Saudi design scene is a cultural melting pot, says Princess Nourah

RIYADH: A melting pot of local and international influences defines Saudi design, Princess Nourah Al-Faisal told Arab News on the sidelines of a Torba Studio talk.
In a talk titled “Experience in the Field,” Princess Nourah and Nazek Alkhulaifi, the co-founder and designer at Torba Studio, engaged in a conversation about the next generation of fashion design at the headquarters of Adhlal, a research-based consultancy in Riyadh founded by Princess Nourah.
As a part of its internship program Torba Studio has talks every Thursday and the Riyadh-based fashion brand opened the talk to the public during Ramadan.
As an entrepreneur and designer with more than two decades of experience working in design, Princess Nourah has seen the transformation of the design sector, and she described modern-day Saudi design as eclectic.
She added: “What I was talking about earlier is the community being a melting pot; it really is.
“There are so many influences. It used to be that there were the Saudis and the Europeans, but now there is everything coming in — you see influences from Korea, Japan, India. It has become a melting pot that the silk trade route used to come through. It’s a reawakening of that cultural collision and it is really interesting.
“We are the heart of the Islamic world and our cultures are so varied and that’s where they all meet.”
Princess Nourah highlighted the importance of fashion designers knowing their heritage, culture, and roots, which are elements that allow them to create designs that fit their environment.
She said: “Our clothes need to fit our lifestyles, our culture, and need to help us live. That is what design is for, to solve problems.”
She said that Saudi designers were going through an experimental phase of introducing heritage into their work, such as weaving and embroidery.
She added: “I expect that we will see a vast improvement over the next few years. If you look at Riyadh Fashion Week the first year and then compare it to the second year, imagine what will happen in the next four or five years.
“There is a confidence and embracing of our heritage and culture and trying to understand how to express them with pride.”
Princess Nourah applauds Saudis for their sense of humor and their capability to create fun designs.
She said: “I think you are going to see it in design, not just fashion, you are going to see it all across design and in the way people choose to live their lives.”
Alkhulaifi told Arab News that as Saudi youngsters immersed themselves in the fashion and design industry, guidance was vital for their success.
Alkhulaifi said: “It is very much an increase and the energy is positive. It is like a driving force, like a big wave of creatives that are ready to add something to the industry.
“We need to guide and share the experiences because we want more structured exposure to benefit everyone in the industry.”
Alkhulaifi said every Torba Studio collection revolved around the human experience and the philosophy of the unknown, adding: “Every piece that we do (create) has some sort of symbolism of being human.”