As the whirlwind continues, day three of Riyadh Fashion Week was a night for womenswear with gushing fabrics and modern structured pieces took the winding runway. Reimagining how women of the region can interact with apparel and style, 10 female designers took the runway to show their limitless reinterpretations.
From challenging schools of thoughts to embracing their Arab heritage, all while constantly redefining the status quo, the designers of day three create with purpose. GRAZIA unravels the collections of the night, from inception to end product, as the designers bow out another successful evening at Riyadh Fashion Week.
Honayda
Starting with a bang, Honayda Serafi left no rock unturned when delivering her newest collection. Opening day three with pure awe, her pieces were the embodiment of empowerment and femininity. Playing with silhouettes and necklines, each piece interacted with tradition and cultural DNA in a glamorous and bold way. As if the ethereal pieces weren’t enough to halt the audience, the show concluded with hijab wearing sensation Halima Aden and the visionary Honayda hand-in-hand. Radiating poise and warmth, the two are a testament to the beauty and artistry the Kingdom attracts.
In a sky-blue silk gown, Halima Aden wore a royal cape that attached to a bedazzled headpiece. A bold statement piece with a high neckline and playful silhouette, the uncompromising model radiated the Riyadh Fashion Week runway.
Abadia
Designing for the contemporary woman, this collection by the internationally funded ethical and sustainable label Abadia, was no different. Introducing comfort and modernity to traditionally rigid womenswear, Shahd AlShehail continues on her path of redefining the feminine fashion landscape. From free flowing satin abayas to asymmetric two pieces, each ensemble communicated a sentiment of its own. How designing for the present can be timeless and freeing, while also exuding intricacy and understated boldness. Accessorised with chunky mixed metals, a model struts a vest-like top that splits at the torso to become an expensive dress. Paired with low waisted white pants and pointed-toe heels, Shahd balances two ends of the spectrum. Structured modernity with timeless free flow.
KAF BY KAF
A label where imagination never runs low, KAF BY KAF manifested a show to remember this Riyadh Fashion Week. Demonstrating her vastness, Kawthar Alhoraish featured pieces created from masterful crochet to heavy weight bubbling fabrics. Infusing Saudi heritage and customs to each piece, the Riyadh-born designer depicted different aspects of the Kingdom in her designs. From the deep earthy tones of the immeasurable deserts to the vibrance of the feminine Arabic art Al-Qatt Al-Asiri. Reinterpreted versions of Arab culture, from art to landscape, found its way onto her Riyadh Fashion Week runway.
ARWA AL BANAWI
Taking her east meets west ideology to new heights, Arwa Al Banawi’s newest collection was titled ‘Sahra in Ramatuelle.’ She delivers an unvanquishable cool in each piece, through rooting her craft in a multicultural array of inspiration. From a beachside commune in the South of France to her hometown seaside metropolis of Jeddah. She unleashed the attributes of the cultures that comprise her art onto each piece, in singular ways. A relaxed fit white power suit with feather lining, paired with Adidas Forums, notably not her collaborated iteration, takes the stage at one point. While a glittery speckled coat with dainty pointed-toe kitten heels owns it at another. Endless reinterpretation and an indescribable allure continues to be what Arwa continues to present through her craft. And her Riyadh Fashion Week spectacle was no exception.
DAZLUQ
Embodying limitless femininity, DAZLUQ continues to design for women who want to stand tall in their dominance. Pieces that make a statement, with a monochromatic colour palette and wavy hemlines, Salma Zahran adds flair to power. A cape like blazer, paired with black stockings and a flash of white, captures the audience at her compelling show.
Yasmina Q
Supporting and uplifting Yasmina Q showcases her latest iteration of “Thoughtfully Created Womenswear.” Light weight fabrics and pastels fill the room, as the easygoing silhouettes of her designs flat through the runaway. Centring sustainable practices, the Saudi designer creates timeless pieces with free flow in this collection. A light weight slip dress catches the eye, as Yasmina contrasts it with playful orange dangling earrings.
Eman Joharji
The pioneer of sporty abayas, Eman Joharji demonstrates how limitless her vision can be in her latest collection. A barefoot model takes the stage, wearing a voluminous light weight black dress and a reimagined niqab. Connecting dots between art and culture, she redefines how tradition can manifest in apparel.
MOJA MAJKA
The mother and daughter capture Riyadh Fashion Week delicate yet bold craftmanship. Crotchet reappears in Sarah and Sureyya Basaad’s collection, with fabrics like linen, cotton and silk swaying through the stage. A beige maxi dress that cuts at the ankle with its matching cape walks the runway as a crochet detail pokes out between the two-piece.
NABILA NAZER
Modest wear with edge, the brand adds a layer of authority to Islamic womenswear. Featuring an all black ensemble with gem detailing on the sleeves and a lower neckline. Sleek, straightforward and undeniably KSA inspired.
MONA ALSHEBIL
From Milan to Paris Fashion Week, the day three finale of Riyadh Fashion Week has been places. And isn’t about to slow down anytime soon. Creating luxury RTW pieces with minimalism design work Mona’s seemed to carry an air of independence to it. A denim piece stands out, with wavy detailing at the neckline and slim-fit at the torso. The mismatched earrings adding yet another layer of edge, her pieces never fail to deliver a sense of confidence.
