In the first gala fashion show of its kind, this Oct. 8 at Jeddah’s Intercontinental Hotel, four Saudi fashion designers competed for the “Wedding Dress 2003” and “Engagement Dress 2003” prizes.
The event was organized by the Saudi Afrah Group, a website service for wedding coordination and consulting owned and run by a team of young Saudi women. They are Nehad and Noha Al-Sulaimani and Dina Hakim. The event drew more than 500 women who assembled to see talented Saudi designers compete for the trophies in a society that is becoming increasingly fashion-conscious and trendy.
Fashion shows of both modern designs or traditional garments have become popular and are regularly held — whether solely for the purpose of showcasing the latest fashion creations or for charity. But this is the first time ever that Saudi designers participated in a competition for wedding and engagement dresses.
The designers taking part were Zaki Bin Oboud (Remal Fashion House), Fahd Ismail (Raheed Fashion House), Malak Fatani (La Mode Fashion House) and Hanan Madani (Al-Bana Fashion House). Joining the four designers in the exhibition to give a preview of her next collection — soon to be available at her signature boutiques — was internationally famous Saudi designer Fawzia Al-Nafea.
Each of the designers participating in the Saudi Afrah competition presented six wedding dresses and engagement gowns, all exquisite creations that enthralled the audience and made the decision a difficult task for the judges.
The judging committee, made up of a number of prominent Saudi socialites and experts in the world of fashion, consisted of Jawaher Nazer, Rita Mansour, Fawzia Al Nafea and Hayat Julaidan.
The Engagement Dress prize for 2003 went to Fahd Ismail and the Wedding Dress for 2003 went to Zaki Bin Oboud. But in the finale, all the designers were recognized for their participation.
The event was a huge success. On the sidelines of the event there was a display area for individual boutiques and shops to exhibit their products and services — weddings, of course, being the theme.
Other participants included the Canadian-Jordanian beauty and make-up consultant Basma Alia, who alongside the two participating beauty salons — Magic Beauty Salon and Etoile Beauty Center — was in charge of the make-up and hair for the models during the show.
The Make Up Forever brand had set up the make-up area, showcasing its signature products. The exhibition and show area were set up by Al-Ferdous Classic, and special gifts were presented by Carita as part of the raffle draw and signature giveaways for the VIP guests.
The exquisite creations of Saudi jewelry designer Hala Al-Shuail from Riyadh could also be glimpsed during the competition segment on designer Hanan Madani’s bridal gowns.
This is the first time that Saudi Afrah has embarked on a fashion show and competition to create a showcase of elegant bridal and engagement gowns by haute couture designers in the Kingdom.
“It took us five months to organize the event,” Nehad Al-Sulaimani told Arab News. “It was exciting and stressful at the same time. We worked as a team and tried to coordinate the fashion show in a way that pleased everyone involved. Our aim is to do this is every year, and for every year to be better than the last. This has been a great learning experience for us.” To learn more about the event and the services provided by Saudi Afrah go to www.saudiafrah.com