Saudi Arabia made history on Friday by staging its first swimwear fashion show, a significant step in the kingdom’s ongoing social transformation. The event, part of the inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week, was held at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort on Ummahat Island.
The show featured the summer beachwear collection of Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal. Models showcased one-piece swimsuits in shades of red, beige, and blue, with many sporting exposed shoulders and some displaying partially visible midriffs.
“It’s true that this country is very conservative, but we tried to show elegant swimsuits which represent the Arab world,” Qanzal told AFP.
“When we came here, we understood that a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia is a historic moment because it is the first time to have such an event,” she added, expressing her honor at being involved.
The fashion show marks a significant cultural shift in Saudi Arabia, where women were required to wear body-covering abaya robes less than a decade ago. This event is part of the larger Vision 2030 initiative, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aimed at diversifying the economy and liberalizing the social landscape.
Prince Mohammed has introduced numerous reforms since becoming first in line to the throne in 2017, including the sidelining of the religious police, reintroducing cinemas, and organizing mixed-gender music festivals. These changes have been met with both domestic and international attention.
Shouq Mohammed, a Syrian fashion influencer who attended the event, remarked on the significance of the show.
“It’s the first time to have a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia, but why not? Seriously why not? It’s possible and we have it here,” she said.
French influencer Raphael Simacourbe also praised the event. “There was nothing risque to my eyes, but in the Saudi context, it was a major achievement. That’s very brave from them to do that today, so I am very happy to be part of it,” he said.
The Red Sea Fashion Week and similar events are part of the kingdom’s efforts to open up to the world and bolster its fashion and tourism sectors. According to a report by the Saudi Fashion Commission, the fashion industry accounted for $12.5 billion, or 1.4 percent of national GDP, and employed 230,000 people in 2022.
This groundbreaking event highlights Saudi Arabia’s evolving cultural landscape and its ambitions to modernize while balancing tradition and innovation.