Friday was the first-ever swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia, showcasing Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal’s creations during an event by the pool.
The majority of the one-piece suits on display were in red, beige, and blue hues.
“We came here with the understanding that a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia is a historic moment, as it is the first time such an event has taken place,” Qanzal told AFP.
Part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 social and economic transformation agenda, the first Red Sea Fashion Week was held at the St Regis Red Sea Resort.
Red Sea Global, one of the massive projects under the direction of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, includes the resort.
Syrian fashion influencer Shouq Mohammed said he was not surprised by Friday’s historic fashion event, given Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to grow its tourism and fashion industries and become more globally connected.
A report published by the official Saudi Fashion Commission last year states that in 2022, the fashion business generated $12.5 billion in revenue, or 1.4% of the GDP of the nation, and employed 230,000 people.
Influencer Raphael Simacourbe, from France, who was also present at the fashion show on Friday, stated that although it didn’t seem risky to him, it was a significant accomplishment in Saudi Arabia.
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