The third edition of Riyadh Fashion Week opened with British fashion house Vivienne Westwood’s first-ever show in the Middle East. The event also featured shows by Saudi designers – discover their latest collections below.

Riyadh has transformed into a new fashion capital in the Middle East with the launch of its fashion week, running from October 16th to 21st. The event’s calendar includes approximately 40 local and international shows.

Vivienne Westwood designs

Saudi designer Tima Abed presented one of the first shows of the week, embodying her unique vision of Saudi heritage through designs that blend authenticity with contemporary elegance. Her collection featured dominant colors of black, white, gold, and silver, with notable use of lace fabric and dramatic details that enhanced the looks.

The designer’s new collection combined sophisticated classicism with modern elegance. He employed an elegant color palette including brown, beige, olive, and white, while ensuring his designs were executed in luxurious fabrics and embellished with sparkling embroidery that enhanced their sophistication.

The fashion house chose “Ticket to the Theater” as the theme for its show, which was distinguished by innovative dramatic style looks. The theatrical character dominated its designs, which featured innovative cuts and striking details.

The third edition of Riyadh Fashion Week was distinguished by the inclusion of international fashion shows in its program, beginning with Vivienne Westwood’s show – also marking the British house’s first show in the Middle East region. This show included the launch of a special collection of looks hand-embroidered by Saudi artisans in celebration of the Kingdom’s heritage and craft arts. The house also presented selected looks from its Spring/Summer 2026 collection along with chosen designs from its extensive archive.

Riyadh Fashion Week

Riyadh Fashion Week is a major annual fashion event launched in 2022 that showcases both established and emerging Saudi and international designers. It reflects the Kingdom’s rapid social and economic transformation, particularly following the reforms that have increased opportunities in the arts and entertainment sectors. The event highlights the growth of the local fashion industry and positions Riyadh as a new global fashion capital.

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood is a British fashion designer and brand, not a physical place or cultural site. Founded in the early 1970s, it became iconic for pioneering the punk and new wave fashion movements. The brand is known for its rebellious spirit, historical tailoring references, and activism, with its flagship stores located in London.

Middle East

The Middle East is a transcontinental region centered on Western Asia and Egypt, historically known as the “Cradle of Civilization” for the emergence of ancient cultures like Mesopotamia and the birthplace of major world religions. Its history is marked by the rise and fall of vast empires, including the Persian, Ottoman, and Abbasid Caliphates, which shaped global trade, science, and culture. Today, it remains a region of profound geopolitical and cultural significance, defined by its vast energy resources and its central role in the Abrahamic faiths.

Saudi heritage

Saudi heritage encompasses the rich cultural legacy of the Arabian Peninsula, rooted in ancient civilizations, Bedouin traditions, and its central role in the birth of Islam. This heritage is preserved in historic sites like the UNESCO-listed Al-Hijr (Madain Salih) and Diriyah, the original home of the Saudi royal family. It includes traditional arts, crafts, poetry, and the deeply ingrained custom of Arabian hospitality.

Kingdom’s heritage

“Kingdom’s Heritage” is a general term often used to refer to the cultural legacy of a monarchy, such as Saudi Arabia’s ongoing initiative to preserve its historical sites. These sites can include ancient ruins, historic palaces, and traditional villages that showcase the kingdom’s history, from its early civilizations to the founding of the modern state. The purpose is to protect this heritage and promote it as a vital part of the nation’s identity for future generations.

Saudi artisans

Saudi artisans represent a diverse range of traditional crafts that are deeply rooted in the Kingdom’s Bedouin and urban heritage. Historically, these skills—such as Sadu weaving, pottery, and woodworking—were essential for creating tools, clothing, and items for daily life and trade. Today, these artisans are recognized as vital cultural bearers, with their work being preserved and promoted as an important part of Saudi Arabia’s national identity.

Ticket to the Theater

“Ticket to the Theater” is not a specific physical place or cultural site, but rather a conceptual theme representing the cultural practice of attending live performances. Historically, theater tickets have granted access to a wide range of artistic expressions, from ancient Greek amphitheaters to modern Broadway shows. They symbolize the gateway to shared storytelling, social commentary, and communal artistic experiences that have been a cornerstone of human culture for millennia.

Spring/Summer 2026 collection

This is not a place or cultural site, but rather a fashion industry term referring to a seasonal collection of clothing and accessories. These collections are typically designed and presented by fashion houses about six months prior to the selling season. The history of this seasonal calendar dates back to the early 20th century with the rise of haute couture in Paris.