In Saudi Arabia, there are no 'fashion weeks' but there is one month that beats the need for them all. Ramadan is one of the busiest times of the year, especially for fashion designers in the country. Designers know this is the time people dress in their finest outfits, so sales of traditional clothing and abayas generally peak towards Ramadan and Eid. Family and tradition are the core of Saudi culture. Both factors impact lifestyle, eating out habits and of course shopping for upcoming gatherings. Most women do not like repeating the same outfit, which only means one thing. Good business. All designers come to the forefront during Ramadan and Saudi Arabia pays homage to its best fashion forward faculty during this month. Saudi Gazette caught up with a few local designers in Jeddah to discuss their Ramadan collection.
Moja Majka “Solitude- is what we call our Ramadan collection, mainly because of what it denotes. Our latest kaftan collection is made with organic linens, special woven fabrics blended in with our signature and antique pieces, all one of a kind.” Sarah Basaad Founders: Surreya and Sarah Basaad Mishael Al-Rajhi “My Ramadan collection is about life, harmony and symphony. It incorporates desert, sun, sea and flowers with the colors yellow, sand, blue and pink. We used beading, sequence, crystals and pearls. It is complicated because of all the hand work.” Mishael Al-Rajhi (Founder) Ta Marbota “Salam 2015 is our first collection for the year that combines the delicacy of flowers and the boldness of curves and angles. Salam is our way of paying homage to inspiring Islamic Art. In its presence, we find reverence, joy and unparalleled fascination. The collection is our most complex collection till date. In addition to the classic Ta Marbota cuts and fabrics, you will find elements of crepe, organza and handcrafted elements with new cuts and materials. Salam. To Islamic Art, with love and admiration.” Rawan Azhar (Founder) RYBoutique “It is a fairytale that started with a simple dream, turned into a small business and then bloomed into a company with a bigger future vision. Ranim and I are two passionate people that believe that the sky is the limit and that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Seven years ago, we started with an idea to create a modern, creative way for Hijab and launched 'RYCAPS'. As for our kaftan and thobe designs, that we exclusively launch each season of Ramadan, we try to apply designs with a mix heritage of modern and traditional fashion trends. Our latest collection: 'Fleurs des dunes' (flowers of the dunes) is inspired by flowers that grow in the desert dunes. We chose Linjawi raunch for its its beautiful stallions and the oasis around it for shooting. Women are looking for colorful kaftans made of light fabric this Ramadan.” Yasmin Mosli Founders: Yasmin Hisham Mosli and Ranim Hisham Ramdani Orange Blossom “Our Ramadan collection this year is actually quite different than what you would usually expect. We were somewhere in between elegance and bold prints. For our daily casuals we went for strong colorful prints in a flowy style, easy to wear especially in this heat. For formal wear we went for lighter colors and floral patterns with a lot of delicate lace. Arab women in general focus on their outfits during Ramadan due to lots of social events and family gatherings. Their wardrobe transforms from regular clothing to kaftans for 30 days.” Zeina Adra Founders: Zeina and Yusra Adra Nirvana “Our Ramadan collection symbolizes the strong Arab woman who is not afraid to express herself and is truly inspiring. The abayas are a hit on social media with Fozaza and others wearing them as Kaftans. This is just a reminder that Saudi fashion is progressive and abayas are an extension of your personality. You can war Nirvana abayas at a family gathering, bazaar or even at the beach. Each piece is designed to fit all those categories. Follow us on Instagram: @nirvana_fashion” Laura Ali (Fashion buyer)
La Suna “The Ramadan collection is called Tribella. It is a mix of Coachella and tribal prints. The fun colors and hippie style represent Coachella and we mixed it with tribal prints for abayas, thobes and accessories.” Samaher AlDerhali (Designer) Badawiah “Fashion and Jewelry design has always been my passion. The idea behind Badawiah is to create unique items that are complimented with handcrafts from all parts of the world. In return, partial proceeds will help raise funds for children in need. Badawiah's genuine creations have a burst of femininity with a touch of bedouin culture. I think Saudi women look for freedom of expression while maintaining traditional culture and style. Follow Badawiah on Instagram for updates on new collections and pop-ups!” Safiah Alaquil (Founder)
