Saudi Arabia: In a landmark event, Saudi Arabia hosted its first-ever fashion show featuring swimsuit models on Friday, marking a significant shift in the country’s cultural and social landscape. This historic event took place less than a decade after women were required to wear body-covering abaya robes in public.
The fashion show was held on the second day of the inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week at the St Regis Red Sea Resort, located off Saudi Arabia’s western coast. This resort is part of Red Sea Global, one of the major projects under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a comprehensive reform program spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The poolside runway featured mostly one-piece swimsuits in shades of red, beige, and blue. The models showcased designs with exposed shoulders and partially visible midriffs. Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal, who participated in the event, told AFP, “It’s true that this country is very conservative but we tried to show elegant swimsuits which represent the Arab world. 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,” she said, adding that it was “an honour” to be involved.
Crown Prince Mohammed, who ascended to first in line to the throne in 2017, has implemented a series of substantial social reforms aimed at modernizing Saudi Arabia’s image, which has long been associated with a strict interpretation of Islam known as Wahhabism. These reforms include diminishing the influence of the religious police, reintroducing cinemas, and hosting mixed-gender music festivals. However, these changes have also been accompanied by increased repression of dissent, including from conservative clerics who might oppose such reforms.
Syrian fashion influencer Shouq Mohammed, who attended the show, noted that the event was in line with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to open up to the world and expand its fashion and tourism sectors. According to a report by the official Saudi Fashion Commission, the fashion industry accounted for $12.5 billion, or 1.4 percent of the national GDP, in 2022 and employed 230,000 people. “It’s the first time to have a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia, but why not? Seriously why not?” Mohammed said. “It’s possible and we have it here.”
This swimsuit fashion show represents a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s journey towards modernization and reflects the broader changes taking place under Vision 2030, aimed at diversifying the economy and promoting a more open and inclusive society.
