Red Sea Fashion Week Makes Its Debut in May 2024

Red Sea Fashion Week Makes Its Debut in May 2024
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Red Sea Fashion Week Makes Its Debut in May 2024

Red Sea Fashion Week Makes Its Debut in May 2024

The inaugural edition of the Red Sea Fashion Week, an initiative by the Saudi Fashion Commission, will be held from May 16 to 18 at the brand-new St. Regis Red Sea Resort development in Saudi Arabia.

The three-day event will kick off with an opening show, followed by two days of runway shows and activations, featuring luxury fashion, jewellery, Ready-to-Wear, and Resort Wear collections from both Saudi and international designers.

A pivotal moment for Saudi Arabia's fashion industry and its integration into the global market, Red Sea Fashion Week is strategically aligned with the objectives of Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and develop cultural sectors.

By showcasing local talent and facilitating connections with international buyers and media, the event underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to becoming a hub for luxury fashion and cultural exchange.

Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fashion Commission Burak Cakmak stated: “With Red Sea Fashion Week, we set out to forge a distinctive and dynamic platform that not only highlights the vast creativity and skill within Saudi Arabia but also elevates our nation as a key player on the global fashion stage.”

“This initiative is a vibrant testament to our dedication to cultivating local talent and integrating them into the international arena, resonating deeply with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of enriching our cultural fabric and broadening our economic horizons,” he added.

The inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week represents a significant step in Saudi Arabia's journey to redefine the fashion landscape and celebrate its diverse cultural heritage. Fostering a dynamic fashion community with global appeal, the Saudi Fashion Commission aims to propel the creative economy and establish the Kingdom as an international fashion destination.



Designer Thom Browne Builds a World of Origami Magic for a Fantastical Bird-Themed Runway Show 

A model walks the runway during the Thom Browne Fall/Winter 2025 fashion show as part of New York Fashion Week on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at The Shed in New York. (AP)
A model walks the runway during the Thom Browne Fall/Winter 2025 fashion show as part of New York Fashion Week on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at The Shed in New York. (AP)
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Designer Thom Browne Builds a World of Origami Magic for a Fantastical Bird-Themed Runway Show 

A model walks the runway during the Thom Browne Fall/Winter 2025 fashion show as part of New York Fashion Week on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at The Shed in New York. (AP)
A model walks the runway during the Thom Browne Fall/Winter 2025 fashion show as part of New York Fashion Week on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at The Shed in New York. (AP)

Thom Browne loves building fantastical worlds for his fashion shows, and his fall/winter 2025 collection was no exception. The designer filled a darkened Manhattan theater space with 2,000 graceful white origami birds, many suspended in the air, as he closed out New York Fashion Week on Tuesday.

To a soundtrack of bird sounds, poetry like Emily Dickinson’s "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," and music evoking ornithological themes, Browne filled his runway with fanciful and inventive versions of his finely tailored suits, coats and jackets, some of them adorned with birds in brilliant colors, creeping across a jacket or coat.

A starry night Oscar nominee Adrien Brody sat next to Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Married actors Morgan Spector and Rebecca Hall sat together in the front row. Other guests included Cara Delevingne, musician St. Vincent and actors Cristin Milioti, Alessandro Nivola and Cole Escola.

Browne takes his time with his runway shows. They can last two or three times a usual runway show and tell a full story. In this case, the story centered on two caged lovebirds, in a white birdcage, longing to be free.

The runway show began with two "ornithologists," with briefcases and in gray Thom Browne "uniforms." They sat at a desk, near the caged lovebirds, and began watching the flock of fashions.

Models followed, made up with colored, feathery eyelashes and dressed in checks, tweeds, plaids, argyle knits or flannels. Browne's deconstructed or exaggerated shapes were, as usual, examples of highly inventive tailoring and silhouette work. There were 64 looks in all.

There were fanciful dresses, petticoats and a huge ball skirt. The most whimsical notes of all were the colorful bird motifs, in satin stitch or gold bullion embroidery, finding their way across garments.

There was also a nod to collegiate style, with a brown varsity-style jacket emblazoned with "65," a reference to Browne’s birth year.

As always there were a few eye-popping handbags, including Browne’s favorite Hector bag, inspired by his own canine companion.