RIYADH — Vivienne Westwood is bringing its rebellious spirit to the Center East for the primary time, opening Riyadh Style Week 2025 with a runway present on Oct. 16 that marks a big cultural alternate between British vogue heritage and Saudi artisanship.
The present, to be staged at a palm grove in Riyadh, a venue chosen to honor the palm tree’s standing as a nationwide image of life, resilience and prosperity, will current a capsule assortment of embroidered robes created in collaboration with Artwork of Heritage, a cultural establishment devoted to safeguarding Saudi Arabia‘s legacy of expertise. These unique items, embroidered by Saudi artisans, will likely be showcased alongside Vivienne Westwood’s spring 2026 assortment and choose archival seems to be.
“That is the primary time we’re internet hosting a runway present within the Center East, and we’re delighted to have the chance to do that in Riyadh,” stated Carlo D’Amario, chief government officer of Vivienne Westwood. “We’re engaged on a particular assortment of embroidered robes, a results of the union of the experience of our couture staff and the craftsmanship of native artisans: a concrete method to promote native traditions via a world perspective.”
D’Amario emphasised that the collaboration displays the home’s “global-local” philosophy. “At the moment, vogue should transcend aesthetics. It have to be a connection between cultures,” he stated. As a part of the present, about 100 college students from native vogue faculties have been invited to attend, with a mentoring session scheduled previous to the runway presentation.
For Princess Nourah bint Mohammed Al Faisal, CEO of Artwork of Heritage, the collaboration represents a significant second for Saudi craftsmanship on the worldwide stage. “Heritage is just not a relic of the previous, however a dwelling drive that shapes how we see ourselves and the way we think about the longer term,” she stated. “Collaborating with the home of Vivienne Westwood on this assortment is particularly significant, because it exhibits how Saudi craftsmanship can converse to the world with authenticity and creativity.”
Vivienne Westwood x Artwork of Heritage
The Vivienne Westwood opening marks a pivotal evolution for Riyadh Style Week, which for the primary time is opening its official calendar to worldwide homes. Now in its third version since its 2023 debut, the occasion has established itself as one of many Center East’s most vital cultural moments.
Operating from Oct. 16 to 21, Riyadh Style Week 2025 will showcase greater than 30 runway exhibits and vogue shows spanning couture, ready-to-wear and streetwear for women and men. Set towards a few of Riyadh’s most well-known landmarks, together with Bedrock, Al Mamlaka and JAX, this system combines large-scale runway spectacles with intimate vogue showcases.
The designer lineup displays the Kingdom’s place as a bridge between heritage and up to date design. Saudi labels together with Tima Abid and Atelier Hekayat will current couture; Abadia will showcase sustainable ready-to-wear; Hindamme will provide up to date design, and 1886 will debut a brand new season of streetwear.
Initiated by the Style Fee underneath the Ministry of Tradition, Riyadh Style Week performs a key position in driving the event of the native vogue ecosystem whereas aiming to place Saudi Arabia as a world vacation spot for design, expertise and cultural innovation. The Style Fee, based in 2020, is main the event of the Kingdom’s vogue sector by driving funding, constructing regulatory frameworks and supporting the following technology of Saudi vogue expertise.
For Vivienne Westwood, the Riyadh collaboration aligns with many years of championing craftsmanship and heritage. The home has lengthy built-in artisanal materials and hand-embellished particulars into its collections, partaking with native artisans and heritage-led manufacturing to maintain communities and help conventional abilities worldwide.
The opening present guarantees to be a logo of cultural alternate, demonstrating how international vogue homes and regional craftsmanship can create new narratives for the business. As Princess Nourah famous, “It’s greater than vogue. It’s about constructing bridges between histories, identities and inventive worlds. Most significantly, it is a chance for Saudi artisans to share our story with readability, magnificence and confidence.”
