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KAFD to Host WWD Summit and Inaugural Fashion Awards in Saudi Arabia

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)
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KAFD to Host WWD Summit and Inaugural Fashion Awards in Saudi Arabia

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)

The King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC) announced on Tuesday that it will host the Women's Wear Daily (WWD) Global Fashion Summit and the inaugural Fashion Awards, presented by Chalhoub Group, on Thursday.

The events, held at the King Abdullah Financial District, will honor outstanding achievements in the fashion, beauty, and retail industries, recognizing the exceptional contributions of designers and companies.

In a statement, KAFD said the WWD Global Fashion Summit is a hallmark event in the fashion world. This year, the event, in partnership with the Fashion Commission, will represent and spotlight local talents and visionaries alongside international fashion leaders in shaping the future of the industry.

Along with the Fashion Awards, these industry developments further cement the Kingdom's burgeoning role in the global fashion scene.

KAFD said it will present the "Designer of the Year" award to a winning designer whose work has significantly impacted the fashion industry.

“Through collaboration and partnership with stakeholders in the fashion community, KAFD continues to drive innovation, foster talent, and promote Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage on the global stage in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030,” said KAFD DMC chief executive Gautam Sashittal.

“We are thrilled to witness the burgeoning fashion industry in Saudi Arabia gaining global recognition. Hosting WWD's annual Global Fashion Summit for the first time in our region, right here in the heart of Riyadh, is an exciting moment,” said Fashion Commission CEO Burak Cakmak.

“We are particularly looking forward to the inaugural Fashion Awards presented by Chalhoub, which will honor and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the local talents and visionaries,” he added.

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Seoul Authorities Find Toxic Substances in Shein and Temu Products

This photo taken on July 26, 2018 shows founder of e-commerce company Temu, also known as Pinduoduo, Colin Huang delivering a speech during the launch of the company's initial public offering in Shanghai. (Photo by CNS / AFP) / China OUT
This photo taken on July 26, 2018 shows founder of e-commerce company Temu, also known as Pinduoduo, Colin Huang delivering a speech during the launch of the company's initial public offering in Shanghai. (Photo by CNS / AFP) / China OUT
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Seoul Authorities Find Toxic Substances in Shein and Temu Products

This photo taken on July 26, 2018 shows founder of e-commerce company Temu, also known as Pinduoduo, Colin Huang delivering a speech during the launch of the company's initial public offering in Shanghai. (Photo by CNS / AFP) / China OUT
This photo taken on July 26, 2018 shows founder of e-commerce company Temu, also known as Pinduoduo, Colin Huang delivering a speech during the launch of the company's initial public offering in Shanghai. (Photo by CNS / AFP) / China OUT

Women's accessories sold by some of the world's most popular online shopping firms contained toxic substances sometimes hundreds of times above acceptable levels, authorities in Seoul said Wednesday.

Chinese giants including Shein, Temu and AliExpress have skyrocketed in popularity around the world in recent years, offering a vast selection of trendy clothes and accessories at stunningly low prices.

The explosive growth has led to increased scrutiny of their business practices and safety standards, including in the European Union and South Korea, where Seoul officials have been conducting weekly inspections of items sold by online platforms.

In the most recent inspection, 144 products from Shein, AliExpress and Temu were tested, and multiple products from all companies failed to meet legal standards.

Shoes from Shein were found to contain significantly high levels of phthalates -- chemicals used to make plastics more flexible -- with one pair 229 times above the legal limit.

"Phthalate-based plasticizers affect reproductive functions such as sperm count reduction, and can cause infertility and even premature birth," an official from Seoul's environmental health team told AFP.

One such chemical "is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Cancer Institute, so special care should be taken to avoid long-term contact with the human body", they added.

Formaldehyde, a chemical commonly used in home building products, was detected in Shein's caps at double the allowable threshold.

Two bottles of nail polish from Shein were found to have dioxane -- a possible human carcinogen that can cause liver poisoning -- at levels more than 3.6 times the allowed limit and methanol concentrations 1.4 times above the acceptable level.

Shein told AFP that they "work closely with international third-party testing agencies... to regularly carry out risk-based sampling tests to ensure that products provided by suppliers meet Shein's product safety standards".

"Our suppliers are required to comply with the controls and standards we have put in place as well as the product safety laws and regulations in the countries we operate in," the company added.

Seoul authorities found sandals from Temu contained lead in the insoles at levels more than 11 times the permissible limit.

Temu did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

Seoul officials have asked for the products to be removed from sale, according to a government statement.

"Products that exceed the legal limit are products that directly contact the body, such as leather sandals and hats, so citizens should pay special attention," said Kim Tae-hee, an official in the capital.

"The Seoul Metropolitan Government will continue to conduct safety tests periodically and disclose the results."

In April, the European Union added Shein to its list of digital firms that are big enough to come under stricter safety rules -- including measures to protect customers from unsafe products, especially those that could be harmful to minors.

Shein and Temu have followed Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba in challenging Amazon, especially by making inroads in the US market.