(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Saudi Arabian princess Noura bint Faisal Al-Saud has recently been named the president of the Arab Fashion Council. She had also overseen the Arab Fashion Week, the first such show to be held in the Middle Eastern country. The princess studied International Business at Rikkyo University in Tokyo and takes inspiration from her stay in Japan.
Al-Saud is the great-granddaughter of the founder of Saudi Arabia and has just turned 30. She is inspired by her time in Japan which majorly influences her take on fashion, business and people.
She supervised the first Saudi Arabian edition of Arab Fashion Week, which was held 2 weeks behind schedule and started on April 11. It was headlined by international designers like Roberto Cavalli and Jean Paul Gaultier. The fashion show was organised by the Arab Fashion Council and was only open to women.
As a measure to reduce the country’s economic dependency on oil, the princess is working towards introducing textile manufacturing to Saudi Arabia, according to media reports. The country is also vying to become the manufacturing hub for the ready-couture market, a hybrid between haute-couture and ready-to-wear. This market has seen a rapid rise in Saudi Arabia due to social media and influencers.
The changes in the Saudi Arabian policies can be credited to the appointment of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king’s son and the heir to the Saudi Arabia’s throne.
