In a recent world premiere screening of “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” in Los Angeles, actresses Arséma Thomas and Katherine McNamara turned heads with their stunning looks from Saudi designers. A testament to the ever-evolving fashion scene in Saudi Arabia, Thomas graced the red carpet in an all-white look by Mohammed Ashi, founder of Paris-based label Ashi Studio. The Maeve Dress, made with taffeta in a beautiful shade of cream, hailed from the celebrity-loved label’s Spring/Summer 2023 Couture collection. The rising star, who plays the role of a young Lady Agatha Danbury in the Netflix spin-off of the wildly popular “Bridgerton” series, took to Instagram to express her delight at wearing the dreamy caped gown with futuristic bubble sleeves and a peek-a-boo cut-out on the bodice.
Ashi Studio’s Spring/Summer 2023 Couture collection is aptly titled “Moon and Dust” and was unveiled on the sidelines of Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week in January. This collection has been making waves globally, with British Japanese singer Rina Sawayama showcasing a silver gown from the same collection at the London premiere of “John Wick: Chapter 4” in early March.
Meanwhile, Katherine McNamara turned up in an emerald green coordinating set by Saudi fashion label Honayda, helmed by designer Honayda Serafi. McNamara’s outfit consisted of a lace-and-tulle shirt paired with a pair of taffeta shorts, which she accessorized with a twisted emerald ring by Lebanese fine jewelry label L’atelier Nawbar. Honayda has dressed a number of A-listers around the world, from Priyanka Chopra Jonas to Lupita Nyong’o and Adriana Lima. In August, Serafi became the first Saudi designer to showcase her collection at Harrods in London, achieving yet another milestone for her label founded in 2016.
Speaking about her experience, Serafi said, “I feel very proud as Honayda is the first female-led Saudi label to be displayed at Harrods. The collaboration had been cooking for about eight months, and it was a pleasure working with their team on this exciting launch of exclusive pieces available only at Harrods. It is an honor to be retailing at one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious department stores — but definitely, the journey is ongoing, and we are not stopping here.”
Serafi’s journey has been one of hard work and perseverance. She said in a statement, “When I first started my brand, the fashion scene in Saudi Arabia was still young. I discovered every aspect of creating from my own experiences — starting from sourcing to tailoring and selling. Since then, I’ve seen amazing growth in the industry.”
These fashion choices by Thomas and McNamara are a testament to the growing prominence of Saudi designers on the global stage. Their ensembles were head-turning, and they have set a new standard for red-carpet fashion.
