By Muslim Mirror Desk
Saudi Arabia, known for its strict conservatism, hosted its first-ever fashion show featuring swimsuit models on Friday, May 17. The event showcased designs by Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal and marked a significant cultural shift in the kingdom.
The fashion show primarily featured one-piece swimsuits in beige, red, and blue shades. According to AFP, many models had exposed shoulders, and some displayed partially visible midriffs. “When we came here, we understood that a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia is a historic moment because it is the first time to have such an event,” Qanzal told AFP.
The inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week took place at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort, part of the giga-projects central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This social and economic reform program is spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has introduced a series of significant social changes since becoming the heir apparent in 2017. These reforms aim to soften Saudi Arabia’s austere image, long shaped by the strict Islamic doctrine of Wahhabism.
Syrian influencer Shouq Mohammad, attending the historic show, commented that the event was unsurprising given Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to open up to the world and expand its fashion and tourism sectors. According to a report by the Saudi Fashion Commission, the fashion industry in 2022 accounted for 12.5 billion SAR, or 1.4% of the national GDP, and employed 230,000 people.
French influencer Raphael Simacourbe, who also attended the show, remarked that while the event might not seem risque by Western standards, it was a major achievement in the Saudi context. This groundbreaking fashion show signifies the kingdom’s gradual embrace of cultural and social liberalization under Vision 2030. (with agencies inputs)