KABUL: Amid tight security, over two dozen young models, including six women, strutted down the catwalk in the garden of a private Kabul villa, proudly displaying the traditional clothing and costumes of Afghanistan’s many ethnic groups.
The audience, about 100 men and women, tightly packed the small space on a recent afternoon, but the mood was as bright as the models’ embroidered tunics and scarves — a scene that would have been unimaginable under Taliban rule.
For the organizer, 22-year-old model and fashion designer Ajmal Haqiqi, putting on the show was worth the risk — despite daily threats of militant attacks in this war-weary capital.
Haqiqi says he was motivated by the desire to show off Afghan culture through the nation’s dazzling abundance of traditional garments and regional costumes. If Afghans regain an awareness of their rich heritage, this could help unite them, he said.
“I told myself, if a suicide bomber attacks us, even if I lose my hands and feet, I will continue on the way that I have chosen,” an exuberant Haqiqi told The Associated Press after the event.
Kabul has seen few fashion shows over the past years, mostly catering to international audiences. Haqiqi’s show was the first all-Afghan enterprise: Afghan models showing Afghan traditional clothing to an all-Afghan audience.
However, the idea of women on display remains mostly taboo in Afghanistan, more than 16 years after the 2001 US assault that ousted the Taliban from power after a repressive five-year reign.
Some women still don’t go outside without wearing blue burqas that cover them from head to toe, leaving only mesh over the eyes. Violence against women is still common, and there are reports of women being stoned, executed in public or imprisoned for having affairs with men. Women have even set themselves on fire to escape domestic violence.
Haqiqi’s group, the Haqiqi Modeling Agency, is a relative newcomer on the country’s small fashion scene but he has appeared on national television on various occasions, such as Independence Day, the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, and the Muslim holidays of Eid Al-Adha and Eid Al-Fitr.
The agency sells the designs under its own “Haqiqi Brand,” with about 70 percent of the sales going to foreigners and Afghans living aboard.
Atefa Fasihi, 21, joined Haqiqi’s team two years ago and the show was her debut before a live audience. She acknowledged feeling uneasy as heavily armed security guards protected the villa in a western Kabul neighborhood.
“Everybody is scared, but ... we are working to promote our Afghan culture, so I foresee a good future,” Fasihi said.
Husna Sadat, who was in the audience, said the prospect of more such shows is exciting. “If we can change the mentality of our people from all these years of fighting, then I am sure the people can be ready for a better future,” she said.
Kabul has been battered by attacks over recent months, most claimed by the Taliban but some also by an Islamic State affiliate.
Last month, a Taliban suicide bomber rammed his car packed with explosives into a bus carrying government employees in the same western Kabul neighborhood where Haqiqi’s show took place, an area that is home to several private schools and where many politicians reside. The rush hour attack killed 24 people and wounded 42 others.
And on May 31, the city saw its worst suicide bombing since the Taliban collapse — an attack that killed 150 people and wounded scores.
But it was all smiles at the fashion show.
The male models showed off Afghan variants of the shalwar kameez, the men’s long shirt and pants also known as perahan tunban, with turban, pakul or karakul hats. The women wore colorful gand-e-Afghanis, made from softly flowing and intricately embroidered materials, some with matching scarves.
For Amina Sherzad, also in the audience at Haqiqi’s show last week, the mix of the ethnic garments held a message of acceptance.
“It shows that we can accept each other, a model can be a Tajik or a Hazara but can wear the other’s ethnic clothing,” she said, referring to two prominent ethnic minorities. “We are the same.”
Kabul catwalk: Afghan models show off traditional clothing
Kabul catwalk: Afghan models show off traditional clothing
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Saudi jewelry brand APOA celebrates Fashion Trust Arabia Awards nomination
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DUBAI: “Small wearable sculptures” is how the founders of APOA (A Piece of Art) describe their jewelry.
Within a year of launching their Riyadh-based brand, Saudi Princesses Mashael Khalid Al-Saud, Nourah Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Sarah Naif Al-Saud are thrilled that it has made the shortlist of finalists in Fashion Trust Arabia Awards’ jewelry section.
“We knew it was a long shot but we were very confident in our brand and the achievements we've made so far,” Mashael — the youngest of the three cousins — tells Arab News. “It was just such an exciting moment to learn we were in the top three.”
“I can't describe how I feel honestly,” Sarah adds. “We have worked so hard for it. We are so happy with this achievement.”
The idea for the brand arose in 2020, during the COVID pandemic.
“It was Sarah and Nourah who were talking about this at first,” says Mashael. “Then they asked me to join.” (“Mashael has amazing taste,” Sarah adds.)
“Sarah and Nourah are older than me, so they've shared a lot of their experience with me. We complement each other: Our fashion tastes are very different, but we balance each other out,” Mashael continues.
“We are cousins and we live together and we travel together. We’re always wearing each other’s clothes. And when we travel, we use each other's things. We’ve always had a love for accessories. We can't wear anything if we do not accessorize our outfit,” Sarah says. “We saw that there was a need in the market for fashion accessories. We wanted to make fashion accessories that are affordable and yet very dressy, so you can wear them for special occasions and you can keep them for a lifetime. These aren’t things you will wear and get bored with after a month or two, or a year or two.”
Since its launch in 2023, APOA — “injected with strong Saudi DNA” and inspired by culture, architecture, nature and travel — has dropped four eclectic collections, which the cousins call “chapters.”
“We call them chapters because, basically, it's like you’re reading a book. So, each chapter has a storyline — an idea or a whimsical thought behind it,” says Mashael.
The first chapter was a tribute to the Kingdom’s heritage of pearl diving and a way to put their Arab roots on full display. The latest is dedicated to “women on the go.”
While all design ideas come from the three founders, APOA has a technical designer based in Barcelona and the pieces are manufactured at an atelier in Italy.
“We work with our technical designer to basically clean up the mess of our ideas and put them on paper, so we can hand it over to the manufacturers. But each piece is approved by the three of us before that happens,” Mashael explains.
The founders celebrated another milestone earlier this year when they participated at Paris Fashion Week as part of the Saudi 100 Brands initiative.
“It was an immense experience,” Mashael says. “And we're very thankful, because not everyone gets this opportunity. We are part of this initiative that our government is funding. It takes people many years to join a show or to get this recognition. And we've got that in our pocket. It's literally a dream come true,” said Mashael.
“I get very anxious and nervous meeting people. I believe in my brand, but it's another thing trying to convince a stranger: ‘Yes, trust me, this brand is going places.’ Or, ‘These pieces are amazing.’ So, it was really nice seeing people from all over — publishers, buyers… we met a lot of amazing people in the industry.”
Before the announcement of the FTA Awards winners in Morocco, the cousins are already looking forward to chapter five, which will have a floral focus, as well as to their second collaboration with Saudi label Ashi Studio — a “very bold” piece, according to Sarah, that will launch in October.
Georgina Rodriguez spotlights Saudi Arabia ahead of reality show release
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DUBAI: Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez shared a video with her 62 million Instagram followers this week promoting Saudi Arabia, captioning it: “This is real, this is Saudi Arabia.”
Originally posted by Visit Saudi, the video shared by Rodriguez captures the diverse landscapes of Saudi Arabia, showcasing everything from the desert areas to the country’s seascapes. It highlights the Kingdom’s history and modern developments, featuring scenes of golden sand dunes, the Ithra cultural center, the ancient site of AlUla, the mirrored Maraya concert hall, the Red Sea and lush greenery in gardens and forests.
Rodriguez has been living in Saudi Arabia since January 2023 and has made a point of exploring the Kingdom, so much so that her experiences will be featured in her upcoming Netflix show.
She is set to return to Netflix with the third season of her reality TV show “Soy Georgina” (“I Am Georgina”), which will place a heavy focus on her life in Saudi Arabia. The new season will follow Rodriguez’s life after her move to the Kingdom with her partner, football star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
“What is true luxury like in Saudi Arabia? We will find out when Gio and her family settle in Riyadh with Cristiano's signing for Al-Nassr,” Netflix stated.
According to the announcement, the season will also show Rodriguez enjoying a number of firsts, including the opening of her first beach house, Villa Perla, to starring in an international campaign for a famous clothing brand and her biggest dream — making her debut at Paris Fashion Week.
Meanwhile, the star couple have been taking some time off from their hectic schedules to explore Saudi Arabia’s coastline and the Red Sea development in June.
The two took to social media to post photos from their relaxing getaway at what seemed to be The St. Regis Red Sea Resort. They were seen enjoying the resort and its pristine beaches along with their children.
“My world,” Rodriguez captioned her post.
The couple was also recently spotted enjoying a staycation at The Red Sea Project, where Rodriguez wore a necklace from the Egyptian brand Nado’s Jewelry’s Perle collection, featuring large, rounded links alternating between polished gold and diamond-encrusted surfaces.
Gigi Hadid named global ambassador for Rabanne scent
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DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Gigi Hadid has been named the global ambassador for French luxury fashion brand Rabanne’s new fragrance, Million Gold For Her.
In the campaign photos, Hadid is seen wearing a metallic gold two-piece set, consisting of a skirt and a cropped top made of reflective fabric. In the accompanying campaign video, she also appeared in a black suit.
Her hair was styled in loose waves and her makeup was subtle, emphasizing her blue eyes and neutral-toned lips.
In one of the images, Hadid is pictured holding the oversized perfume bottle for Million Gold For Her.
“Million Gold For Her reminds me of how Rabanne feels as a brand,” Hadid said in a statement. “It is powerful and beautiful, with rose, lavender and a salty mineral musk undertone. I love the balance. I think that a lot of my personality has masculine tinges to it, so I Iike the mix of feminine and masculine elements in a fragrance.”
Hadid took to Instagram to share behind-the-scenes shots of the campaign shoot.
“The making of the ‘million gold’ commercial was days of trying to keep a straight face through the joy and fun that is dancing with @stephengalloway on set,” she captioned her post. “Feeling golden being the newest ambassador of this iconic fragrance – many, many thanks to my new family at @rabanne and to all who made this week wonderful.”
One of the photos featured her enjoying lunch on set with the team, which included an Arab meal. The spread consisted of tabbouleh, hummus, batata harra, rolls and fattoush.
This month, Hadid released the Fall 2024 collection for her fashion brand, Guest In Residence.
The collection includes timeless pieces such as oversized sweaters, cardigans, and tailored knit sets, all made from 100% cashmere. These pieces come in warm, earthy tones and rich autumnal colors, combining functionality with fashion-forward designs that reflect Hadid’s personal style.
French Algerian singer Lolo Zouai goes goth at ‘The Crow’ premiere
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DUBAI: French Algerian singer-songwriter Lolo Zouai embraced gothic fashion on the red carpet at the New York premiere of the upcoming comic book adaptation, “The Crow.”
Zouai, who divides her time between Brooklyn and Los Angeles, took to Instagram to share images of her all-black, lacy ensemble.
“Guess the dress code,” she captioned the post.
“The Crow,” by filmmaker Rupert Standers, stars Bill Skarsgard as Eric Draven, who is murdered alongside his girlfriend Shelly, played by singer-songwriter FKA Twigs in her second feature film role.
Existing somewhere between life and death, Eric transforms into the invincible superhero known as The Crow, who is determined to avenge the tragedy and sacrifice himself to rescue Shelly. Sanders’ new adaptation of James O’Barr’s comic book series arrives 30 years after the original 1994 film.
Meanwhile, Zouai, known for her unique blend of R&B, club-pop and hip-hop, has gained an international fanbase for her dynamic stage presence and genre-blending music.
Her career highlights include the release of her debut album, “High Highs to Low Lows,” in 2019 and her follow-up album “PLAYGIRL” in 2022.
In April, Zouai took to Instagram to celebrate the five-year anniversary of her debut album. “Happy 5 years to the album that started it all,” she wrote. “Thank you to all my lil lo-riders for being on this ride with me from the beginning.”
To celebrate the milestone, Zouai brought back merchandise pieces originally created at the time of her debut album, including some signed clothing.
Second album “PLAYGIRL,” released in October 2022, featured 13 songs. The singer was featured on a billboard in New York’s Times Square and she shared a video of herself posing in front of it.
“I always said that one day, I would be on a billboard in Times Square. Today is that day,” she said in the short clip.
An expansive tour in 2023 included 30 dates across North America and Europe, including the US, Canada, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Bella Hadid’s new scent is an ode to her childhood
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DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid took to social media to thank her Orabella team as she celebrated the launch of the newest fragrance from her label.
An ode to her favorite horse from her childhood, Hadid also celebrated the new drop — called Nightcap — with a party in West Hollywood.
The model wore a dusty-pink gown with delicate embroidery and bow detail from Lebanese couturier Zuhair Murad. She completed the bohemian look with a pair of strappy sandals and a gold necklace with a floral pendant.
Nightcap has been described as a “warm and spicy” scent with notes of ginger, cardamon and vanilla.
“Nightcap was actually the name of one of my best-friend-favorite horses of all time. I went to the finals in high school with (Nightcap), the love-of-my-life horse,” Hadid had said in an earlier interview with Elle.
“Each of my fragrances represent different parts of my soul, personality and character traits. It’s about being able to make little connections that the universe puts together for you. This one is really an ode to my teenage years and growing up. Horses have been everything to me since I was a kid,” she said.
Hadid also took to Instagram on Sunday to write: “Vanilla ginger cardamom sandalwood beautifulness!!!! I can’t wait for you try it!!!
“Feeling beyond blessed and lucky for this experience, and to watch the fruits of our labor grow! I love my team, I believe each one was sent to me from the heavens! Thank you to everyone who came through to support, and be a part of the @orebella family. I could not be more happy … I have been crying tears of joy for the last 3 days!!
“Special thanks to all involved! You know how much I love you!”
In a previous Instagram post, Hadid revealed that Nightcap was one of the scents she worked on before the formation of her label, Orabella.
“I started creating this scent from the beginning, before I even had a name for my company,” she wrote.
“All of my scents are different parts of me and my personality … But truly, NIGHTCAP is all me, through and through … She might truly be my favorite one yet!”