Riyadh Fashion Week 2025 Opens in Style, Spotlighting Couture Icons, Global Talent, and the Future of Fashion
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 16, 2025 — Riyadh Fashion Week (RFW) returned for its third edition with a spectacular opening day that once again positioned the Kingdom at the center of the global fashion stage. Held across the city’s most iconic venues, including Bedrock, and The Palm Grove, the event marked the beginning of six days dedicated to fashion, creativity, and cultural exchange. The day started with an intimate Vivienne Westwood panel talk at FCR, setting an intellectual and artistic tone that underscored RFW’s growing cultural influence. The conversation reflected on the house’s legacy of fearless design, environmental activism, and craft, offering a fitting prelude to an evening dedicated to couture. Runway presentations opened at Bedrock with the visionary Tima Abid, followed by the timeless elegance of Adnan Akbar and the distinctive storytelling of Atelier Hekayat. Each collection showcased the strength of Saudi couture, from intricate embellishment to modern silhouettes. The evening then moved to The Palm Grove for a show-stopping runway show by Vivienne Westwood. Marking the house’s debut at Riyadh Fashion Week, the show fused British heritage with Saudi craftsmanship through a capsule of embroidered couture gowns created in collaboration with Art of Heritage, presented alongside some of the brand’s Spring/Summer 2026 and archival looks. Set against the backdrop of the palm tree, a national symbol of life and resilience, the presentation embodied cultural dialogue and heritage-led innovation. Guests gathered afterwards such as Win, Faye and Yara Alnamlah for a gala dinner under the stars, where the fashion community, including designers, editors, buyers, and cultural figures, came together to celebrate the start of a defining week for the region. This year’s edition is expected to welcome a distinguished audience of international fashion leaders, media, celebrities, and tastemakers, further cementing Riyadh as a leading fashion capital and a vibrant meeting point for East and West.
