RIYADH: The 50 best Founding Day outfits will win SR2,000 each as part of a competition by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture.
Members of the public are invited to submit photos of their traditional Saudi attire via the ministry’s website from Feb. 22-28. Winners will be notified by email between March 12-14, with a total of SR100,000 shared between the 50 best submissions.
The competition aims to encourage people to promote traditional Saudi clothing while supporting both local fashion designers and content creators, said a ministry statement.
Everyone is welcome to take part. Pictures should be of high quality and feature traditional Saudi dress style. Outfits must be inoffensive and age-appropriate to the entrant. The Founding Day hashtag must also be used.
A brochure detailing the competition guidelines can be found on the ministry’s website, where people can also submit their photographs for the competition — visit here.
Traditional attire for men includes the ghutra headdress and bisht robe, while for women it includes the shayla headscarf and thobe.
Saudi Arabia has a rich history of diverse and colorful fashion when it comes to its traditional costumes, with each region displaying different tribal styles. Only a small number of items are well known; many have been forgotten due to lack of proper documentation and tribal migration.
Founding Day takes place on Saturday, Feb. 22. The national holiday was introduced in 2022 as a way to commemorate the founding of the First Saudi State in 1727. This year’s celebrations include music concerts, art exhibitions and other cultural activities in the Kingdom’s major cities.
