Riyadh: For the first time in Saudi Arabia, a fashion show in swimming suits has been organized, semi-naked catwalk, in this show held on Friday, models wore semi-naked swimsuits.Foreign media covered it extensively, while other news agencies, including VOICE of America’s X Page, have also uploaded videos of models wearing semi-naked swimsuits.
According to the foreign news agency AFP, the fashion show showcased costumes made by Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal, most of which consisted of the same clothes and red, beige and blue colors, most of the models had bare shoulders and lower shoulders.
“It’s true that Saudi Arabia is a conservative country, but we’ve tried to represent the Arab world, we knew that the swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia would be a historic moment, because it was going to be the first time in Saudi Arabia,” Qanzal told AFP.
“It’s a matter of pride for me that I’m a part of this fashion show, which took place on the second day of the opening of The Red Sea Fashion Week at the Red Sea Resort on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, part of Red Sea Global, part of one of the Giga projects under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030.
Mohammed bin Salman, who has been crown prince of the Saudi King since 2017, has taken a number of steps on economic and social changes to present the positive and enlightened face of Saudi Arabia to the world, including removing religious police, opening cinemas and music concerts.
The first-of-its-kind swimsuit fashion show was held in Saudi Arabia, in which models walked on the side of a pool wearing swimwear. The fashion show took place on Friday at St. Regis Red Sea Resort, a resort on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. #VOAUrdu #SaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/Sc20pCDDGc
Meanwhile, Syrian fashion influencer Shouk Mohammad, who was present at the fashion show, said that such steps by Saudi Arabia to open the society to the world and for the growth of its fashion and tourism sector are not surprising.
French influencer Rafael Semacorbe, who was part of the fashion show, said, “It is not important for me, but when it comes to Saudi Arabia, then it is a big achievement and a big bravery, so I am very happy to be a part of it.”
According to a report by the Saudi Fashion Commission, the fashion industry did business of $ 12.5 billion in 2022 and provided employment to 230,000 people, which is 1.4 percent of Saudi GDP.