Saudi 100 Brands Program Announces Winner of 'Saudi Heritage Revival’ Competition

The competition was launched in July by the Saudi 100 Brands Program -- an initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission
The competition was launched in July by the Saudi 100 Brands Program -- an initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission
TT

Saudi 100 Brands Program Announces Winner of 'Saudi Heritage Revival’ Competition

The competition was launched in July by the Saudi 100 Brands Program -- an initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission
The competition was launched in July by the Saudi 100 Brands Program -- an initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission

The "Saudi Heritage Revival" competition winner was announced Wednesday at the Creative Residence under the Fashion Commission FCR headquarters at JAX District, in the presence of the jury and competition participants.

The competition was launched in July by the Saudi 100 Brands Program -- an initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission -- with the aim of encouraging sustainability within the field of fashion design and the Saudi fashion industry by highlighting the cultural and national heritage.

Specifically, it provided an opportunity for participants to submit unique fashion designs using a group of classic Swarovski crystals while integrating the features and elements of heritage and design art with Saudi culture.
The stages of the competition included allocating a virtual introductory meeting for participants about the objectives and requirements of the competition on August 26 and guidance workshops with Swarovski experts in Riyadh on September 2-4, in addition to individual virtual sessions to follow up on the work of participants. The participants' outputs were subject to arbitration by the jury, and the winner was chosen on September 25 at the Creative Residence under the Fashion Commission FCR headquarters. The winning designer receives a training opportunity at the headquarters of Dar Al-Hanouf Fashion in Jeddah, while the top five designers get to participate in an international academic competition by Swarovski called “Interpretation of the Swarovski SS 2025 Inspiration Theme Street Art in a Commercial Ready to Wear Outfit.”
The winner was Hebah Baatiyyah and the top five designers were Hebah Baatiyyah, Alanood Aljabeer, Lama AlHabashi, Rawan Alyami and Reem Bashawri.



Tan Leather, Trio of Protestors Parade Hermes Catwalk in Paris

Models present creations by Hermes for the Women Ready-to-wear Spring-Summer 2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on September 28, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
Models present creations by Hermes for the Women Ready-to-wear Spring-Summer 2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on September 28, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
TT

Tan Leather, Trio of Protestors Parade Hermes Catwalk in Paris

Models present creations by Hermes for the Women Ready-to-wear Spring-Summer 2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on September 28, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
Models present creations by Hermes for the Women Ready-to-wear Spring-Summer 2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on September 28, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

For her spring summer runway show, Hermes designer Nadege Vanhee sent out a parade of mesh crop tops and calfskin coats in tan hues on Saturday, a lineup that was briefly interrupted by three animal rights activists.
The show was kicking off with a series of light, beige looks -- loose trousers, sheer tops and a suede coat cinched in the back -- when the first protestor from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) group burst on to the catwalk, wielding a sign calling for the label to stop using exotic skins, Reuters reported.
She was wrestled out of a side door by security guards just before the next model arrived, dressed in a buttery leather bomber jacket paired with a high waisted culotte.
Security guards nabbed another protestor who jumped on the catwalk shortly after, rushing her out the same side door in time for the next look -- a sheer top in ivory that matched the model's trousers and handbag.
The parade continued, featuring long sheer skirts unzipped to the thighs, bright pink dresses and belted outerwear.
When a third protestor suddenly appeared, the audience gasped. Her appearance was also brief, and the show continued.
It is not the first time PETA protestors have targeted the French label, known for its highly-coveted Birkin bags, with versions in exotic skins famous for fetching prices reaching as much as several hundred thousand dollars in auctions.
Paris Fashion Week, which started on Sept. 23, features dozens of brands including Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Chanel and Victoria Beckham, wraps up Oct. 1.
PETA also targeted the Dior show earlier this week for the brand's use of feathers, with just one protestor very briefly entering the catwalk.