Eveningwear doesn’t always get the best rep. Itchy, boring and almost always uncomfortable.
Oftern, there is a strict structure and silhouette that the industry commonly falls back on. But these Saudi brands have washed their hands clean of those boundaries.
From ethically made lightweight gowns to adamantly colourful two pieces. The Kingdom’s homegrown labels show, time and time again, their evolution and originality knows no bounds. this time through eveningwear.
Kaf by Kaf
Revolutionising culture through outerwear Kaf By Kaf was found by the architect-turned-designer Kawthar Alhoraish. Filled with light silhouettes and ample structure, her work’s most notable attribute is her use of colour. The vibrancy, the interaction between pastels and deep palettes, and the striking by-product we are left with. Pieces that reinterpret how heritage shows up in fashion. Clearly benefiting from the Saudi 100 Brands mentorship, the label has grown to international status, garnering the stamp of approval from A-listers like Alicia Keys.
Lurline
New to the game, but not to the art. The Albinali sisters found the dark-femininity-centred luxury brand in 2018. Offering custom couture and ready to wear pieces, the SAUDI 100 brand is re-energising the eveningwear scene in a uniquely dark way. Daring and moody, yet somehow delicate, each article produced by the KSA brand exudes a sense of fearlessness. From feather lined off the shoulder dresses to sleeveless faux fur LBDs, the melt goth with soft through their articulate pieces.
Yousef Akbar
“It’s all about the story,” reads this brand’s Instagram bio. The story of creativity, embracing the unconventional and trusting your path, echoes through Yousef Akbar’s elevated evening wear. Captivating the Riyadh Fashion Week audience was only one of his feats. As seen on Nicole Kidman, Chrissy Teigen and many more, his reach continues upwards. His newest collection embraced colour and structure in a way eveningwear isn’t traditionally allowed to. With mesmerising neon, backless blazers and hard-beaded filament, tricking through the pieces.
Yousef invents, delivers and reinvents all over again, showcasing time and time again, the self expression and femininity knows no limits.
MASHAEL AL FARIS
Where timeless elegance meets character. Another Saudi 100 Brands member, Mashael Al Faris bleeds heritage and simplicity in every dress they create. Interacting structure and flow, each piece delivers its own appeal. Utilising fabrics like velvet-like silk and colours like KSA’s beloved lavender, they deliver a homegrown luxury to eveningwear.
ATELIER HEKAYAT
Another sister brand birthed in the Kingdom, Alia and Abeer Oraif launched Atelier Hekayat in 2012. Creating women’s luxury RTW and couture, this brand infuses art in all its magnitude. From identities and moods to culture and DNA, they stitch stories of heritage and womanhood into each piece. From a red tulle dress, that demands the room, to an understated pianist black trench coat that carries a feminine authority with it. They create with intention, each collection and piece unlocking a unique dimension to their endless creativity.
