Investors and fashion stakeholders met in New York City this week at a roadshow hosted by the Saudi Fashion Commission. Designed as a platform to discuss Saudi’s growing fashion ecosystem and opportunities to invest, the roadshow saw the announcement of strategic partnerships facilitated by the Fashion Commission.Held at the St. Regis, the event saw newly minted agreements, including investments into two brands by leading consumer-focused private equity firm, Turmeric Capital: Saudi-founded elevated streetwear brand 1886 and ethical luxury label, Abadia.  The first-of-its-kind involvement in Saudi fashion brands by an international investor will see 1886 and Abadia’s founders supported by cash incentives from Turmeric Capital and matching support in services from the Fashion Commission.The collaborations between Turmeric Capital and the two brands are complemented by a Memorandum of Understanding between the PE firm and the Fashion Commission.  Intended to create an ecosystem that supports the growth of local SMEs in the fashion with high scalability potential, the partnership will see both organizations share resources and expertise to enable the development of globally competitive brands rooted in Saudi culture. Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, said:“From Paris to Milan, to New York, the Saudi Fashion Commission is traversing the globe to support the Saudi fashion sector as it grows and supports diversification of the Saudi economy.“The return to New York this year is an incredible moment where we are witnessing key milestones – for Saudi brands as we help them secure international investment, for the Commission as we continue to put our mark on the global stage and for the Saudi fashion industry as public awareness grows.”Commenting on the Memorandum of Understanding, Ravi Thakran, Chairman of Turmeric Capital, said:“I am very proud of our collaboration with the Saudi Fashion Commission. With our complementary skill sets, we are contributing to the Saudi fashion eco-system and working towards the objectives of Vision 2030. There is no better way to do this than by backing future Saudi entrepreneurs.“The momentum I see in Saudi Arabia today is very similar to what I noticed in China when working there with LVMH from the early 2000s.“A decade from now, I believe books will be written about the colossal changes as Saudi increases its economic presence across Asia.”The roadshow’s day-long agenda included keynotes by HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Ambassador to the United States, Saudi Arabia, panel sessions attended by the likes of Jeffry Aronsson, Founder & CEO, Aronsson Group and Huda Al Lawati, Founder & CEO, Aliph Capital and Karla Martin, US Fashion & Sustainability Lead, Deloitte. Bringing together fashion investors and luxury goods companies, designers, and sustainable manufacturing experts, the Commission sought to build on and accelerate the progress made in attracting foreign investment.Saudi Arabia’s fashion currently industry holds the largest projected growth rates of any other large, high-income market, according to the ‘State of Fashion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2023)’ report. From 2021 to 2025, retail fashion sales in Saudi are expected to surge 48% to $32 billion, representing an annual growth rate of 13%. This growth is expected to be fueled by the Kingdom’s economic expansion and growing population with apparel, accessories, footwear and luxury goods poised for significant gains. The value of luxury fashion purchases in the GCC hit $9.6 billion in 2021, with Saudi Arabia posting 19% growth.The Fashion Commission departs New York with Riyadh Fashion Week due to take place 20-23 October in the Saudi capital. The inaugural event will exclusively focus on showcasing domestic talent, setting a new precedent in fashion while celebrating local creatives and sustainable craftsmanship.

The highly anticipated Hia Hub is back for its third edition from 3-7 November 2023, in Riyadh’s JAX District. Hia Hub is set to bring together some of the world’s most celebrated industry pioneers, artists, experts, and brands, all converging to showcase the latest trends in fashion, beauty, art, design, and luxury. As the region’s largest fashion and lifestyle conference, Hia Hub aims to inspire the upcoming generation of fashion and beauty entrepreneurs through engaging discussions, masterclasses, workshops, interactive exhibitions, and live performances. Building on the notable success of Hia’s inaugural event in 2021, Hia Hub’s second edition came in 2022 as a flagship conference in the region. It featured a lineup of 13 talks and panels along with three masterclasses led by renowned leaders in fashion and beauty such as Image Architect Law Roach, Celebrity Makeup Artist Mary Phillips, Supermodel and Actress Amber Valetta, Fashion Designer Zac Posen, and Entrepreneur and Digital Influencer Karen Wazen. In addition, the event boasted nine workshops, four exhibits, and forged 34 partnerships with major international brands like Piaget, Richard Mille, Michael Kors, Threads, Shiseido, Swarovski, and Tanagra. Bigger and bolder, the third edition of Hia Hub will pay tribute to the contributions the Arab community has made to the world of fashion, art, and design. Alongside the planned interactive exhibitions, retail opportunities and entertainment, including live musical performances, Hia Hub is joining forces with the Saudi Fashion Commission’s annual event, Fashion Futures, to expand the conferences programming and deepen collaboration. Established in 2019, Fashion Futures is a leading platform for learning, facilitating discussions and fostering global exchange within Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing fashion ecosystem. In 2022, the event gathered fashion enthusiasts to engage in insightful conversations on entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, diversity and culture. This year, Fashion Futures programme will focus on three main themes, including owning your story, revolutionizing the industry, and fusing purpose with creativity. It will also host additional retail activations by local Saudi brands and feature pop-up events around Riyadh. More details to come in the upcoming months. Mike Fairburn, Managing Director of SRMGx, the creators and organizers of Hia Hub and the experiential arm of SRMG, said: “Hia Hub is back for its third edition. It’s bigger and bolder this year, bringing together some of the regional and global fashion industry’s most accomplished business leaders, designers, celebrities, and icons, alongside leading fashion houses and brands. It is a truly unique 5-day event – a dynamic programme of seminars, talks, workshops, masterclasses, and live performances – that blends the latest trends and perspectives in fashion, art, design, music and contemporary culture. At SRMGx, our mission is to foster deeper connections with audiences and cultures by creating impactful and cutting-edge live experiences. We connect brands with new audiences through the creation of unique live and experiential formats, such as Hia Hub - an original conference designed and programmed around our iconic brand, Hia Magazine.”Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, said: “With the return of Fashion Futures, we are taking another step towards driving the development of Saudi’s fast-emerging fashion industry, unlocking opportunities and supporting our most promising creative talents. We look forward to welcoming some of the best and brightest minds to join us at Hia Hub this November.”Guests can register at hiahub.com to apply for early bird tickets and be the first to learn about workshops, masterclasses, and panels.This year, Hia Hub will introduce a range of tailored ticketing options, including an all-access VIP ticket, which will provide guests with exclusive backstage access and priority admission to all masterclasses, as well as general admission tickets and individual day passes.