Conscious fashion consumption in Saudi Arabia

As more regional and global shoppers oust fast fashion for more purposeful wardrobes, Saudi Arabia is pivoting to a more conscious conversation around fashion consumption, a discussion spearheaded by Vogue Business’ event on Thursday, in partnership with the UK’s Department for International Trade and Saudi’s Fashion Commission. (AN photo by Abdulaziz Alarifi)
As more regional and global shoppers oust fast fashion for more purposeful wardrobes, Saudi Arabia is pivoting to a more conscious conversation around fashion consumption, a discussion spearheaded by Vogue Business’ event on Thursday, in partnership with the UK’s Department for International Trade and Saudi’s Fashion Commission. (AN photo by Abdulaziz Alarifi)
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Updated 21 March 2023

Conscious fashion consumption in Saudi Arabia

Conscious fashion consumption in Saudi Arabia
  • Vogue Business event discusses sustainability, use of AI in fashion industry

RIYADH: Global industry experts discussed at an event on Thursday how regional and global shoppers are trading fast fashion for more purposeful wardrobes as Saudi Arabia also pivots toward a more conscious conversation around fashion consumption.

The discussion, spearheaded by Vogue Business in partnership with the UK’s Department for International Trade and Saudi’s Fashion Commission, was held under the theme “Transformation and consciousness: Shaping the future of luxury.”

“When you look at how the Fashion Commission is building the new fashion ecosystem in the country, it’s looking at every aspect of the value chain to ensure that elements of sustainability are embedded in each step,” Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission, told Arab News.




A panel of industry leaders came together on Thursday for Vogue Business' "Luxury’s digital transformation in Saudi Arabia and beyond" discussion, as part of a wider conversation about the importance of conscious consumption. (AN photo by Abdulaziz Alarifi)

As part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan to induct sustainable actions in all sectors, efforts to understand circular consumption and support local talents are on the rise.

“We are now building our legacy,” said Rae Joseph, fashion entrepreneur, industry consultant and founder of the vintage fashion house 1954. “(Saudis) have always been conscious consumers…We have a concept of ‘ihsan’ in our religion, which is to do good and contribute to where you are.”

Her own interpretation of conscious fashion in the Saudi context is defined by mindful consumption in sustainable ways.




'We are now building our legacy,' said Rae Joseph, fashion entrepreneur, industry consultant, and founder of the vintage fashion house 1954. (AN photo by Abdulaziz Alarifi)

The past few years have demonstrated a social awakening globally in terms of mass production, uncovering underlying issues such as labor law violations, unethical material sourcing and environmental infringement.

Consciousness in fashion can be defined in many ways, depending on the values of each individual, and can range from respecting culture and traditions to prioritizing working conditions and innovating production and consumption methods.  

The influx of digital resources and evolving technologies is also paving the way for younger generations to create awareness and design solutions around conscious consumerism.

The digitally savvy Saudi population is creating a pliable environment to lead in sustainable practices in the fashion sector, from materials to manufacturing, retail and brand-building.

The Fashion Commission has worked to establish a research center focused on constructing new sustainable materials, while also developing an advanced manufacturing space in Riyadh that will allow access to high-quality production methods using the right materials and processes to serve a local population and diminish import emissions.

The commission will utilize the latest technologies, allowing for innovative techniques such as digital rendering, 3D designs and digital pattern-making to directly reduce environmental and assembly impact within the fashion industry.

“When it comes to brands, we are encouraging them to understand their consumer needs, produce only what’s needed, and create new ways of engaging with them so there’s an optimization of inventory management,” Cakmak said.

From a consumer’s end, the commission is continuing to embed conscious behaviors, launching initiatives that promote sustainable practices, such as the Global Fashion Exchange Fashion Swap last December, in order to raise awareness among buyers on the importance of longevity and reuse of goods in the market.

“In last year’s Swap Shop, we had over 5,500 items that were brought for swapping, and 60 percent of them have been exchanged between customers…(while) 40 percent of them have been donated to a charity,” Cakmak said.

Artificial intelligence and new technologies play a crucial role in conscious consumption, experts said at the event. In order for brands to innovate their storytelling concepts, stepping into the Web3 and metaverse world is a way to future-proof their businesses.

Dr. Ahmed Zaidi, co-founder and CEO of Hyran Technologies, told Arab News: “In the context of Saudi…I think that understanding the consumer here is so underrated. Lots of people think that they can come from Paris or London and set up shop here, and they fail at it because they don’t understand the consumer.

“Whether it’s metaverse, or anything, conceptualizing it for the consumer in the local market 100 percent has to happen.”

Hyran Technologies is a London-based innovative AI platform that helps brands and suppliers respond to consumer demand, increase profitability and reduce waste. The company is working with the Fashion Commission to see how they can support Saudi brands in their journey to sustainable development.

Zaidi imagines a future in which airplanes substitute duty-free magazines with custom shopping suggestions suited for each individual passenger. Or in lieu of conventional online shopping sites, customers will log into a brand’s site to view a personalized “museum” space that is intelligently curated to show the items that the brand believes will serve each customer’s wants and needs.

Zaidi said: “Where we are with AI, right now, you can have a much better representation of your consumers, which means you can give them better recommendations. But they’re also portable.

“What that means is that you can use the same representation (or customer DNA) online, on your phone and in-store as well. When someone walks into a store, they can scan their phone, and then you’ll know exactly what they want, how they want it, in which way they want it.”

Cakmak said. “When it comes to artificial intelligence, brands are individually experimenting themselves and it’s intended to provide benefits for optimization of either their products, where they’re selling, and how much they need to produce, or potentially look for technologies that can be used for consumer engagement.”

 


Education ministers call for nominations for ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative

Education ministers call for nominations for ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative
Updated 12 sec ago

Education ministers call for nominations for ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative

Education ministers call for nominations for ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative
  • Saudi-led scheme invests in young gifted, creative people
  • Initiative set up in 2021 ‘has been very successful,’ its chief says

RABAT: Arab countries have been asked to nominate students to take part in the Saudi-led “Gifted Arabs” initiative, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The call was made during the Arab education ministers’ 13th conference, which was held recently in Rabat under the auspices of King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
The initiative is organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.
“The Kingdom’s initiative has been very successful and focuses on investing in young … gifted and creative people,” said Dr. Amal bint Abdullah Al-Hazzaa, secretary-general of the foundation, known as Mawhiba.
Such investment was nurturing for gifted Arabs and empowered them to lead change and create the future, she added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Khaled Al-Sharif, director general of Mawhiba’s Center of Excellence, thanked the Arab ministers and the conference organizers in Morocco for their interest in the initiative, which was launched in 2021.
He stressed the need to invest in education in general and specific programs for gifted and creative individuals.
The ministers’ conference was organized by Morocco’s Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports in cooperation with the National Committee for Education, Science and Culture, and in partnership with ALECSO. Its title was: “Future of Education in the Arab World in the Digital Transformation Era.”


Indian navy chief welcomes Saudi cadets during first joint training

Cadets of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces receive training onboard an Indian Navy ship off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, in May 2023.
Cadets of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces receive training onboard an Indian Navy ship off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, in May 2023.
Updated 25 min 10 sec ago

Indian navy chief welcomes Saudi cadets during first joint training

Cadets of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces receive training onboard an Indian Navy ship off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, in May 2023.
  • Trainees from King Fahd Naval Academy are India for three-week operation
  • Program is first such collaboration between the two nations

NEW DELHI: India’s navy chief said on Friday that training of Saudi naval personnel by Indian forces was testimony to the growing relationship between the two countries.
Adm. R. Hari Kumar was speaking after welcoming Saudi cadets training on board two Indian naval vessels.
Fifty-five students and five instructors from the King Fahd Naval Academy have been in India since May 18 for a three-week course with the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, Kerala.

The students, all from the main naval academy of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, are attached to India’s First Training Squadron ships INS Tir and INS Sujata.
For most of the students the course is their first experience on board a warship.
“The cadets have completed 10 days at sea aboard the Indian naval ships. During the sea sorties, they were exposed to rigorous training on practical aspects of navigation and seamanship with emphasis on navigation in pilotage waters, anchoring, coastal navigation, replenishment at sea, sea boats, firefighting and emergency drills,” the Indian Ministry of Defense said in a statement after the cadets’ meeting with Kumar.
“The directing staff expressed their appreciation of the high-quality training and exposure that they received on board the IN ships. In his address, the CNS welcomed the RSNF delegation in India, and reaffirmed that the maiden training of Saudi cadets by the Indian Navy as testimony to the growing friendship between Saudi Arabia and India, and also the two navies.”
The navy chief also voiced his appreciation for Saudi assistance in the recent evacuation of 3,000 Indian nationals from war-torn Sudan and acknowledged the increasingly strong defense ties with the Kingdom.
Experts, too, acknowledge the growing importance of India’s security relations with Saudi Arabia.
“It’s a significant gesture by the Indian naval chief,” defense expert Ranjit Kumar told Arab News.
“India seems to be taking special care of the evolving defense cooperation and partnership with a major Gulf country. India considers this relationship very important to groom in view of changing geopolitical dynamics in West Asia.”
Muddassir Quamar, a Middle East expert and associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said there have also been efforts to develop cooperation in nonconventional defense areas, as well as the defense industry.
“The military-to-military ties are likely to develop further, with greater efforts toward interoperability and understanding each other’s security concerns,” he told Arab News.
“Both India and Saudi Arabia are G20 economies and important international actors, and greater security bodes well for security in the western Indian Ocean region.”

 

 


Saudi date exports up 2.5 percent in Q1 2023

Saudi date exports up 2.5 percent in Q1 2023
Updated 02 June 2023

Saudi date exports up 2.5 percent in Q1 2023

Saudi date exports up 2.5 percent in Q1 2023
  • Sales to China surge by 150 percent compared to same period last year
  • National Center for Palms and Dates says stored, fresh dates account for 77 percent of exports

RIYADH: Saudi exports of raw and processed dates grew to more than SR566 million ($151 million) in the first quarter of 2023, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The figure marks a 2.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The National Center for Palms and Dates issued a report saying that stored and fresh dates amounted to 77 percent of exports while industrial date products accounted for 23 percent.
The dates were exported worldwide to 111 countries, topped by China, where Saudi date exports increased by 150 percent to SR7.6 million. Exports to Austria grew by 60 percent to SR2 million; Belgium by 23 percent to SR1.23 million; Turkiye by 30 percent to SR22.3 million, Russia by 95 percent to about SR2.7 million; and Canada by 40 percent to SR4 million.


Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers meet at Cape Town BRICS event

Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers meet at Cape Town BRICS event
Updated 02 June 2023

Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers meet at Cape Town BRICS event

Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers meet at Cape Town BRICS event
  • The two ministers met on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of BRICS countries in South Africa

CAPE TOWN: Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday.

The two ministers met on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of BRICS countries in Cape Town, the foreign ministry said.

During their meeting they discussed ways to enhance reltions across many sectors. They also agreed to follow up on steps to implement the agreement of the two countries in the Chinese-brokered deal signed in Beijing, including the intensification of work to promote international peace and security.

Prince Faisal and Amir-Abdollahian both expressed their aspiration to intensify consultative meetings and cooperation in a way that served the interest of the two countries, Al-Ekhbariyah reported.


Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia: State Department

Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia: State Department
Updated 35 min 38 sec ago

Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia: State Department

Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia: State Department
  • Trip comes as Kingdom and US seek to broker durable cease-fire between Sudan’s warring generals
  • Blinken is set to also participate in a US-GCC ministerial meeting

WASHINGTON D.C.: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia next week, the State Department announced Friday.

Blinken’s trip comes as the Kingdom and US seek to broker a durable cease-fire between Sudan’s warring generals in ongoing talks in Jeddah.

“Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia June 6-8 to meet with Saudi officials to discuss US-Saudi strategic cooperation on regional and global issues and a range of bilateral issues including economic and security cooperation,” State Department Spokesman Matt Miller said.

Blinken is set to also participate in a US-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministerial meeting to discuss growing cooperation with Gulf partners and how they can promote security, stability, de-escalation, regional integration, and economic opportunities across the Middle East, Miller added.

Blinken and Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will co-host a ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh “to address the continuing threat of (Daesh) and reaffirm our commitment to ensure its enduring defeat,” Miller said.