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‘The future of fashion is here’ US designer Norma Kamali says at WWD Global Fashion Summit in Riyadh

‘The future of fashion is here’ US designer Norma Kamali says at WWD Global Fashion Summit in Riyadh
Iconic designer Norma Kamali spoke to the audience about her experience as a fashion entrepreneur. (Arab News)
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Updated 06 June 2024
Rahaf Jambi
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‘The future of fashion is here’ US designer Norma Kamali says at WWD Global Fashion Summit in Riyadh

‘The future of fashion is here’ US designer Norma Kamali says at WWD Global Fashion Summit in Riyadh
Updated 06 June 2024
Rahaf Jambi
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RIYADH: Riyadh played host to the Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) Global Fashion Summit at King Abdullah Financial District on Thursday, with US fashion designer Norma Kamali featured in the line-up of speakers.  

 Throughout the day, there were several workshops and conference sessions that discussed a variety of topics related to entering the Saudi market and sustainability at the event that was  held in partnership with the Saudi Fashion Commission and King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company

Iconic designer Kamali spoke to the audience about her experience as a fashion entrepreneur.

Kamali, who started her business in 1967, is known for such statement pieces as the celebrity-loved sleeping bag coat, the high heeled sneaker and the Parachute Collection.

 During her afternoon session at the summit, the designer emphasized that the Saudi fashion industry is at a crossroads.

 “Saudi Arabia is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking countries in fashion and young designers here know their heritage and they have the technology and support,” she said.

“So, my advice for the designers is to really pay attention to the opportunity you have and don't let it pass by because this is your moment and I believe the future of fashion really is here,” Kamali added.

The designer also touched on Artificial Intelligence and how important it is for the fashion industry to adopt it.

"I want to live to be 120 years old, but when I pass away, the team will have a ton of my AI tips and tricks. It's an exciting tool that's a lot of fun to use," she stated.  

Kamali received the WWD International Designer of the Year Award at the Global Fashion Summit.

In the evening, the Fashion Awards will celebrate the achievements of Saudi designers through a ceremony. Among many accolades, the Designer of the Year award will be presented to a creative whose work has impacted the fashion industry.

“We are thrilled to witness the burgeoning fashion industry in Saudi Arabia gaining global recognition. Hosting WWD’s annual Global Fashion Summit for the first time in our region, right here in the heart of Riyadh, is an exciting moment,” said Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, in a previously released statement.

 

Topics: Saudi Arabia WWD Saudi fashion commission Global Fashion Summit Norma Kamali

Review: The Escape Hotel

Photo/Supplied
Photo/Supplied
Updated 27 May 2025
Rahaf Jambi
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Review: The Escape Hotel

Photo/Supplied
  • The Escape Hotel has a variety of themed rooms, each designed to challenge and excite
Updated 27 May 2025
Rahaf Jambi

Are you in search of an exciting break from your routine with friends or family? Look no further than the Escape Hotel, an experience that will leave you buzzing long after the visit is over.

The experience is an escape game where teams work together to solve riddles and puzzles, using clues to escape a themed room. Each room has a specific storyline and challenges, and the goal is to complete the objectives and escape before the timer runs out.

The venue feels like something straight out of a horror movie, immersing you in a chilling atmosphere that will keep your heart racing.

Upon arrival, participants must sign waivers and leave their phones in a locker to enter one of the spine-tingling rooms.

The adrenaline rush is unparalleled, especially when faced with jump-scares like a zombie suddenly charging at you while you try to solve the room’s mysteries. It’s an intense blend of thrill and fun.

The Escape Hotel has a variety of themed rooms, each designed to challenge and excite. Options include the Zombie Suite, the Maintenance Room, the Elevator, the Jumanji Room, the Harry Potter Room, and the Pirate’s Dungeon. Each room presents puzzles and scenarios that require teamwork and quick thinking.

My friends and I tried the Jumanji Room, which was an absolute blast even as it leans more toward adventure than horror.

I also tackled the Zombie Room, which was a heart-pounding experience filled with challenging puzzles. We found ourselves screaming and laughing as we navigated the intricacies of the room. The design included hidden spaces that required us to bend, kneel, and crawl through tunnels, adding to the immersive experience.

The emphasis on teamwork is vital and you quickly realize how collaboration is key to winning.

They have locations in Jeddah and Riyadh. Overall, the Escape Hotel is a fantastic way to break the monotony of a typical night out.

 

Topics: The Escape Hotel

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Nikki Glaser wears Yara Shoemaker at American Music Awards

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Updated 27 May 2025
Arab News
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Nikki Glaser wears Yara Shoemaker at American Music Awards

Nikki Glaser wears Yara Shoemaker at American Music Awards
Updated 27 May 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: US actress and comedian Nikki Glaser attended the American Music Awards this week wearing a black midi dress by US label Yara Shoemaker, founded by Syrian-born designer Yara.

Nikki Glaser completed the look with classic black patent leather pointed-toe stilettos. (Getty Images)

The form-fitting dress featured a lace-up corset detail at the front, with thick straps, a deep sweetheart neckline and metal eyelets that cinched the waist. She completed the look with classic black patent leather pointed-toe stilettos.

The designer also featured at the Cannes Film Festival last week, with part-Saudi model Shanina Shaik and US German model and TV personality Heidi Klum both wearing her creations.

Shaik opted for a two-texture gown featuring a sculpted, strapless corset-style bodice in ivory ribbed fabric. The silhouette flared slightly at the hips and flowed into a floor-length skirt of sheer embroidered lace adorned with beadwork and sequins.

Meanwhile, Klum wore a black strapless gown with a corset-style bodice embellished with black sequins and intricate beadwork. The dress flowed into a sheer floor-length skirt decorated with delicate black appliqué motifs. She completed the look with a voluminous black feathered cape draped over her arms.

The American Music Awards saw “Birds of a Feather” singer Billie Eilish named Artist of the Year, beating Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen and others nominees for the top honor. Eilish won all seven categories in which she was nominated, including Album of the Year and Favorite Touring Artist.

“This is so crazy. I feel speechless,” she said in a video message from Europe, where she is currently on tour. “I wish I could be there tonight.”

Gracie Abrams was named New Artist of the Year, while SZA earned awards for Favorite Female R&B Artist and Favorite R&B Song for “Saturn.” Becky G won Favorite Female Latin Artist.

Many of the big names nominated for awards did not attend. One such absentee was Beyonce, who claimed Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for “Cowboy Carter,” her first AMA wins in country categories.

Post Malone was named Favorite Male Country Artist.

Topics: Nikki Glaser American Music Awards Yara Shoemaker

Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo wins New York Architectural Design Awards

Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo wins New York Architectural Design Awards
Updated 27 May 2025
Arab News Japan
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Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo wins New York Architectural Design Awards

Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo wins New York Architectural Design Awards
Updated 27 May 2025
Arab News Japan

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai was awarded the Gold Prize in the Cultural Architecture in the Interactive and Experiential Spaces category by the New York Architectural Design Awards.

The prize recognizes the pavilion’s design and architecture, which offers visitors an immersive experience and insight into Saudi Arabia’s heritage.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the pavilion was spearheaded by the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission and was led by CEO Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman and Project Manager Fatima Al-Doukhi. It was also designed by the renowned global firm Foster + Partners.

The design highlights the cultural similarities between the kingdom and Japan, while focusing on sustainability, employing passive cooling strategies enhanced by the strategic placement of structural blocks to facilitate wind movement.

The pavilion features low-carbon materials, energy-efficient lighting and solar energy technologies, SPA reported. It also features Braille signage and pathways for visitors with disabilities, making the building accessible and inclusive.

Saudi Arabia’s pavilion has already attracted over half a million visitors since its launch on April 13.

It has also hosted over 175 events, including cultural performances, business events, media and over 400 VIP delegations.

Nicola Coughlan donates gown to Gaza fundraising effort

Nicola Coughlan donates gown to Gaza fundraising effort
Updated 26 May 2025
Arab News
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Nicola Coughlan donates gown to Gaza fundraising effort

Nicola Coughlan donates gown to Gaza fundraising effort
Updated 26 May 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Irish actress Nicola Coughlan has partnered with nonprofit organization Choose Love to donate her Peace Lily couture dress by Robert Wun to a prize draw raising funds for Gaza.

The “Bridgerton” star has long been outspoken about Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

She wore the dress to accept the Commitment Prize by French media company Konbini at Canneseries in April.

During an hour-long masterclass at the event, Coughlan spoke in depth about not only her work on shows like “Derry Girls” and “Doctor Who,” but also her support of Palestine. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Choose Love (@chooselove)

“There is a factor of ‘it’s better if you say nothing’ because our job is to entertain you,” said the actor when asked about speaking in support of Palestine, according to a report by Variety. “My dad was in the Irish Army, which is a peacekeeping force. My family lived in Jerusalem and Syria in the 70s, so it’s something that is in my bones. We are talking about right or wrong, about children being bombed in their beds. I wouldn’t accept that anywhere in the world.”

The actor, who was given the award for being a “talent actively making a change well beyond television,” continued by highlighting how there has “always been a connection between Palestine and Ireland,” and that the two countries have “shared ideals and struggles.”

“Any country in the world that was facing this, I would talk about it. It’s not difficult. For me, the killing of innocent people is never right,” she said.

The tickets for Choose Love’s prize draw are priced at $34 and the organization stated on Instagram that “donation(s) will help Choose Love’s incredible partners who are doing life-saving work in Gaza.”

“It was an honour to wear this custom gown from the inimitable Robert Wun. The message behind it is a rallying call for peace. I’m delighted to donate this gown to the prize draw to support Choose Love’s work in Gaza,” Coughlan said in a released statement about the draw.

The pearl white gown was designed by Robert Wun, a Hong Kong-born London-based fashion designer. After graduating from London College of Fashion, Wun launched his brand in 2014.

A vibrant exploration of identity, mind and meaning — Kojo Marfo’s ‘HOME’ comes to Dubai

A vibrant exploration of identity, mind and meaning — Kojo Marfo’s ‘HOME’ comes to Dubai
Updated 26 May 2025
Zeina Zbibo
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A vibrant exploration of identity, mind and meaning — Kojo Marfo’s ‘HOME’ comes to Dubai

A vibrant exploration of identity, mind and meaning — Kojo Marfo’s ‘HOME’ comes to Dubai
Updated 26 May 2025
Zeina Zbibo

DUBAI: Ghanaian British artist Kojo Marfo’s first solo exhibition in the UAE — “HOME: Heart of My Existence” — is being held at the JD Malat Gallery in Dubai until May 31.

The exhibition features 13 bold, large-scale works that invite viewers to a deeply personal and philosophical conversation about what it truly means to belong, and where that sense of belonging originates.

Best known for a vibrant style he calls “AfroGenesis,” Marfo blends influences from his Ghanaian heritage including Akan artifacts and carvings with Western techniques like Cubism and Old Master. The results are unique, with vivid, monumental figures that both conceal and reveal complex emotional narratives.

While his early inspirations include Spanish pioneer Picasso, Marfo has moved beyond mimicry to forge his own aesthetic.

“As time went on, I developed my own style and ideas — I call it ‘AfroGenesis.’ It sounds like a movement, but I want to say I am original. I am not trying to start a movement — I am just here to say, I’m authentic.”

A dialogue in color and form

While the dazzling colors and stylized forms initially captivate, it is the underlying message that lingers.

“This is about starting conversations,” Marfo explained. “We think we know everything, but we do not. We live in our minds 24/7 — it tells us what to do, how to feel. The physical space does not mean anything when the mind is in turmoil.”

“HOME” is not about a building or place. For Marfo, home is psychological, internal, shaped by emotion, experience and memory.

“We think home is four walls, a roof, and a lock — but it’s not,” he said. “This exhibition is an invitation for people to look deep into themselves. You need to know yourself, accept and learn from it.”

One of the standouts in the exhibition, “Freedom,” is a visual representation of this inner chaos.

“You can see how chaotic everything is,” said Marfo. “There is a shield — it is what society calls wearing a mask. It protects you from unnecessary aggression. It is our way of life.”

For him, the mask symbolizes humanity’s shifting identities, its emotional defenses and the delicate balance between self-expression and self-preservation.

An artistic evolution

Though Marfo’s work has been shown in global art hubs from Paris to Tokyo, this exhibition marks a significant turning point.

“When the gallery reached out to me, I said, ‘I’m going to introduce something different to this place.’ Most of these pieces have not been shown anywhere. I did it to spark a conversation in Dubai,” he said.

The exhibition is not just a geographical expansion — it is a deepening of his practice. Drawing inspiration from people and the intricacies of human behavior, Marfo paints with storytelling in mind: “Sometimes I paint and then think about the story, but it becomes more difficult. I prefer building on interactions — making it my own and then painting.”

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