Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week

Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week
The collection has a range of designs that incorporate voluminous structures, textural contrasts and embellishments. (Getty Images)
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Updated 31 January 2025
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Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week

Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week
  • Couturier’s designs been worn by Queen Rania of Jordan, Beyonce
  • First designer from region to join Federation de la Haute Couture

DUBAI: Paris-based label Ashi Studio, founded by Saudi Arabia designer Mohammed Ashi, presented its Spring/Summer 2025 couture collection on Thursday during Paris Haute Couture Week, featuring sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery, and detailed craftsmanship.

The collection has a range of designs that incorporate voluminous structures, textural contrasts and embellishments.




Look 14. (Instagram)

Several looks emphasize architectural shapes, including a voluminous ivory skirt paired with an embroidered cropped jacket in shades of blue, adorned with floral beading and gold detailing.

Other designs include structured corseted gowns with sheer lace panels and sculpted sleeves.




Look 13. (Instagram)

The collection also features darker tones, with black and gold embroidery on form-fitting dresses. Strapless gowns include intricate hand embroidery with landscape motifs.

Metallic fringe elements and shimmering embellishments contribute to the textural variation within the lineup.




Look 9. (Instagram)

Alongside heavily adorned pieces, the collection includes streamlined silhouettes, such as a deep burgundy velvet strapless gown and a turquoise column dress with matching gloves.

Ashi became the first couturier from the region to join the Federation de la Haute Couture in Paris as a guest member in 2023.

The couturier’s designs have been worn by celebrities including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Penelope Cruz, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, and Queen Rania of Jordan.


Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park

Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park
Updated 26 February 2025
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Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park

Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park
  • Italian sculptor partners with Riyadh Art and Italian embassy to bring contemporary art to public park
  • Installation aims to bring attention to conservation efforts for species that were once prevalent in the region

RIYADH: Striking animal sculptures were unveiled in Riyadh’s Al-Nafal Park in the Diplomatic Quarter in a collaboration between Riyadh Art and Italian artist Davide Rivalta.

The installation features depictions of a cheetah, lion, lioness and buffalo, and was created in partnership with the Italian Embassy.

Under the theme, Echoes of Land, the sculptures encourage public engagement and contemplation of environmental and cultural heritage.

Omar Al-Braik, senior director of public art at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, said that the collaboration with Rivalta was an “enriching process.”

“Art has the power to transform public spaces, spark conversations and connect people with their surroundings in ways that are both profound and unexpected,” he said.

“By bringing Rivalta’s work to Riyadh, we continue to expand the city’s artistic landscape, ensuring that diverse voices and creative perspectives are accessible to all.”

This installation also brings attention to conservation efforts, particularly for species such as the cheetah, which once thrived in the Arabian Peninsula.

By introducing these sculptures to Riyadh, Rivalta’s work serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and natural ecosystems.

Born in 1974, Davide Rivalta is renowned for his striking, life-sized sculptures of animals, distinguished by their raw, textured surfaces.

Rivalta’s sculptures have been exhibited in cities across the world, with this latest installation marking his first contribution to Riyadh Art’s public art program.

Since its launch in 2019, Riyadh Art has installed in excess of 550 public artworks, engaged more than 500 local and international artists, and hosted 6,500 community engagement activities, attracting 9.6 million visitors and spectators.

One significant initiative by Riyadh Art is the recent Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, in which 30 sculptures were created in live sessions, and will be displayed at public spaces around the city.

The organization’s efforts contribute to Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of enhancing culture and creativity in the Kingdom.


Films backed by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation triumph at Berlinale

Films backed by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation triumph at Berlinale
Updated 26 February 2025
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Films backed by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation triumph at Berlinale

Films backed by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation triumph at Berlinale

DUBAI: Three films supported by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation — “Tetes Brulees,” “The Heart is a Muscle,” and “Yalla Parkour” — were honored with awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, also known as Berlinale.

“The Heart Is a Muscle” was awarded the prestigious Ecumenical Jury Prize in the Panorama section. The film follows Ryan, whose five-year-old son briefly goes missing at a barbecue. His violent reaction to the incident sets off a chain of events, unearthing long-buried secrets and sparking a journey of self-discovery.

 

 

“Yalla Parkour” won the Panorama Documentary Audience Award (Second Prize). In her debut feature, filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter returns to Gaza, a place she first visited at age four with her Palestinian mother. After her mother's passing, a deep nostalgia for her homeland resurfaces when she comes across a video of young men in Gaza practicing parkour amid the chaos of explosions.

“Tetes Brulees” received a Special Mention for Best Film in the youth-focused Generation 14plus category. The film tells the story of 12-year-old Eya, who struggles to cope with the sudden loss of her older brother, Younes. Through resilience and the support of Younès' friends, she navigates the intense grieving process.

Additionally, “The Sun Sees Everything,” a new film in development by Wissam Tanios and produced by Christian Eid, won the World Cinema Fund Audience Strategies Award at the Berlinale Co-Production Market.


REVIEW: Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a bitter tale of occupation

REVIEW: Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a bitter tale of occupation
Updated 26 February 2025
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REVIEW: Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a bitter tale of occupation

REVIEW: Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a bitter tale of occupation

CHENNAI: In the running for the Best Documentary Feature at next week’s Academy Awards, “No Other Land” is a gripping work directed by a collective of four Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers.

Helmed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film marks their directorial debut and follows the story of Adra, a young Palestinian activist from Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, as he fights against the mass expulsion of his community by Israeli forces. Since childhood, Adra has documented the demolition of homes and displacement of residents in his region under military occupation.

It is not sensationalist, it is not overdramatic, but it is as powerful as they come. The documentary traces everyday life in an area where generations of farming men and women have been resisting not only Israeli control but also the violence unleashed upon them by its military forces and settlers.

The documentary begins in 2022, with an Israeli court ruling in favour of eviction and a lot of the 95-minute work captures details of the misery brought about by the occupation in Arabic and Hebrew. There is graphic footage of homes being razed to the ground and operators going about their ruthlessness with faces that show not even a trace of remorse. Families with babies have to take refuge in caves, members huddled against each other trying to create a bit of warmth in the biting cold. “We have no other land, that's why we suffer for it,” says an old woman whose home has been destroyed. Later, her son is shot and paralyzed.

“No Other Land” is a harsh, bitter documentary that, perhaps unsurprisingly, has not yet secured a US distributor.


Global models to attend Modest Fashion Week

Global models to attend Modest Fashion Week
Updated 26 February 2025
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Global models to attend Modest Fashion Week

Global models to attend Modest Fashion Week

DUBAI: Models and influencers including Halima Aden, Mariah Idrissi, and Rawdah Mohamed are set to attend the 10th edition of Modest Fashion Week from April 14-16.

This year’s edition will be held in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, with previous iterations having been held in Istanbul, Dubai, London, Riyadh, Amsterdam, and Jakarta.

In 2025, organizers expect fashion labels from 10 countries to take part, with a schedule of masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions also on the agenda.

Think Fashion and Miral Destinations are partnering to host the event, with Liam Findlay, CEO of Miral Destinations, commenting: "Hosting the 10th edition of the Modest Fashion Week on Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi, a globally recognized event in the fashion industry, is a significant milestone.”

The event will draw star power in the form of Aden, Mohamed and Idrissi, who have hit the catwalk for luxury brands during their careers.

Aden has walked the runway at New York Fashion Week multiple times and was also a member of the judging panel at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador in 2023.  She shot to fame for being the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant in 2016, where she was a semi-finalist.  

Mariah Idrissi will attend this year's Modest Fashion Week in April. (File/ Getty Images)

Somali Norwegian model Mohamed, who has an eyewear campaign with Italian label Dolce & Gabbana under her belt, has worked with brands like Boss and H&M and is also a regular on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in France.

Mohamed walked the Roberto Cavalli show in Dubai in 2024 and previously told Arab News that she “sort of stumbled into modeling” after a mutual friend put her in touch with her manager while she was at university studying for a degree in behavioral analysis and healthcare.

Mohamed said: “I went to a fashion show in Oslo at the end of 2018 where I met my manager. He told me about what they were doing and I went to his office for a meeting and I said I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a model but I wanted to work in fashion.”

Born in north west London to Moroccan and Pakistani parents, model Idrissi made headlines when she became the first hijab-wearing model to front a major fashion campaign for H&M in 2015.


Elyanna fronts Coach’s Ramadan campaign

Elyanna fronts Coach’s Ramadan campaign
Updated 26 February 2025
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Elyanna fronts Coach’s Ramadan campaign

Elyanna fronts Coach’s Ramadan campaign

DUBAI: Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna is the face of Coach’s Ramadan 2025 campaign.

In the campaign, Elyanna is seen against a desert-inspired backdrop, styled in pieces that blend contemporary fashion with cultural influences. 

She is seen carrying Coach’s signature handbags, each featuring gold chain accents and the brand’s signature “C” clasp.

In one image, she wears a dark oversized coat with black trousers and knee-high boots, accessorized with a muted sage green handbag.

Another image captures Elyanna in a black long-sleeve top and a voluminous pink skirt. Her hairstyle incorporates braids with metallic embellishments, and is holding a black Coach handbag with gold detailing.

Elyanna has been normalizing Arabic lyrics in the Western world throughout her career, taking inspiration from artists including Lana Del Ray and Beyonce, as well as Middle Eastern legend Fayrouz.

The Los Angeles-based singer’s music is a mix of Arabic and Western beats, which she attributes to her multicultural upbringing.

Last month, Elyanna performed live with British band Coldplay during their four-show run in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The music sensation has previously hinted at upcoming projects this year, stating: “The sunrise and the rebirth of the ‘Woledto’ project is just (the) start for the next chapter of 2025. Arabic is the music of the soul and the sun. Grateful for all the talented people that believed in this project and helped with the vision to come to life this tour (sic).”

Elyanna’s debut album “Woledto” featured nine songs: “Woledto,” “Ganeni,” “Calling U,” “Al Sham,” “Mama Eh,” “Kon Nafsak,” “Lel Ya Lel,” “Yabn El Eh” and “Sad in Pali.”

Before releasing the album, she wrote to her Instagram followers: “This album is the embodiment of pride to be an Arab woman, to be from Nazareth, to be from the Middle East.”