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Riyadh Fashion Week issues final call for designer applications ahead of 3rd edition

Riyadh Fashion Week issues final call for designer applications ahead of 3rd edition
RFW offers a platform for both emerging and established designers to showcase their collections to international buyers and industry leaders.听(Supplied)
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Riyadh Fashion Week issues final call for designer applications ahead of 3rd edition

Riyadh Fashion Week issues final call for designer applications ahead of 3rd edition

DUBAI: Riyadh Fashion Week (RFW) is gearing up for its third edition, with organizers issuing a final call for designer applications. Fashion houses from across 黑料社区 and around the world have until July 15 to submit their proposals for inclusion in the official calendar.

One of the Middle East鈥檚 most anticipated fashion events, RFW offers a platform for both emerging and established designers to showcase their collections to international buyers and industry leaders.听

The official calendar will feature a broad spectrum of brand activations beyond traditional runway shows. Designers can also take part in curated presentations, showroom exhibitions, trunk shows, retail pop-ups, creative takeovers, private dinners and immersive experiences.听

黑料社区-based and international fashion brands across ready-to-wear, couture, menswear, and streetwear categories are eligible.听
鈥淭his is more than a runway,鈥 said Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission. 鈥淚t is a statement of creative identity, innovation, and ambition. Riyadh Fashion Week provides a high-impact opportunity for designers to tell their story on a global stage.鈥


Zayed National Museum to explore UAE鈥檚 storied history

Zayed National Museum to explore UAE鈥檚 storied history
Updated 17 sec ago

Zayed National Museum to explore UAE鈥檚 storied history

Zayed National Museum to explore UAE鈥檚 storied history
  • Located on Saadiyat Island, the Zayed National Museum has a bevy of illustrious neighbors including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum and teamLab Phenomena

DUBAI: As Zayed National Museum gets ready to open its doors in the UAE capital, Arab News spoke to director Peter Magee about the museum鈥檚 aims and what visitors can expect.

An opening date is yet to be announced, but the center will focus on the history of the UAE with special emphasis on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It will explore early human settlements that go back 300,000 years as well as the area鈥檚 language, traditions, and flora and fauna. 

鈥淭he narrative within the museum is guided by the enduring values of the UAE鈥檚 founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan,鈥 explained Magee. 鈥淲e look at those values and then we look at the way in which they guided him, but also the way in which they reflect social values which exist within the UAE both in the past and the present 鈥 and in the future.

Dr. Peter Magee. (Supplied)

鈥淚t's a national museum focused on the UAE, but of course it looks at the regional links which existed to other countries in the Arabian Gulf, the Indian Ocean and even further afield.鈥

One particular highlight is a full-size reconstruction of a Magan boat from the Bronze Age, constructed with reeds and palm-fiber rope. Magee and his team sailed in it for two days on the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

Located on Saadiyat Island, the Zayed National Museum has a bevy of illustrious neighbors including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum and teamLab Phenomena. (Supplied)

Located on Saadiyat Island, the Zayed National Museum has a bevy of illustrious neighbors including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum and teamLab Phenomena.

鈥淭he way I like to think about it is that each of these museums and institutions 鈥 is its own star 鈥 and in combination they appear like a constellation or something that can be read coherently together as well as individually,鈥 Magee said.


Georges Hobeika showcases Fall/Winter 2026 collection at Paris Haute Couture Week

Georges Hobeika showcases Fall/Winter 2026 collection at Paris Haute Couture Week
Updated 08 July 2025

Georges Hobeika showcases Fall/Winter 2026 collection at Paris Haute Couture Week

Georges Hobeika showcases Fall/Winter 2026 collection at Paris Haute Couture Week

DUBAI: Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika presented his Fall/Winter 2025/2026 couture collection as part of Paris Haute Couture Week.

Known for his craftsmanship and red-carpet-ready designs, Hobeika鈥檚 latest offering featured a wide array of detailed gowns and structured silhouettes.

The runway collection showcased a soft color palette, with shades of beige, blush pink, maroon, black, blue, and brown making up the core color story.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fabrics included heavily embroidered textiles, delicate lace, satin and tulle. Many looks incorporated tonal embellishments and shimmering surface details. 

Beaded bodices, crystal fringe, and metallic appliqu茅s were prominent throughout the collection, adding texture and dimension.

Silhouettes ranged from structured floor-length gowns and A-line dresses to voluminous skirts and sleek, form-fitting eveningwear. There were also several mid-length and tea-length designs with sculptural detailing, along with a few two-piece sets featuring cropped tops and high-waisted skirts.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

One standout bridal look appeared during the show 鈥 a long-sleeved gown with sheer detailing and silver embroidery. The dress was paired with a beaded headpiece and a trailing veil.

Accessories were kept minimal, with statement earrings and clean, slicked-back hair showed off by the models.

Toward the end of the show, Hobeika and his son Jad Hobeika walked the runway together to thank their supporters.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Paris Haute Couture Week kicked off on Monday with Schiaparelli鈥檚 Fall 2025 show, marking the start of a series of high-fashion presentations that will run through July 10.

The opening show did not begin with sequins or traditional red carpet glamor, but with the surreal sight of Cardi B and a live crow. 

Wrapped in a custom Schiaparelli gown of graphic fringe, the US rapper stood beneath the gilded columns of the Petit Palais, holding the black bird on her arm. Her avian plus one squawked, glared and nearly lunged 鈥 setting the tone for a monochrome show that itself soared straight into the surreal.

On the first day, Iris Van Herpen, Imane Ayissi, Rahul Mishra, Julie de Libran and Giambattista Valli also showcased their collections.

In addition to Georges Hobeika, several other Arab designers are on the calendar, including Ashi Studio, Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad and Rami Al-Ali.


Fontaines DC display words 鈥業srael is committing genocide鈥 on screen at London gig

Fontaines DC display words 鈥業srael is committing genocide鈥 on screen at London gig
Updated 07 July 2025

Fontaines DC display words 鈥業srael is committing genocide鈥 on screen at London gig

Fontaines DC display words 鈥業srael is committing genocide鈥 on screen at London gig

DUBAI: Irish post-punk band Fontaines DC played a sold-out concert in London鈥檚 Finsbury Park on Saturday night during which the words 鈥淔ree Palestine鈥 and 鈥淚srael is committing genocide鈥 were projected onto screens. 

Lead singer Grian Chatten performed in front of the 45,000-strong crowd dressed in a kilt and a Sinead O鈥機onnor t-shirt, the Independent reported. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A piece of music equipment on the north London stage was wrapped in a Palestinian flag and 鈥淚srael is committing genocide. Use your voice鈥 came up on the screens after the last song. 

The show comes after multiple artists voiced support for the people of Palestine at the Glastonbury music festival in June.

Last week, the US revoked entry visas for members of British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan following their Glastonbury Festival set, during which frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in a controversial chant against Israel鈥檚 military.

Performing on the festival鈥檚 West Holts Stage on Saturday, the artist shouted 鈥淔ree, free Palestine鈥 before encouraging the audience to chant, 鈥淒eath, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).鈥 Video of the moment quickly spread online, sparking backlash.

Meanwhile, Irish rap group Kneecap drew one of the festival鈥檚 largest crowds at the West Holts Stage. Dozens of Palestinian flags flew in the crowd as the show opened with an audio montage of news clips referring to the band鈥檚 critics and legal woes.

Between high-energy numbers that had fans forming a large mosh pit, the band members 鈥 sporting keffiyehs 鈥 led the audience in chants of 鈥淔ree Palestine鈥 and 鈥淔ree Mo Chara.鈥 They also aimed an expletive-laden chant at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he didn鈥檛 think it was 鈥渁ppropriate鈥 for Kneecap to play Glastonbury.

One member wore a T-shirt emblazoned with 鈥淲e Are All Palestine Action,鈥 referencing the direct-action network that targets arms factories supplying Israel.


The Open Crate: Meet the women protecting the Arab world鈥檚 artistic heritage

The Open Crate: Meet the women protecting the Arab world鈥檚 artistic heritage
Updated 07 July 2025

The Open Crate: Meet the women protecting the Arab world鈥檚 artistic heritage

The Open Crate: Meet the women protecting the Arab world鈥檚 artistic heritage

BEIRUT: What鈥檚 the point of owning a beautiful collection 鈥 whether art or collectibles 鈥 if there鈥檚 no proper way to showcase or preserve it?

This question lies at the heart of The Open Crate, a platform designed to help collectors digitize and preserve their collections. Founded by art specialists Amina Debbiche and Nora Mansour, the company offers an inventory and archiving service that catalogs everything from fine art and furniture to watches, books, and pens.

鈥淧eople know exactly which crypto they have in their portfolio. But when it comes to art, they don't even remember the name of the artist on the wall,鈥 said Mansour, a Lebanese finance expert turned art curator.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Debbiche and Mansour noted the urgency of digitizing art catalogues 鈥 especially in the Arab world.

鈥淭he thing with art, especially in our region of the world, is that it鈥檚 mostly held in private hands,鈥 said Debbiche, a Tunisian art aficionado.

The privatization of artwork in a region with hotspots of instability makes the act of documentation a deeply political one: a means of preserving the unspoken victims of war 鈥 art.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To explain this, Mansour gave Arab News a hypothetical example: think of a Palestinian family in Jerusalem whose house is looted 鈥 if their artwork is documented, there鈥檚 proof it existed. It鈥檚 a map of what you own.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like our child, you know 鈥 it鈥檚 like having a baby together,鈥 Mansour joked.

The child they created, The Open Crate, boldly and indirectly addresses an unspoken issue that has long plagued the region. Like any child, it has the potential to grow and carve out a name that its ancestors, and future generations, can be proud of.

 


Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China

Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China
Updated 07 July 2025

Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China

Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China
  • Nayab wins Jury Special Award, Deemak Best Editing Award at 2025 event
  • Pakistan鈥檚 film industry has seen a creative resurgence in recent years

ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani films, Nayab and Deemak, have won major accolades at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival in China, state-run news agency APP reported on Monday. 

The festival showcased 27 films from SCO member states, including China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and Central Asian countries. Organized to foster regional cinematic exchange, the event featured screenings, industry forums, a film technology expo, and a gala concert, with awards presented in ten categories.

The SCO Film Festival first launched in 2018 and is a cultural initiative of the multilateral bloc to promote cooperation in cinema and the creative industries among member countries. 

鈥淧akistani film Nayab and Deemak received prestigious 鈥楯ury Special Award鈥 and 鈥楤est Editing Award鈥 respectively at the colorful concluding ceremony of SCO film festival held at Chongqing, China,鈥 Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Director of Pakistani movie, Nayab, Umair Nasir Ali (center) giving acceptance speech at the SCO Film Festival for the Jury Special award in China, in a picture shared by the director himself on social media on July 7, 2025. (Umair Nasir Ali/Instagram) 

Nayab, released in 2024, is a sports-drama centered on a young woman from Karachi, played by Yumna Zaidi, who aspires to become a professional cricketer despite intense family and societal opposition. The cast includes Fawad Khan, Javed Sheikh, and Adnan Siddiqui.

The film has previously won multiple awards, including Best Foreign Film and Best First-Time Filmmaker (Feature) at the World Film Festival in Cannes, and a Special Jury Diploma at the 30th Minsk International Film Festival.

鈥淭he cinema was packed, and what truly moved me was how deeply they engaged with the film,鈥 Nayab鈥檚 director Umair Nasir Ali told APP after the film鈥檚 screen at the SCO festival. 鈥淭hey picked up on the layers, the emotional arcs and asked thoughtful, relevant questions that showed how closely they had followed the story.鈥

Deemak is a psychological horror film directed by Rafay Akbar Rashdi and starring Soniya Hussyn, Faysal Quraishi, Samina Peerzada, and Bushra Ansari. 

Screengrab of a reel showing director of Pakistani movie, Deemak, Rafay Akbar Rashdi (second left) receiving the best editing award for his movie Deemak at the SCO Film Festival held in China in a video shared on social media on July 7, 2025. (RafayRashidi/Instagram)

Set in an aging home haunted by unexplained phenomena, the film explores family tensions and mental trauma. It became Pakistan鈥檚 highest-grossing horror film when it released earlier this year, earning over Rs60 million [$211,173] in its opening week.

Pakistan鈥檚 film industry has seen a steady resurgence in recent years, with a new generation of filmmakers experimenting with genres from sports dramas to horror and social realism. 

Joyland (2022) became the first Pakistani feature to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section, and was later selected as Pakistan鈥檚 official entry to the Oscars. The country has also received two Academy Award wins in the documentary short category by filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. 

Meanwhile, The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022) set new box office records, becoming Pakistan鈥檚 highest-grossing film to date and finding global audiences with its big-budget, Punjabi-language action storytelling.