JEDDAH: More than 3,000 women visited the largest ever women’s exhibition on Saudi heritage held at the Jeddah Hilton last week.
In addition to the participation of 30 Saudi and foreign companies, 100 families attended the event to display handmade items at the three-day event. The participants included 30 Saudi women designers who showcased their latest products.
The Dignity and Refinement Group for Exhibitions and Conferences organized the exhibition called “The Originality of the Past and the Genuineness of the Present” in conjunction with the Women First Welfare Society in Jeddah.
Nasreen Al-Idreesi, director of the Welfare Society, thanked Princess Abtah bint Muqrin for sponsoring the exhibition and for supporting Saudi women.
“The exhibition was aimed at boosting our heritage, uplifting our artistic creativity and highlighting the traditional costumes of the Kingdom’s various regions,” she said.
She said the event, even though it was the first of its kind, was largely successful in presenting the latest fashion, accessories, foodstuffs, sweets, crystal and silverware and other household items.
“A part of the proceeds will go to orphans and children with special needs as well as 5,000 poor families supported by the society,” Al-Idreesi said.
She added that dresses worn by brides from the Kingdom’s different regions on the Laylat Al-Henna (the Night of Henna, the night before weddings when brides are decorated with henna) were also put on display.
Sarah Sharbatly, a décor designer, said the exhibition gave her and other designers an opportunity to familiarize their latest products to the visitors.
She called on all Saudi businesswomen to benefit from similar exhibitions in future by attending them.
Businesswoman Nowair Al-Nuzha, who participated in the antiques and gifts section, said, “In my view the Saudi market needs products with better quality, especially gifts and collection items.”
She welcomed fair competition in the market, even from foreign companies, in order to improve the quality of local products.
