The fashion pack has made its way to Riyadh this month for a number of events, demonstrating the Saudi capital’s pull as an upcoming regional and global hub for Arab and international fashion. Hia Hub, which marks Hia Magazine’s 30-year anniversary, held its second edition in Riyadh from 7-10 December in a lavishly designed and decorated space in the JAX creative district in the historic Diriyah area of the city. The three-day event was bigger, more diverse and dynamic than its first edition and saw a steam of international models, entrepreneurs and fashion designers, including Zac Posen, model Amber Valetta and Iraqi-American beauty entrepreneur Mona Kattan mix showcase their work and ideas alongside regional and Saudi designers such as Adnan Akbar, known as the Kingdom’s first couture designer. His alluring, embellished ‘Sherihan’ dress was on display in a vitrine at Hia Hub. Made in 1987 and shown that same year at Trocadero Gardens in Paris, it is proof of Saudi Arabia’s longstanding fashion scene.
“Hia Hub has really become an incredible gathering point for both fashion industry professionals and enthusiasts and has made phenomenal strides in bringing top tier international and regional creative talents together and creating conversations and future collaborations,” said Saudi exhibiting designer Moe Khoja. “I’m so proud to see an initiative such as this being hosted in Riyadh.”
Khoja’s brand Hindamme was one of the local fashion labels highlighted and offers a fusion of Eastern and Western contemporary style. Khoja’s designs have recently been put on display at the V&A in London.
Other workshops, lectures and exhibitions at Hia Hub, included Richard Mille’s exhibition of Saudi painter Faisal Alkheriji titled “Art in the Gulf” that marked the first motion sensory exhibition to combine AI and Leap Motion technology to provide an interactive experience of Alkheriji’s paintings. There were also workshops with Piaget, Swarovski, fashion styling with Law Roach in parternship with Harvey Nichols.
Hia Hub was a celebration of contemporary Arab and international luxury and fashion.
Just a week later, the first edition of Modest Fashion Week was held from December 15-17 at the lavish Al Faisaliah Hotel, demonstrating modest fashion’s increasing growth and allure in the fashion world.
Title “Roots to the Future” the show presented couture designs by over 35 designs from 20 countries catering to the growing market for modest fashion, which according to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2022, is forecast to grow to $375 billion by 2025. This is thanks largely to a new generation of Muslim consumers that are pushing modest fashion into the mainstream also through social media. Moreover, international brands such as Mango, Nike, Net-a-porter, The Modest and leading international fashion designers such as Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino, among others.
‘’It is time to be the pioneers also in the fashion industry with inclusive, innovative and global approach,” said CEO of Modest Fashion Weeks Ozlem Sahin Ertas in a statement.
Events such as Hia Hub, Modest Fashion Week and the other myriad events staged by the Fashion Commission under the Saudi Ministry of Culture is luring the fashion world to Saudi Arabia and predominantly to its capital of Riyadh.
“We aim to highlight the city of Riyadh as one of the fashion capitals of the world and we believe Saudi Arabia will be a great home for all modest fashion lovers,” added Ertas. “There are amazing designers and talents in the region that we will focus on and Riyadh Modest Fashion Show will be an asset for their global journey.”
