Paris, the city of light and fashion, welcomed six emerging designers from Saudi Arabia who presented their spring 2024 collections in a group called Emerge in Place Vendome. The event was part of a talent incubator program spearheaded by the Saudi Fashion Commission and MoCX, the Saudi Ministry of Culture's General Department of Innovation.
The showcase featured a diverse range of styles, from streetwear-inspired to minimalist tailoring, from quicky accessories to elegant prints. the designers also incorporated elements of their cultural heritage, such as sand dune landscapes, Arabian skylines, and traditional embroidery.
Torba Studio: Fun And Quirky
Torba Studio, founded by Abdulrahman Al-Harthi, is known for its playful and unconventional designs that challenge norms and stereotypes. For spring 2024, the brand showcased a collection that was fun and quirky, with hats that resembled thin pita bread, beaded harnesses with phallus-like tubes sticking out on the shoulder, and vests embroidered with Adam's apple. The collection also featured logo T-shirts, colorful jackets and pants, and a cute dress with a heart-shaped cutout.
1886: Urban Essentials
1866, named after the year when the first car was invented, is a streetwear brand that aims to create timeless and versatile pieces for the modern urbanite. The brand's spring 2024 collection was filled with urban essentials, such as hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers, shorts, and caps, in neutral tones of black, white, and gray. The collection also had some pops of color, such as yellow and green, and some graphic prints, such as a car motif and a slogan that read "Drive Your Dreams".
Hindamme: Arabian Nights
Hindamme, founded by Mohammed Khoja, is a luxury ready-to-wear brand that blends contemporary aesthetics with Middle Eastern influences. The brand's spring 2024 collection was inspired by the Arabian Nights, with shirts in beautiful prints of the Arabian skyline at night, sultry rhinestones miniskirts, and a statement asymmetrical puffer vest. The collection also featured some tailored pieces, such as blazers and trousers, in rich fabrics such as velvet and satin.
Mazrood: Minimalist And Desert-Friendly
Mazrood, founded by Mazen Al-Hazmi, is a menswear that focuses on clean and minimalist designs that are suitable for the desert climate. The brand's spring 2024 collection presented a refined take on men's tailoring, with crips shirts, jackets, and pants in shades of white, beige, and brown. The collection also had some casual pieces, such as T-shirts, shorts, and sandals, in earthy tones.
Noble & Fresh: Sand Dune Chic
Noble & Fresh, founded by Noura Al-Sheikh and Faisal Al-Ghamdi, is a unisex brand that draws inspiration from nature and art. The brand's spring 2024 collection was influenced by the sand dune landscape of Saudi Arabia, with layers of trousers and blazers embroidered with lines that formed a sand dune pattern. The collection also had some bright colors accents, such as orange and blue, and some geometric prints.
Not Boring: Colorful And Cute
Not Boring, founded by Reem Al-Kanhal and Lujain Al-Dawoodi, is a womenswear brand that aims to create colorful and cute clothes that are not boring. The brand's spring 2024 collection showcased a slew of bright color pieces for women, such as dresses, skirts, tops, and jackets, in shades of pink, purple, green, and yellow. The collection also had some adorable details, such as ruffles, bows, and fringes. One of the highlights was a T-shirt with a honey bear motif.
The Emerge showcase was accompanied by a performance by the dance duo Les Gamal, Saudi female rapper Beast, London-based Laughta and musicians from the National Orchestra invited by the Music Commission. The event was part of a series of fashion events that the Saudi Fashion Commission is organizing this week in preparation for the Saudi Brands event on Saturday.
The Saudi Fashion Commission is an initiative launched by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in 2019 to support the development of the fashion industry in the country. The commission aims to foster local talent, promote cultural diversity and create economic opportunities for the sector.
