In a first, Saudi Arabia hosts 'Swimwear fashion' show

Saudi Arabia, the most important country in the Islamic world, has taken a bold step towards modernisation by hosting its first-ever swimwear fashion show. 

The fashion show, held on Friday, featured female models from around the world showcasing swimwear designed by Moroccan fashion designer Yasmina Kanzal.

The show took place on the second day of the inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week at the St Regis Red Sea Resort, situated off Saudi Arabia’s western coast.

The resort is part of Red Sea Global, one of the giga-projects at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 social and economic reform programme overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

This marks the first of its kind show in the Kingdom, where women were previously punished for not covering their heads and faces.

The fashion industry in 2022 accounted for US$12.5 billion, or 1.4 percent of the national GDP, and employed 230,000 people, according to a report published last year by the official Saudi Fashion Commission.

“That’s very brave from them [Saudi Arabia] to do that today, so I am very happy to be part of it,” French influencer Raphael Simacourbe

However, the event has sparked outrage among the social media users.