JEDDAH: Celebrity stylist Kelly Lundberg concluded her final workshop at Views Hotel & Residences at the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) on Saturday. 

Lundberg, an entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker, has styled for many important events around the world including the BRIT Awards, the Grammys and the Dubai Film Festival.

The workshop was organized by Saudi company “Know” and ran for three days, focusing on style personality, body shapes and color. 

“We’ve been going through how to identify what style personalities there are, how to look at other people, how to identify body shapes. They (the attendees) have been learning about the fundamentals of fashion brands, what’s really important about a fashion brand in terms of what they need to have — authenticity, package consistency, uniqueness, a story. They’ve been learning how to style or edit someone’s closet or their own closet, and they’ve now got the tools and techniques to be able to go and do it straight away,” Lundberg said.

She added she was very happy with her students’ openness and eagerness to learn. 

“I think it’s really exciting because as much as it’s about fashion, one thing that really struck me was the eagerness to learn. There was a real hunger out there for knowledge. What Know has done really well is bring people to the Kingdom. Before it was always people from the Kingdom who had to travel if they wanted to learn.

“I think something that struck me — as an entrepreneur myself — was how entrepreneurial the Kingdom has become. Women are going out and doing what they want to do in terms of launching their own businesses, working in fashion and empowering other people. I think the openness and the hunger are two incredible things that you need to have and they’ve got it.

Kelly Lundberg speaks to students during the workshop. (AN photo)

“One of the main things that really inspires me is the sort of attitude that says: ‘Anything is possible.’ Look at where we are now — they have a vision, they build it and they follow through with it — that to me is inspiring.”

Ibrahim Binaquil, head of marketing and strategic alliances at KAEC, explained that the city wanted to champion a new modern Saudi way of life.

“Views Hotel is kind of an enabler, part of the puzzle that delivers the same message,” he said.

Saudi social media influencers, such as men’s stylist Faisal Al-Ghazzawi and TV stylist Noha Sindi attended the workshop.

“I have previously taken this course abroad, but I wanted to attend in my country. I was very happy that they brought Kelly. This is something new,” Al-Ghazzawi told Arab News.

“It’s a really good course to have here in Saudi Arabia. It’s good to have these fashion courses for up-and-coming fashion designers and stylists here in the Kingdom. I really admire Saudi Vision 2030, especially for women, because we have a lot to give to society, and I think it’s a great start,” Sindi added.