100 Saudi Arabian fashion designers have just unveiled their best creations in America’s fashion capital of New York City for a two week long exhibition. This showcase comes as part of the Saudi 100 Brands project which has called in 100 fashion and accessory designers from all over the kingdom to participate. The designers are taking part by having designed a piece of clothing or an accessory that best reflects Saudi Arabia’s culture, heritage and identity in accordance with the Saudi Fashion Commission.
The 100 selected artists and designers that are travelling across to New York to showcase their creativity were shortlisted from around 1,500 applicants.
The two week long exhibition is split into eight separate categories: ready to wear, conceptual, modest, bridal, demi-couture, handbags, and jewelry. This showcase of local Saudi talent also forms part of a 12 month program that is aimed at mentoring Saudi designers and offering them guidance and skills that help them to attain exposure for their brands.
Over the course of those 12 months, the selected designers will receive advice from and learn about the experiences of internationally renowned names within the fashion industry. The program will also include one-on-one mentorship and workshops on relative subjects such as marketing, sales-strategy, design and innovation.
Burak Cakmak, Fashion Commission CEO and former Dean of Fashion at Parsons School of Design – The New School, said in a statement, “This is the first international exhibition showcasing the diverse creative talent from the Kingdom and their exceptional designs rooted in Saudi heritage and culture. We have chosen New York as the first destination because New York City has always been a center of creativity that celebrates all different cultures around the world”.
The exhibition will run from 26th July – 7th August in New York’s Flatiron district. It is free to the public and open from Monday through Wednesday from 11am to 7pm, Thursday through Saturday from 11am to 8pm and Sunday from 12pm to 6pm at Iron23, located on 29 W 23rd St..
