Saudi Arabia is set to host its first-ever Arab Fashion Week next month, Arab News reported. Organized by the Arab Fashion Council (AFC), the event will take place from target="_blank">March 26-31 at the Apex Center in Riyadh.
It was announced to a group of industry insiders and journalists by Princess Noura bint Faisal, honorary president of AFC, during a meeting held in London on Monday.
The fashion event comes as part of a "push to support aspiring Saudi designers and to drive growth in the sector."
The fashion week is supported by Saudi Arabia's Entertainment Authority
During the meeting held in London, Princess Noura read out a letter she received from the kingdom's General Entertainment Authority, whose officials will fully support the upcoming event.
"Saudi Arabia’s artistic community has been growing in size and in confidence for a number of years and the General Entertainment Authority believes that such an event will allow a proper platform to showcase their fashion and arts talents as the vehicle for a comprehensive range of entertainment options in Saudi Arabia. The General Entertainment Authority is proud to support an event that seeks to bring people together in a mutual appreciation of the power of fashion and art," the letter read.
In recent years, Saudi's entertainment industry has been >making significant strides under the authority's guidance.
Established in 2016, the government body was launched under the kingdom's Vision 2030, an initiative focused on diversifying the country's economy.
In implementing the ambitious vision, Saudi authorities passed several historic decisions when it comes to entertainment in the country, including >lifting a long-standing ban on cinemas.
"This event is just the beginning"
Speaking to Arab News, Princess Noura shared details of the forthcoming fashion week, saying that the event will be open to designers from all over the world.
"This event is just the beginning," she added.
In her statement on the matter, Layla Issa Abuzaid, director of AFC's recently opened office in the kingdom said:
"By launching the first Arab Fashion Week in Riyadh, we are aiming at more than to organize a world-class fashion event."
"We believe that to promote the fashion sector will support other economic sectors such as tourism, hospitality, travel, and trade. Our fashion sector is among the fastest growing in the world," she explained.