London. New York. Paris. Milan. The fashionable four have been creating scroll-stopping moments way before the Insta-glammers took to the FROW, and any fashion lover worth their weight in Chanel brocade would have suspected that the continued domination of these trendsetting hotspots was assured. But thanks to the arrival of a man with an ambitious plan to push Riyadh’s burgeoning fashion scene into the spotlight, we suspect that a shuffle of the fashion pack is underway.
Burak Cakmak, a passionate advocate of sustainability and former dean of fashion at the Parsons School of Design in New York, is the man presiding over Fashion Futures Live, which opens in the Diplomatic Quarter on December 10. Building on the momentum created by the virtual event in June, this gathering of the industry’s top local talent ushers in stylish firsts for the kingdom: first hybrid virtual and physical fashion event; first museum-quality exhibition of local talent; and first swap shop.
“Everything is a first in the country in some ways”, muses Cakmak. “This is our first effort doing something that is partially public related to fashion and we intentionally chose to do something quite different.”
Indeed, unlike events of old where you had to prove your fashion creds to get an invite, whether you’re engaging with the series of talks and workshop at the two-day Fashion Futures Live Summit – either in person at the Cultural Palace or virtually – or sashaying along to any one of the “fashion moments”, as Cakmak is dubbing them, everyone’s invited.
Made in KSA
Chief among such moments is the Saudi Brands 100 Exhibition, a curated museum experience showcasing the local designers selected for the Commission’s Saudi 100 Brands programme. “This is an opportunity to show the range of diverse voices that exist in the country as well as all the different styles and tastes, from the traditional, couture and bridal to accessories, streetwear and jewellery”, explains Cakmak. “Our theme is Saudi heritage – its past, present and future – and we’re really challenging the designers to look inside themselves as creatives, to show us what makes them Saudi designers.”
Each designer is crafting a unique, never-before-seen piece especially for the exhibition, so we can’t wait to see what the local talent has up their perfectly-tailored sleeves. And with eight days to take it all in, you can expect to be immersed in each designer’s story and inspirations in a way that is arguably less fleeting than a flash-bulb filled 15-minute runway show.
Talking of her involvement in the exhibition, Riyadh-based designer Noura Sulaiman, whose refined silhouettes ooze sophistication, says, “I am surrounded by a wave of emerging fellow creatives like myself who are all eager to develop and evolve… I’d like to express my gratitude to the ministry for believing in its local talents and its mission to create a Saudi imprint in the fashion world.”
The power of pre-loved
While the exhibition is a visual feast and ramps up the fun factor, Fashion Futures Live is hosting a fashion swapping extravaganza at an as yet undisclosed location. “This is first time we are doing a swapping event in Saudi”, says Cakmak, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “We are inviting influencers, the public, designers – everybody will bring their key pieces and it will basically be one big fashion moment of styling, having fun, DJs and really engaging with fashion in a way that’s not about buying but really appreciating what we have.”
While we can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to swap your kaftan for a piece of couture, the aim is to create a conversation about sustainability in an industry that has complex environmental questions to address. And Cakmak sees the swapping event – and the vintage fashion shop that will also be a part of the space – as the perfect way to engage people in the debate.
“We don’t really have any local brands pushing for fast fashion. Everybody’s positioned somewhere in the middle or higher,” Cakmak adds. “It is a fashion-conscious place that appreciates quality and we want to create a culture around that. Hence why we’re putting all our effort into ensuring all our fashion events talk about sustainability, recycling, digital transformation and technology. It’s all part of this educational journey and we want the whole world engaging in the conversation.” Fashion mavens, this one’s for you.
December 10-11, The Fashion Futures Live Summit. December 11-18, Saudi 100 Brands Exhibition. December 11-12, Riyadh Swap Shop. fashionfutures.live.
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