All the highlights from Riyadh Fashion Week 2024
That’s a wrap on another blockbuster fashion week…
The pulse of Saudi Arabia’s fashion renaissance, Riyadh Fashion Week 2024 concluded its five-day celebration on Monday October 21, leaving an unforgettable mark on both the local and international fashion world.
We’ve been treated to the crème de la crème of the season, and we’re well and truly caught in the whirlwind of its opulence. Let’s relive some of the notable highlights from the Riyadh Fashion Week 2024.
The iconic venues
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Extended from three to five days, this year’s edition of Riyadh Fashion Week expanded its scale and ambition. Held across three illustrious venues in Riyadh – Tuwaiq Palace, Digital City, and JAX District, they’re all considered to be among the most prominent in the city. Each location presents unforgettable occasions not only through its spectacular style and architecture but also owing to its very own heritage it bears throughout time.
Hidden treasures – three decades of Saudi artisanal fashion
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The Art of Heritage exhibition took centre stage at Riyadh Fashion Week 2024, showcasing timeless tradition with modern elegance that has defined Saudi fashion across its five distinct regions. Each garment in the collection tells a story. The pieces on display reflect an intricate balance between necessity and artistry, where clothing adapts to the demands of climate and religion while celebrating the evolving aesthetics of Saudi society.
A spectacular showcase of Saudi talent
Riyadh once again set the stage for fashion’s future, where renowned homegrown designers get a much bigger spotlight. The event brought together 37 brands to showcase their collections through breathtaking runway shows, exclusive brand presentations, and a bespoke showroom.
Highlights include collections from celebrated names such as Mona Alshebil, Abadia, Noura Sulaiman, KML, and Noble & Fresh, amongst others. Each left its unique mark on the couture, evening wear, ready-to-wear, and streetwear categories.
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The first day’s runway shows spotlighted the creative brilliance of Adnan Akbar, Dar Alhanouf, Tima Abid, and Honayda, each offering a unique blend of traditional Saudi heritage and modern design.
Day two featured six dynamic runway shows from notable designers like Waad Aloqaili, Fatima Abdulqader, Khawla Alaiban, Ashwaq Al-Marshad, Atelier Hekayat, and Yahya Albishri, whose grand finale captured the vibrant evolution of Saudi fashion. The diverse presentations highlighted the Kingdom’s rich culture and growing influence in the fashion world, offering a blend of traditional and contemporary styles.
Standout presentations from Razan Alazzouni and ARAM continued to impress on the third day.
Fusing fashion, technology, and beauty
A standout moment from Riyadh Fashion Week 2024 was the reveal of Sara, Saudi Arabia’s first-ever robot, who made her debut on the KAF by KAF runway. This fusion of high fashion and cutting-edge technology brought a fresh perspective to the runway, with Sara representing the concept of artificial beauty in designer Kawthar Alhoraish’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection.
Star-studded guest list
Once again, Riyadh Fashion Week drew an exclusive audience of fashion leaders, global figures and cultural influencers to its front rows. Among them were supermodel Elsa Hosk, Saudi fashion entrepreneur Nada Bashaen, Georgina Rodriguez, Lebanese influencer Karen Wazen, Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek, Sudanese-Canadian singer-songwriter Mustafa The Poet, Thai actress Davika Hoorne, and Saudi media icon Lojain Omran adding a buzz of excitement throughout the event.
Dignitaries and international media include James Fallon, Chief Content Officer at Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), His Excellency Patrick Maisonneuve, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Francesca Airoldi, Chief Revenue Officer at Condé Nast Italia. This diverse group of attendees reflects the growing international interest in Saudi fashion and its global potential.
The grand finale
It was the perfect end to Riyadh Fashion Week 2024. Hindamme, the Saudi ready-to-wear label, helmed by Mohammed Khoja, presented a collection that ties in the past, present and future. For the collection’s finale, the label collaborated with Saudi creative Lina Malaika to create T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Saudi Arabia is the future” – as seen by Saudi musician Mishaal Tamer and model Taleedah Tamer (pictured above). Riyadh-based fashion house 1886 wrapped up the event with a striking streetwear collection for both men and women that fuses elegance and modernity.
A unique debut ahead of Riyadh Fashion Week
On October 16, all eyes were on an unconventional runway at KAFD Financial Plaza, where adidas presented its first-ever regional runway show – in partnership with Saudi label Kaf by Kaf. The SS25 Sportswear Collection, designed by Kawthar Alhoraish, emphasises versatility with unisex pieces and showcases a fusion of Saudi Arabia’s traditional clothing with contemporary athletic style. Highlights include the football-inspired blokecore tee, featuring a bold adidas sportswear graphic and a premium flat knit rib collar, capturing the playful spirit of self-expression and experimentation. For modern modesty, the elongated cover-up abaya offers full coverage with an open-front design, blending solid colour panels with vibrant prints and classic three stripes adidas branding. The collection will be available for purchase in February 2025 across select adidas stores and sites globally.
Images: Supplied