There’s no denying Riyadh is a hotspot for creativity. Take fashion designer Mohammed Khoja – who was born in Khobar, but recently moved to the capital. “Riyadh encompasses all of the creative and economic energy. It is moving at such a quick pace. I see it becoming one of the greatest cities in the near future, just because there is so much ambition and energy,” he explains.
Hindamme, Khoja’s label, is making waves. His work was exhibited in the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, while the Victoria & Albert Museum in London bought his bomber jacket for its permanent collection.
The simple but stylish coats sold out, and catapulted him onto the international stage. With “June 24 2018” embossed on the back, the lined celebrated the date that women could drive in Saudi Arabia. At the forefront of fashion, Khoja chats culture, coffee and concept stores.
Mohammed Khoja shares his Secret Riyadh…
You’ll find me chilling in… Diriyah
“I like to go to this area called Jax, Diriyah, which is in the old part of Riyadh. I usually hang out at artist studios like Ahmed Mater’s studio. I like Diriyah – it is a cool area. I like the landscape, the terrain is interesting. It’s like an oasis – there’s greenery and the temperature is cooler than the rest of Riyadh.”
Right now I’m loving shopping at… Pattern
“I like the café from my good friend’s concept store, Pattern. They have good coffee, good desserts and cakes, and I like the vibe of the store. The outdoor area is cool. I like the idea of being able to drink coffee and look at clothing or perfume, especially perfumes as I’m really interested in that.”
The restaurant I really rate at the moment is… Le Maschou
“It is one of my favourite restaurants here. It’s a French restaurant in the Diplomatic Quarter. I like the ambience, the vibe and the food is really good. The salads are amazing and the steak is really good. They also have vegan options for those who don’t want to eat steak.”
The biggest misconception about Riyadh is… it’s not open-minded
“People perceive it as being more traditional than it really is. It is obviously traditional in some areas and we respect tradition, but then there is a big young population who are more adventurous and expressive. People don’t know how vibrant it really is.”
I spend my weekends at… Aseel Resort It’s kind of like a desert resort. I like hanging out there on a weekend, renting a villa. I like the café, restaurant and the “chalets”.”
If I could take one thing from Riyadh with me wherever I went in the world, it would be…. generosity
“People here are very generous and hospitable. I was at the gas station recently, and I had
a flat tyre. So many people offered to help and I really appreciated that. Usually that doesn’t happen to me in Europe. Riyadh is a big city, but it still has a small town kind of feel. I also like that it’s very authentic.”
Follow Mohammed Khoja at @moekhoja on Instagram, shop the label at hindamme.com.
