Riyadh Fashion Students Celebrate Cultural Heritage Through Stunning New Collections
RIYADH — As Saudi Arabia’s fashion sector expands, emerging designers are increasingly drawing inspiration from the Kingdom’s diverse landscape and heritage. This was evident at the Arts and Skills Institute’s 13th cohort showcase, held under the theme “Beyond the Horizon,” where young designers reinterpreted tradition through contemporary design.
Mai Al‑Duhim drew on the colors, forms, and textures of the Najdi desert, inspired by wild plants like the acacia tree. “These are the places and environments where we grew up, so they hold a special meaning for me,” she told Arab News.
Wejdan Namazi looked to khawlani coffee, grown in the mountainous Jazan region. “I wanted to focus on something that is truly ours and perhaps not discussed as much,” she said, exploring the cultivation and harvesting process.
Raghad Al‑Dosari used her mother’s 1980s wedding dress as inspiration for a collection that bridged past and present. “Whenever I look at old photographs of her, especially her wedding dress, I see how it represented elegance at the time,” she said.
Urooj Ali’s collection drew from Pakistani, Najdi, and Hejazi traditions, reflecting her experience of living between cultures. “My roots are from Pakistan and it’s been like 12 years since I’m in Saudi Arabia, so it feels like home now,” she said.
Al‑Duhim noted that opportunities for designers have expanded significantly. “We’re living in the era of designers now,” she said, adding that fashion has become an important medium for sharing Saudi culture with the world.
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