Riyadh Fashion Week has wrapped up another season, drawing to a close with the Saudi Arabia debut of British designer Stella McCartney.

The event has shone a spotlight on the emerging strength of regional names, while demonstrating the pulling power of the Saudi market, with its ability to get Vivienne Westwood to open Riyadh Fashion Week, and Stella McCartney to close it.

Closing day

For her debut show in the kingdom, Stella McCartney sent out a striking line-up of slinky metallic dresses, a fitted high-low gown with a flowing train, an animal-print trench paired with thigh-high boots, and relaxed masculine tailoring cinched at the waist.

Evening glamour came through sequins, metallic fabrics, glossy fringe and fluid 1930s-style slip dresses, alongside a boxy off-the-shoulder mini. It was a fitting finale to a standout week marking a milestone for Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry.

Regional labels also impressed. 1886 presented a sharp, co-ed collection blending menswear attitude with contemporary flair – oversized knits, glossy jumpsuits and double-breasted pinstripe suits for women, and high-shine bomber jackets for men.

1886 delved into menswear codes for its co-ed show at Riyadh Fashion Week. Photo: Riyadh Fashion Week

Saudi streetwear label Eleve11 delivered a concise, logo-driven collection that felt both fresh and polished.

Qormuz, meanwhile, reimagined traditional Saudi dress for modern life, turning Bedouin face tattoos into bag motifs; thobes and bisht into sweeping overcoats; and embroidered farwas coats into clutch-worthy dusters.

The standout piece: a winter farwa crafted from dense patchworked sheepskin.

Qormuz reworked the traditional farwa into duster coats. Photo: Riyadh Fashion Week

Hindamme reaffirmed its status as one of the kingdom’s most exciting names, with boxy jackets in gold or silver for men and bold red for women, and glossy chocolate-brown farwas worn by both.

Calligraphy – long part of the brand’s DNA – appeared as spirals across fit-and-flare dress bodices, and as sequinned lettering spelling “Mermaid” on the veil of an all-pink bride.

Hindamme's all-pink 'mermaid' look. Photo: Riyadh Fashion Week

Days 2 and 3

On day 2, ethical luxury label Abadia delivered refined tailoring and impeccable construction in the form of bias-cut and button-front dresses in crisp stripes, dropped-waist silhouettes and a waisted jacket over a full mulberry wool skirt.

Sumptuous tailoring