Vivienne Westwood to Open Riyadh Fashion Week 2025

📷Vivienne Westwood x Art of Heritage

Riyadh, October 10, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Vivienne Westwood will make its Middle East runway debut as the opening show of Riyadh Fashion Week 2025 on October 16, presenting a capsule of embroidered gowns co-created with Art of Heritage that showcases Saudi craftsmanship alongside the British heritage house’s Spring 2026 looks and select archival pieces, organizers said.

Staged in a palm grove in Riyadh—a venue chosen to honor the palm tree as a national symbol of life, resilience and prosperity—the show underscores cultural exchange between British fashion heritage and Saudi artisanship.

Gianluca D’Amario, CEO of Vivienne Westwood, said: “This is the first time we are hosting a runway show in the Middle East, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to do this in Riyadh. We are working on a special collection of embroidered gowns, the result of the union of our couture team’s expertise and the craftsmanship of local artisans—a concrete way to promote local traditions through an international perspective.” He added that the collection reflects the house’s “global–local” philosophy: “Today, fashion must go beyond aesthetics. It must be a connection between cultures.”

About 100 students from local fashion schools have been invited, with a mentoring session scheduled before the runway.

Princess Nourah bint Mohammed Al Faisal, CEO of Art of Heritage, called the collaboration a meaningful moment for Saudi craftsmanship: “Heritage is not a relic of the past, but a living force that shapes how we see ourselves and imagine the future… This collection shows how Saudi craftsmanship can speak to the world with authenticity and creativity.”

The Vivienne Westwood opener marks a pivot for Riyadh Fashion Week, which for the first time opens its official calendar to international houses. Now in its third edition since launching in 2023, the event runs October 16–21, with 30+ runway shows and presentations spanning couture, ready-to-wear and streetwear across city landmarks including Bedrock, Al Mamlaka and JAX.

The designer lineup reflects the Kingdom’s bridge between heritage and contemporary design: Tima Abid and Atelier Hekayat (couture), Abadia (sustainable ready-to-wear), Hindamme (contemporary), and 1886 (streetwear) are among the Saudi labels on the schedule.

Initiated by the Fashion Commission under the Ministry of Culture, Riyadh Fashion Week supports sector development—driving investment, building regulatory frameworks and nurturing Saudi fashion talent. For Vivienne Westwood, the Riyadh collaboration aligns with decades of championing craftsmanship and heritage, integrating artisanal fabrics and hand-embellishment while engaging with heritage-led production to sustain communities and traditional skills.

Organizers said the opening show aims to serve as a symbol of cultural exchange, “building bridges between histories, identities and creative worlds,” and offering Saudi artisans a global stage.