Saudi fashion can be the next big thing after Paris and Milan: Why is it here. world News

TL; Dr.
- Saudi
Fashion commission The expo 2025 with a day of programs celebrating education, culture and emerging design created a strong impression in Osaka. - Local designers are re -shaping the image of Saudi Arabia by mixing
Heritage And innovation in thoughtful, authentic methods. - Industry is embracing stability, supporting talent, and becoming a real part of the country’s economic and cultural development.
Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry is going through a deliberate change. As part of the country’s broad cultural and creative development efforts, fashion is being contacted as a platform for education, heritage protection and local talent development.At the Expo 2025 in Osaka, the Saudi Fashion Commission demonstrated this change through a dedicated day of programming at the Saudi pavilion. The program included panel discussions, academic sessions and a curate exhibition of contemporary design work. Its purpose was to provide a ground look at fashion in Saudi Arabia being shaped by her own narratives and priorities.
Vested design In heritage and education
The exhibition painted ten clothes drawn by two major initiatives supported by the Fashion Commission. These pieces reflected active programs designed to support emerging designers through learning on hands and cultural explorations.
Saudi heritage revival program , in collaboration withSwarovski The event consisted of 26 Saudi designers, who were tasked to translate traditional Saudi heritage into modern, sustainable fashion. Using eco-conscious materials including Swarovski’s renewed crystals, participants created designs that integrate historical elements with future-oriented craftsmanship. Selected designers get opportunities for international exposure, such as a residence in Dar al-Hanoff and participation in a Swarovski-Hosted academic competition.Traditional handcraft In contemporary design: The initiative brought 25 designers together for an intensive workshop centered on Saudi architecture, textiles and artisan methods in early 2025. Clothing produced during the program revives traditional forms updated into silhouettes. Initially shown in the Saudi Cup, these tasks are now part of an international exhibition circuit, in which Osaka is as a significant stop.
These initiatives come under the education and talent development track of the Fashion Commission, focused on the construction of basic skills and career routes for young designers.
Pay attention to cultural continuity
During the Osaka incident, a recurring subject was important to maintain cultural continuity. Instead of abandoning tradition, designers are being trained to re -interpret it with relevance to contemporary contexts.In a panel discussion, the CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, Burak Kakmak highlighted the value of intellectual and cultural exchange. He described Saudi design as a means of connecting tradition with modern life, inherited but accessible to global audiences.International participants resonated this feeling keeping in mind the shared values between the Saudi and Japanese design traditions. These included respect for craftsmanship, focus on story and expansion through clothes.On the performance, clothes reflected these subjects. Each piece was tied to place, memory, and community, not only as a product, but as a cultural expression as a fashion.
Saudi fashion is becoming an industry, not just a scene
Commission’s work does not end with exhibitions. It is helping to build an entire ecosystem that supports the fashion sector from the ground. This includes training programs, mentorship, international cooperation, and increasing emphasis on home stability and production.Designers like Mohammad Khoja, founder of Hindam, and yousef Akbar are already proving what is possible.
- The discovery work is overwhelming on the Saudi heritage, using the design to tell stories about tourism, tradition and national identity in a fresh, modern way.
- Akbar focuses on stability, using recycled clothing and digital devices to cut the waste. Their studio is paperless, and their designs are not only for a season, but the last for years.
Both designers agree: This is the moment of change. Saudi fashion is attracting global attention, and with correct support, it may soon become an important part of the country’s creative economy.
What is Saudi Fashion Commission?
Established in 2020, the Saudi Fashion Commission was designed to maintain, regulate and develop the state’s fashion sector. It works under the Ministry of Culture and is one of the eleven cultural commissions that is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 scheme.What does it do here:
- Develops and implements national strategies for fashion
- Supports licenses and all fashion-related activities in the state
- Host events, competitions and exhibitions
- Promises research and education in traditional and modern design
- Creates local supply chains to support self -sufficiency
- Saudi represents fashion in global forums
Its composition is formal, but its mission is individual, develops talent, protects heritage, and makes Saudi fashion relevant globally without losing its soul.
What does it all mean to move forward
Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry is no longer on the shore. It is becoming a serious place for creativity, commerce and cultural expression. And it is doing this on its terms.From Riyadh to Jeddah, young designers are learning something bigger than a trend, experimenting and doing something big. They are creating a new identity for Saudi fashion, a one who respects the past but looks forward with confidence.The Fashion Commission is not trying to mimic the global model. This is doing something more important: creating a fashion ecosystem that fits in Saudi Arabia, supports its people, and opens the place for real innovation.
questions to ask
- 1. What does Saudi Fashion Commission really do?
It supports the development of fashion sector in Saudi Arabia, from education and training to event organization, international participation and regulation.
- 2. How is stability being addressed in Saudi fashion industry?
Designers and programs are focused on recycled materials, low waste and moral production. The Commission also promotes stability through its programs and competitions.
- 3. Why is fashion important for Saudi Vision 2030?
Fashion supports employment generation, cultural exchange and economic diversification. It also helps in shaping the image of the country and enhancing national pride.