Mohammed Ashi and Kingdom Couture kick off Riyadh Fashion Week

The inaugural Riyadh Fashion Week began on Friday evening with a triumphant display from Saudi hero designer Mohammed Ashi. The gala event was set up outside the King Fahad Library, on a wooden catwalk constructed in a handmade rocky terrain. The week-long fashion event marks the start of a determined push to develop a substantial and enduring fashion industry in Saudi Arabia.

Ashi Studio showcased the finest elements of Ashi's brand, including fantasy volumes, luscious forms, technical intricacy and a romantic tone. The collection's essence highlighted the untamed nature and landscape of Saudi Arabia through textiles and embroidery.

The 20-outfit collection, primarily in white and ecru, including stunning ecru silk columns with tiny cotton clouds floating off the elbows and a flawlessly tailored little white dress wrapped in a rustic shawl reminiscent of a winter thobe's interior.

After 18 years away, the designer mentioned his desire to express his adoration for the country and its culture, as he titled the collection '8pm: An Evening in Riyadh'. Ashi gained recognition as the first Saudi designer to appear in Paris Couture week's official calendar. Given his taste, distinctive glamour, and design skills, Ashi was the perfect choice to start the season in Riyadh.

Following the show, guests enjoyed a gala dinner at Building 207 within the King Abdullah Financial Center, or KAFD. The KAFD's ownership belongs to the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. It is the most recent representation of the country's ambitious development plans. The KAFD, a massive €7 billion development, also includes an architectural marvel, the final building designed by Zaha Hadid.

Riyadh Fashion Week's main purpose is to support the emerging fashion ecosystem, emphasized Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, during his speech to the 400 attendees.

The following night, several Saudi designers presented their creations in the open air at the KAFD’s Financial Plaza. Among the most prominent designers, was Tima Abid, who’s from Saudi Arabia's second-largest city, Jeddah.

Abid's collection was rich in variety and included a golden embroidered gown with a train and a mesh niqab. Throughout the collection, a theme resonating with Dolce & Gabbana was evident.

Yousef Akbar, a designer who established his own label in 2017 and later won the Fashion Trust Arabia Evening Wear Prize, presented a more streamlined vision of Saudi couture. He showcased sleek anthracite-hued techy columns, skillfully embellished dresses and sharply tailored coat dresses.

Last but not least, Adnan Akbar's collection highlighted classic couture with a range of elaborately decorated and embellished styles. The collection, while extensively beaded and folded, demonstrated the designer's professionalism and confidence.