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Tashkeela Exhibition Exposes Saudi Designers to Int’l Fashion Markets

The Saudi Fashion Commission inaugurated Saturday in Riyadh the second "Tashkeela" exhibition at the ROSHN Front. (SPA)
The Saudi Fashion Commission inaugurated Saturday in Riyadh the second "Tashkeela" exhibition at the ROSHN Front. (SPA)
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Tashkeela Exhibition Exposes Saudi Designers to Int’l Fashion Markets

The Saudi Fashion Commission inaugurated Saturday in Riyadh the second "Tashkeela" exhibition at the ROSHN Front. (SPA)
The Saudi Fashion Commission inaugurated Saturday in Riyadh the second "Tashkeela" exhibition at the ROSHN Front. (SPA)

The Saudi Fashion Commission inaugurated Saturday in Riyadh the second "Tashkeela" exhibition at the ROSHN Front, offering a platform for local talent and brands to unveil their latest collections, The Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.
From ready-to-wear to high-end fashion, the exhibition, which lasts until March 19, boasts a diverse range of designs, including accessories, handbags and shoes, jewelry, and perfumes.
This wide-ranging display is expected to cater to the taste of a wide audience, and attract local fashion experts, influencers with a keen eye for trends, and investors seeking to support the burgeoning Saudi fashion sector.
Shoppers eager to discover the latest styles and champion local businesses will also find themselves immersed in a dynamic fashion experience.
Fashion Commission CEO Burak Çakmak said in an interview with SPA at the opening of the exhibition that the commission's primary objective is to bolster the fashion industry both locally and internationally. This entails creating opportunities for Saudi brands to access retail markets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and globally.
The event highlights the work of over 160 Saudi designers, including participants in the commission's "100 Saudi Brands" program, which offers training and guidance throughout the year to empower Saudi fashion designers and establish them as successful brands.
The "Tashkeela" exhibition enjoys clear success – the first edition attracted a staggering 22,000 visitors in the course of four days. Building on that achievement, the second edition features not only Saudi designers but also designers from Arab and other countries. This creates a dynamic platform for showcasing diverse fashion talents, Çakmak said.

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Demna Dials Down Theatrics for a More Saleable Vision of Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week 

Jessica Alba upon arrival at the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Womenswear collection presented in Paris, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP)
Jessica Alba upon arrival at the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Womenswear collection presented in Paris, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP)
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Demna Dials Down Theatrics for a More Saleable Vision of Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week 

Jessica Alba upon arrival at the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Womenswear collection presented in Paris, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP)
Jessica Alba upon arrival at the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Womenswear collection presented in Paris, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP)

Balenciaga is no stranger to spectacle, and Demna has built his reputation on turning the ordinary into the extreme. But this season, the brand's it-designer pulled back, choosing precision over provocation. His Sunday fall collection at Paris Fashion Week, Standard, focused on familiar dress codes, subtly warped but never fully broken.

Was this a study in refinement, or — shockingly — a step toward the conventional for a man known for breaking molds?

The show took place in a dimly lit maze of black curtains at the Cour du Dôme des Invalides, giving a sense of movement without grand theatrics. The models stormed through the narrow pathways, inches from VIP guests Tyra Banks, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Jessica Alba, their stiletto-heeled stomp set to the brooding strains of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

Businesswear was the foundation, with suits that alternated between crisp and intentionally crumpled. Denim pencil skirts, laced corset shirts, and long overcoats played with structure, while cocooned hoods and exaggerated lapels introduced a sculptural quality.

The impact, however, felt restrained. Silhouettes that once enveloped the body now followed a more familiar form. Sportswear, too, was tempered—tracksuits and bombers were leaner, and denim, usually one of Demna’s most manipulated materials, was given only slight modifications, treated to appear permanently wrinkled rather than wholly reimagined.

Absent were the shock elements of past seasons—no simulated disasters, no extreme exaggerations. Instead, the focus was on subtle transformations. For some, this marked a designer refining his vision; for others, it felt like a step away from the bold statements that defined his early Balenciaga years.

The Balenciaga x PUMA collaboration underscored this shift. While undoubtedly positioned for commercial success, its straightforward execution felt at odds with Demna’s usual approach to reworking streetwear. One reaction among critics pointed to its simplicity as a move toward accessibility rather than innovation.

More than ever, this collection seemed geared toward long-term retail appeal rather than shock-driven virality. While Demna has scaled back the provocation, the emphasis on businesswear, streamlined outerwear, and luxury-inflected sportswear suggests a strategic pivot toward a more commercially viable Balenciaga. The tailoring was clean, outerwear was softened, and layers leaned into versatility.

However, although some insiders pointed out how the reversed quarter-zip added an unexpected neckline shift, and a bathrobe-style coat blended casual ease with structured elegance—neither pushed the boundaries in the way past seasons have.

The collection may have been titled Standard, but it left an open question: Is Demna reshaping Balenciaga’s future, or settling into a more commonplace standard?