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Saudi Fashion Commission Launches Pioneering ‘Sustainable Ihram Initiative’

The initiative focuses on recycling Ihram garments. SPA
The initiative focuses on recycling Ihram garments. SPA
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Saudi Fashion Commission Launches Pioneering ‘Sustainable Ihram Initiative’

The initiative focuses on recycling Ihram garments. SPA
The initiative focuses on recycling Ihram garments. SPA

The Saudi Fashion Commission unveiled its latest sustainable initiative, the Sustainable Ihram Initiative, during a news conference at the Islamic Arts Biennale

The initiative focuses on recycling Ihram garments by collecting, sorting, and repurposing textile waste from pilgrims to create new, sustainable Ihram attire.
The Fashion Commission launched the initiative in collaboration with Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC), a leading company specializing in waste management and the circular economy, and Tadweem, a prominent company in sustainable fashion, aiming to transform used Ihram garments into new, eco-friendly Ihram clothing. The innovative process highlights the viability of textile recycling within the fashion industry and contributes to a more sustainable textile ecosystem.
Additionally, the commission partnered with SANKO Textile, a specialized group in sustainable textiles, with support from RE&UP, an innovative textile-to-textile recycling technology company, further reinforcing the environmental impact of the initiative.

The Sustainable Ihram Initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s environmental protection goals, marking a significant step toward a more sustainable fashion ecosystem in the Kingdom. It aims to promote sustainable practices, raise consumer awareness about textile recycling, and support the development of a circular textile economy in Saudi Arabia.
“The Sustainable Ihram Initiative demonstrates our commitment to innovation in sustainable practices, honoring the cultural and spiritual significance of the Ihram while safeguarding our planet for future generations,” said Saudi Fashion Commission chief executive Burak Cakmak.
He emphasized that the commission is committed to promoting a vibrant and sustainable fashion industry in the Kingdom in line with global sustainability standards, promoting conscious consumption and recycling.

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Fashion

Naomi Osaka's US Open Look Channels Allen Iverson with Gray Hoodie and Hair in Cornrows

Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto the court against Anastasia Zakharova during their Women's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto the court against Anastasia Zakharova during their Women's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Naomi Osaka's US Open Look Channels Allen Iverson with Gray Hoodie and Hair in Cornrows

Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto the court against Anastasia Zakharova during their Women's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto the court against Anastasia Zakharova during their Women's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

Naomi Osaka channeled Allen Iverson as part of her US Open debut, and the former NBA superstar liked the look.

Osaka made her usual fashionable entrance for her match against Anastasia Zakharova on Monday night in the first round. The two-time US Open champion emerged from the tunnel onto the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a long, white skirt and a gray, hooded robe featuring newspaper clippings about her.

She had the hood on when she entered. When she removed that to reveal her black outfit, Osaka had her hair done in cornrows, just as Iverson did when was the NBA MVP while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Osaka wore a shirt with Iverson's picture when she met with the media on the eve of the tournament and called him a trailblazer.

“I think he’s also someone that I look up to a lot, because he’s kind done a lot in fashion, whether it’s on purpose or not, but he’s shifted the way that NBA players dress,” Osaka said Saturday. “I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports and also just expressing yourself through style, I feel like he’s someone that I look up to in that regard.”

She added that they'd never communicated, but Iverson posted a message to Osaka on his Instagram page Monday, writing: “Wow, what an honor!! BIG FAN can’t wait to meet you.”

Fashion

France Takes Aim at Ultra-Fast Fashion with New Levy

The logo of Temu, an e-commerce platform owned by PDD Holdings, is seen on a mobile phone displayed in front of its website, in this illustration picture taken April 26, 2023. (Reuters)
The logo of Temu, an e-commerce platform owned by PDD Holdings, is seen on a mobile phone displayed in front of its website, in this illustration picture taken April 26, 2023. (Reuters)
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France Takes Aim at Ultra-Fast Fashion with New Levy

The logo of Temu, an e-commerce platform owned by PDD Holdings, is seen on a mobile phone displayed in front of its website, in this illustration picture taken April 26, 2023. (Reuters)
The logo of Temu, an e-commerce platform owned by PDD Holdings, is seen on a mobile phone displayed in front of its website, in this illustration picture taken April 26, 2023. (Reuters)

France will from Tuesday impose a fee on ultra-fast fashion items that will eventually reach almost 20 euros per garment, as the government targets major Asian e-commerce platforms including Shein.

The levy follows legislation passed by the French parliament in June to regulate so-called "ultra-fast fashion" companies, known for selling large volumes of lower quality clothing at rock-bottom prices.

It is part of a push to rein in Asian e-commerce giants including Shein, Temu and AliExpress, which have exploded in popularity in France in recent years.

"The harmful effects of ultra-fast fashion on our environment and our economy are well known and documented," said Mathieu Lefevre, the minister for ecological transition on Friday as details of the measure were published.

Under the legislation, ultra-fast fashion will be determined according to two criteria: the volume of clothing placed on the market and the cost of repairing garments relative to their purchase price.

The per-item fee will vary on a set scale according to how each product scores on both these standards.

In 2026, companies will pay fines such as a 50-cent levy on underwear falling into the ultra-fast fashion category, rising to two euros for T-shirts, nine euros for jeans and 12 euros for a jacket.

The levy could reach up to 19.50 euros ($22.60) per item by 2030, though the cap remains at 50 percent of the product's pre-tax price.

A tool to collect data independently, rather than relying solely on companies' own declarations, is under development, Lefevre's office said.

Shein, which on Monday was valued at $26.3 billion in its long-awaited Hong Kong initial public offering, declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

Temu and AliExpress did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The measure has faced criticism over which retailers it will affect.

In July, Lefevre's office said the levy would not apply to retailers such as H&M or Zara, prompting some to say that the measure appeared to spare European and French companies.

French officials have made repeated statements that they view Shein, Temu and AliExpress as driving the surge in ultra-fast fashion.

The European Commission had also raised questions over whether the legislation complied with EU law, but Lefevre's office said those concerns had been "dispelled" and the measure was not expected to be blocked.

China meanwhile warned in July of potential retaliation over the French law, slamming the regulation as "discriminatory" and in violation of trade principles.

Imports of small parcels from China into the EU have already fallen by around 30 to 40 percent since a separate three-euro EU levy on such shipments came into force on July 1, according to the French government.

Fashion

Shein Prices Hong Kong IPO at Midpoint of Range, Raises $1.74 Billion

FILE PHOTO: A view of the reception of fast-fashion brand Shein's office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 15, 2025. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the reception of fast-fashion brand Shein's office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 15, 2025. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo
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Shein Prices Hong Kong IPO at Midpoint of Range, Raises $1.74 Billion

FILE PHOTO: A view of the reception of fast-fashion brand Shein's office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 15, 2025. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the reception of fast-fashion brand Shein's office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 15, 2025. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

Shein on Monday priced its initial public offering in Hong Kong at the midpoint of its marketed range, raising HK$13.60 billion ($1.74 billion) from the share sale.

The online fast-fashion retailer offered 280 million shares for the listing at HK$48.56 per share, below the maximum offer price of HK$49.50 apiece announced last week, Reuters reported.

The Hong Kong public offering portion was subscribed 5.63 times, while the international offering was subscribed 2.59 times, Shein said in a stock exchange filing.

The long-awaited market debut comes after the online retailer, known for selling $5 dresses and $10 jeans to shoppers in about 160 countries, scrapped plans to list in New York and London.

Shein in an exchange filing last week said that most of the funds from the offering would be utilised to improve its technology and increase brand awareness and global presence.

The Singapore-based, Chinese-founded company's shares are slated to debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday.