More Eyes Should Be on Riyadh Fashion Week

With the successful close of its third season, Riyadh Fashion Week has firmly established itself as  one of the most compelling new events on the global fashion calendar. This year’s edition opened  with a historic moment as major British fashion house Vivienne Westwood presented its first  Middle East runway show on October 16, signaling that Riyadh Fashion Week is growing in  confidence and making decisive moves to secure its place in the industry. 

What followed was a week that showcased the scale and ambition of Saudi Arabia’s growing  fashion landscape.

Westwood’s headline debut proved that the country’s fashion scene is gaining  well-deserved credibility on the global stage. While the guest list was understandably less star studded than those of the major fashion capitals, notable attendees included Georgina Rodriguez,  who attended showcases for Saudi labels Mona AlShebil and Abadia, as well as Lebanese Australian model Jessica Kahawaty and Saudi entrepreneur and style icon Yara Al-Namlah,  according to Arab News. 

Vivienne Westwood’s opening show marked a milestone as the first international fashion house to  participate in Riyadh Fashion Week. Presented on an open-air runway at The Palm Grove, the  collection combined archival looks with pieces from the house’s Spring 2026 line and five couture  gowns created in collaboration with Art of Heritage. Each gown featured intricate gold threadwork  and embroidery crafted by Saudi artisans, inspired by traditional regional patterns and techniques.  The result was a dialogue between British couture and Saudi craftsmanship, reflecting cultural  exchange through fashion while staying true to Vivienne Westwood’s legacy. 

Beyond Westwood’s headline moment, Riyadh Fashion Week demonstrated talent, scale, and  Saudi Arabia’s creative evolution. More than thirty designers presented across venues, each  revealing a distinct facet of the country’s growing fashion identity. Tima Abid unveiled a series of  gowns defined by crystal embroidery and sculptural volume. Adnan Akbar showcased impeccable  tailoring that felt rich in heritage yet refined through modern silhouettes, while Atelier Hekayat  explored movement and femininity through fluid lines. Across the board, designers showed  remarkable diversity in both design styles and presentation, yet a shared commitment to craftsmanship stood out. It was a celebration of detail and artistry that can sometimes feel blurred  in larger fashion weeks, where spectacle and shock often take center stage. 

Riyadh is not attempting to replicate the aesthetic language of established fashion capitals but is  instead developing its own. Since the launch of the Saudi Fashion Commission in 2020, the  Kingdom has invested heavily in education, production infrastructure, and mentorship for  emerging designers. Fashion has become a central element of Vision 2030, the country’s long  term plan to diversify its economy and elevate its cultural output. Riyadh Fashion Week stands at  the intersection of this transformation. 

SV by Saudia also made a striking debut high above the city skyline with an exclusive runway presentation atop the Kingdom Centre Tower. The collection showcased the national carrier’s evolution from airline to lifestyle icon. Sleek silhouettes and a palette drawn from Saudia’s signature hues captured the brand’s vision of movement and elegance, which was one of the most talked-about moments of the week. Read more about SV by Saudia’s appearance at Riyadh Fashion Week, HERE

Riyadh Fashion Week may still be carving out its space among a fashion calendar that has had  Paris and Milan circled in red for decades, but its direction is clear. What began as a regional  experiment now feels like the foundation of something far larger, and as Saudi Arabia’s creative  ecosystem continues to expand, so will the scale and influence of its fashion scene. If this season  proved anything, it is that Riyadh is building a stage of its own.