Riyadh Fashion Week highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing fashion industry

(20 Oct 2024) ASSOCIATED PRESS Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - 19 October 2024 1. Various of Riyadh Fashion Week runway 2. Wide of Riyadh Fashion Week venue 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Burak Cakmak CEO, Saudi Fashion Commission: “As fashion commission, our intention is to build a full fashion value chain in the country, and part of that is doing Fashion Week. So we started the journey with supporting brands. We didn't know how many brands existed in the country, and then we invited them to apply for a program that's going to support them in professional development. And we had over 1000 applications when we first opened. Out of that, we selected a hundred and decided 100 program. And after one year it became obvious that it's not just the mentorship that we're providing, but all the other elements of value chain is critical to be able to support their business to grow. As part of that journey, we decided that we need a Fashion Week moment because there was no other occasion for brands to be able to showcase their products and collections to local medium buyers, but also their customers.” 4. Various of Riyadh Fashion Week Venue 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Burak Cakmak CEO, Saudi Fashion Commission: “We have a very young population, so 50% of the country is under 25 years old. Like anywhere else in the world, they all want to be in the creative industries. Hence, they're building their businesses. That's why we are very keen to see how we can support them to continue growing that as well. With their higher purchasing power, a lot of interest in fashion products, all the ecosystem, including the infrastructure coming into the country. It's natural that we are going to see not only retail but also education, manufacturing, all the way to fashion weeks and many brands also from internationally coming here to start showcasing their products.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - 18 October 2024 6. Various of influencers and models at the Riyadh Fashion Week. ASSOCIATE