we are facilitating international cultural exchange; providing Saudi fashion professionals with the opportunity to learn from some of the best in their respective fields, while offering a platform to showcase their talent to a global audience. Fashion Futures is the first important step on a journey to transform the Saudi fashion industry from a nascent under-developed sector to a flourishing hub of creativity and innovation.”
Fashion Futures and the lineup of international figures from within the industry that will be at the first edition of the 3 day event, prove that the kingdom is dedicated to developing the country’s cultural sector in a major way. The event is welcoming the likes of, international model and activist, Halima Aden; British designer, Giles Deacon; Dutch couture designer, Iris Van Herpen; creative director at All Saints, Wil Beedle; Editor-In-Chief of HYPEBEAST Arby Li, and local Saudi talents such as designer Hatem Al Akeel, Saudi photographer Hayat Osamah, and designer Honayda Serafi.
This list of industry figures will participate in a plethora of educational events and activities that will explore the fashion world’s most talked about issues including, modest fashion, sustainability, ethical business practices, the digital revolution and much more. Fashion Futures will also highlight it’s homegrown roster of emerging and established Saudi Arabian designers in a bid to showcase the kingdom’s potential to be mainstream on a global scale.
