iyadh Fashion Week 2025 marked its third and most ambitious edition with a six-day event that brought international attention and strengthened Saudi Arabia’s name in creative industry. Organised by the Saudi Fashion Commission under the Ministry of Culture, it featured over 30 runway shows and presentations, bringing together global names such as Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney alongside Saudi designers shaping modern Arabian style.

Covering couture, streetwear and ready-to-wear, the event confirmed Riyadh’s rise as an international fashion capital. Among the standout showcases was Abadia’s Fall/Winter ‘25 collection, which explored balance, heritage and modernity. Each piece reflected discipline and restraint, built around themes of courage, transformation and quiet strength.

For founder of the brand, designer Shahd AlShehail, the collection began with a family memory. Her grandfather once left home to try pearl diving, an act she described as a symbol of independence and bravery. That story became a metaphor for feminine strength. “It reminded me of what it means to choose courage over comfort,” AlShehail said after the show.

The clothes echoed this message through structure and flow. Tailored coats were layered over pleated skirts, while long bishts (traditional men’s cloaks) were paired with fluid blouses. The colour palette moved from deep hues to soft pastels, tracing a journey from dark to light. Each silhouette held its shape yet allowed movement, blending form with grace.

Luminous satin silk gave each piece a subtle shine, while tailoring in wool and mohair (a luxury fabric) grounded the collection with quiet authority. Blazers came sharply cut and carried Abadia’s signature Sadu embroidery, a Bedouin weaving technique adding both texture and strength. They were paired with sharwal trousers, loose through the leg and gathered at the ankle.

The dialogue between soft silk and structured wool gave the collection the harmony of tide meeting shore, softness shaped by resolve.

Visually, the collection reflected the evolution of Abadia’s design language, which AlShehail called a “clarity of codes.” Signature draping and pleating returned in redefined forms. The lines were sharper, the folds more precise and the construction more intentional. Every look conveyed refinement and direction, showing how the label continues to strengthen its identity through focus and discipline.

Abadia also introduced its first range of leather accessories, made from sustainably sourced camel leather. The structured bags, shaped like dhows (traditional sailing vessels), extended the brand’s narrative while preserving its connection to local tradition.

The brand’s next step will be its Spring 2026 showcase in Paris, aimed at expanding global recognition while keeping Saudi craftsmanship central. AlShehail plans to introduce footwear and a wider range of accessories next year. She describes her goal as building “the Abadia world,” a complete ecosystem based on ethics, sophistication and authenticity.

Abadia’s collection Diving Deep, stood apart for its sincerity and focus, showing how memory and material come together to define purpose and identity in modern Saudi fashion.

– Images: Courtesy of Abadia