From KSA to NYC, it’s officially touchdown for 100 Saudi Arabian designers and creatives…
In a city known for its hustle and bustle, New Yorkers found a moment to stop and stare. Nestled in the heart and soul of New York City’s Flat Iron District, the “Saudi Heritage: Past, Present & Future Fashion” exhibit flung open its doors on Tuesday morning and lured in some of the city’s grandest fashion aficionados, there to admire the creativity of KSA designers.
In an exhibition that celebrates KSA’s rich heritage, emerging talent and true spirit of Saudi, 100 of the Kingdom’s emerging creatives dressed their mannequins in streetwear, modest-wear, and bridal-wear — to name a few — and marked a historic debut, etching their names into the American fashion scene.
The exhibit is a splinter of the wider “Saudi 100 Brands“ initiative run by the Fashion Commission of Saudi Arabia under the Ministry of Culture; the scheme serves as a year-long “fashion incubation programme” designed to mentor, facilitate and challenge 100 Saudi artists with creating a piece that “reflects Saudi heritage and culture.
With near 1,500 applicants and only launching last year, the project is still in its infancy but has already ventured out of the Middle East, causing a splash throughout both the Saudi Arabian market and its international counterpart.
“This is the first international exhibition showcasing the diverse creative talent from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” revealing the location to have been one of calculation “because New York City has always been a centre of creativity that celebrates all different cultures around the world,” Burak Cakmak, Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Commission CEO, proudly noted.
Enthralling social media users both attending the exhibit and across the world, users took to Instagram and Twitter to share their excitement and favourite designs; with posts revealing the talent of designers including Charmaleena Jewellery, Abadia and Sara Intabi Couture, each found their niche of embracing sustainable luxury all while remaining rooted in Saudi culture.
Discover the #Saudi100Brand Exhibition at the Iron23 Building in NYC (until Aug. 7) presented by @FashionMOC @mocsaudi_en and in collaboration with H.R.H Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud @rbalsaud.
— Qianna Smith Bruneteau (@Qianna_Smith) July 27, 2022
Thank you for having us. The craftsmanship is divine!https://t.co/HJOIFdFaih pic.twitter.com/UB2pfgyM62
Spotted supporting the up-and-coming designers at the Iron23 Building were HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States; Venezuelan fashion legend Carolina Herrera; Saudi Entrepreneur Rae Joseph; and Bazaar Saudi’s Cultural Editor and content creator Alaa Balkhy.
“Creativity is not born in one country, culture is not defined by a border,” Princess Reema shared with those attending the launch party. Reinforcing the inclusivity of the exhibit, she added, “I will tell you that the collections you see here are inspired by Arabia, but they are made for the world.”
The exhibition will take place from July 26 until August 7, 2022 at the Iron23 Building in Manhattan.
For more information, visit saudi100brands.nyc
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