Newsfeed
The eyes of the world were firmly fixed on the Saudi designers on the catwalk – or should we say jetty – at the first-ever Red Sea Fashion Week, none more so than Tima Abid. Following her standout show at Riyadh Fashion Week, Tima’s collection, inspired by the Red Sea, opened three sun-drenched days of runway and showroom presentations from May 16 to May 18, 2024 – the latest initiative by the Fashion Commission, under the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia.
A coterie of VVVIP attendees from the worlds of fashion, media and entertainment were helicoptered into St Regis Red Sea Resort on Ummahat Island in Saudi Arabia, crystal blue waters and unspoilt surroundings serving as a breath-taking backdrop for this history-making moment. The dress code was Ethereal White, with fluted hemlines, fringing, and feathers aflutter, adding to the drama.
As the sun sank into an endless horizon, setting the sky ablaze, the scene was set for the debut of the Saudi couturier’s most expressive creations to date. “It’s a story about the treasures of the sea,” reveals Tima Abid of her all-white collection inspired by the white-sand shores of Ummahat Island. Not only did she pay tribute to the richness of the coral reefs, but also, “because the Red Sea is all about sustainability, it also contains a lot of recycled elements and pearls from the ocean,” she adds.
Sea-urchin silhouettes, pearl-encrusted necklines, gem-strewn netting, and fishtail trains added to the underwater fantasy, while delicate veils and diaphanous capes caught the wind, ready to set sail.
“This collection is inspired by water and sand, two elements that are completely different and even opposites, yet, they coexist and complement each other perfectly,” Tima explains. And alluding to the elements coming together and somehow conspiring to show these designs at their most theatrical, she acknowledges, “As for the wind, you can see it in the collection, by how light the pieces look and feel.”
Tima continues, “I wanted to give women empowerment, freedom, and confidence. Saudi women are strong and ambitious, especially after His Highness King Salman and his heir gave us the opportunity to show our power, abilities, passion, dreams, and to let women shine as well in the fashion industry. It’s a new era of empowerment. It’s our golden era!”
Haute off the heels of the inaugural Riyadh Fashion Week in October 2023, Red Sea Fashion Week isn’t just another flagship extravaganza in the Saudi fashion calendar, but in fact a strategic celebration of fashion, business and tourism masterminded by the Fashion Commission, under the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia. “We believe there are two Fashion Week moments that have to happen in the country to make the industry stronger,” declares Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, and the mastermind behind Red Sea Fashion Week. “And instead of repeating Riyadh Fashion Week we thought, why not create a Resort moment at one of the most beautiful destinations opening up to the world for tourism?”
Tima agrees: “This is known as one of the most beautiful seas in the world, and I wish this destination would be on the international map, for everybody to visit and admire its beauty.”
A dramatic departure from Riyadh Fashion Week at the King Abdullah Financial District, this Resort-focused endeavour – in line with the luxury maisons’ Cruise shows currently taking place around the globe – showcased Saudi brands Tima Abid, Sara Altwaim, Yasmina Q, and Rebirth, as well as several names from across the region, and further afield such as Eau from Morocco, Egyptian-born Hadia Ghaleb, and Miami-based Niluu.
There’s no question that the world is Red Sea Fashion Week’s oyster. With the low, grey cloud and chaos of New York, London, Paris and Milan but a distant memory, thanks to the luxurious location of St Regis Red Sea Resort, fresh coconut in hand, for once, the serene surroundings of the poolside show spaces lived up to the dream being sold on the catwalk. Paris, it’s your move…
