Riyadh Fashion Week 2025 marked a breakthrough moment for Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry, showcasing the country’s creative power on a global stage. Featuring major international names like Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney alongside emerging Saudi designers, the event highlighted Riyadh’s rise as a new luxury fashion destination bridging heritage, innovation, and sustainability.
Riyadh Fashion Week presented its third edition this season, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s rising and powerful potential in the fashion industry. This year was a game-changer for them, as they attracted an international crowd with the presence of renowned international high-end labels such as Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney. This showcased their innovation, ethics, and creativity on a global scale. Even with major brands opening and closing the edition, all eyes were on the emerging talents, whose ability to embrace their culture and ethics into high fashion captivated the viewers. With such high-end brands, quality, and creativity, we feel that we are not as far from Milan and Paris as we think.
Vivienne Westwood made its debut in the Middle East, performing as the opening act at Riyadh Fashion Week. As a brand renowned for its rebellious collections and activist background, everyone was curious to see how they would adapt their style to the Middle Eastern culture and costumes. They successfully did so, primarily preserving the local ethics and craft manship. They went through their archives and presented personalized capsule dresses featuring Saudi heritage, with assistance from Saudi artisans in some pieces. Vivienne Westwood presented a cultural collection that not only preserved culture but also honored the brand’s heritage. Amidst ever-changing trends, Vivienne Westwood remained steadfast in its rebellious heritage and preserved Saudi culture.
Tima Abids unveiled a collection inspired by grief—a beautiful celebration of soul, beauty, and emotion—that explores the ephemeral yet profound experience of loss. Abids interweaves poetic expressions of sorrow into her designs, where the curves and structures of her creations symbolize resilience and healing. Her designs evoke a profound emotional response, transcending temporal boundaries. The exhibition transitioned from fluid, minimalist silhouettes to structured silk garments, creating a profound, emotional, and personal experience for the viewer.
The presentation of Hekayat’s collection evoked a dramatic and cinematic ambiance rather than a traditional fashion show. Atelier Hekayat, the dramatic narrative of Riyadhs fashion, created an atmosphere that honored the skilled artisans and seamstresses who crafted the garments. With exaggerated textures and voluminous silhouettes, the duo of designers presented a narrative centered around presence—a fleeting moment before the curtain rises, when the possibilities are limitless. The show cemented Atelier Hekayats position as one of the most influential voices in the emerging Saudi design scene, characterized by audacity, self-awareness, and a deep connection to the stage.
At Riyadh Fashion Week 2025, Shahd AlShehail reimagined heritage through Abadia’s Fall–Winter collection — a story of courage and transformation inspired by her grandfather’s pearl-diving journey and the women who led life on shore. Opening with a Samri performance by Munirah AlShami, the show balanced fluid silk satins with structured wool tailoring, reflecting both strength and grace. Sadu embroidery detailed blazers and flowing sharwal trousers, while a palette of oceanic blues and pearlescent whites evoked the sea’s rhythm. Sculptural camel-leather bags and maritime-inspired knots extended Abadia’s ethical craft. The result: a modern tribute to Saudi identity, told with elegance and quiet power.
Razan Alazzouni introduced a tranquil elegance to Riyadh Fashion Week 2025, presenting a collection that straddled the boundaries between dream and discipline. Renowned for her romantic sensibilities, the designer imbued softness with strength through airy layers of tulle and silk that gracefully moved. The garments exuded hand-beaded textures and delicate gold accents, celebrating intricate details without ostentation. Her palette of ivory and pale metallic hues evoked a sense of tranquility and renewal, while each silhouette exuded timeless grace. Alazzouni’s work transcended the realm of fashion, embodying emotion made tangible—a dialogue between craftsmanship, culture, and modern womanhood. In a season characterized by bold statements, her subtle approach stood out as a testament to the enduring power of quiet beauty.
In Riyadh Fashion Week Fall 2025, the Saudi label 1886 delivered a sharp and silent statement. Known for its clean lines and architectural approach, the label remained steadfast in its minimalist universe, yet introduced new tension through volume and proportion. The collection focused on tailoring as armor, featuring structured coats with oversized shoulders, technical trousers with subtle buckles, and monochrome sets that exuded both refinement and utilitarianism. The palette was strict, consisting of black, grey, and ivory, creating a cinematic stillness in each piece. Fabrication leaned into structure, with dense wools and performance blends crafting garments that hold shape effortlessly. 1886 eschewed overt gestures, opting instead for a quiet authority in every look. In a season often driven by spectacle, the label chose clarity, and this choice proved to be a resounding success.
AO YES’s latest collection is a slow exhale, a poetic meditation on heat, youth, and longing. Inspired by writer Yu Dafu and the sultry rhythm of Shanghai’s summer nights, the brand softens its traditionally disciplined aesthetic into something freer, lighter, more human. The silhouettes merge Eastern tailoring with a languid sensuality: Mao-inspired jackets are reimagined in airy silk, sheer qipao dresses reveal flashes of skin, while cropped trousers and sleeveless shirts invite movement. Layers of light jacquard and translucent voile play with opacity, blurring the line between formality and intimacy. The palette, jade green, soft red, charcoal, and warm beige, feels like dusk settling over the city. In this collection, AO YES rewrites its own codes.
Credits:
Brands: Vivienne Westwood, Tima Abid, Atelier Hekayat, Abadia, Razan Alazzouni, 1886, Stella McCartney / @viviennewestwood, @timaabid, @atelierhekayat, @abadia, @razanalazzouni, @1886.sa, @stellamccartney
Words: Maria Diegues/ @maadiegues
