Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi stylist Rawan Kattoa took home the Styling Award, designer Rayan Nowawi won for Fashion Photography, and luxury label Abadia was named Best Womenswear Brand at the 2025 Saudi Fashion Awards, held Thursday night in Riyadh.

Jewelry house Charmaleena won for Jewelry Design, while KML was recognized as Best Menswear Brand.

Model Talida Tamer received a special Honorary Award for her pioneering role in representing Saudi beauty on the global stage.

Hosted by the Saudi Fashion Commission at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the ceremony honored achievements across ten fashion and beauty categories.

The event, staged in collaboration with Fairchild Media Group and WWD magazine, featured red carpet moments, live performances, and a diverse mix of regional icons and international tastemakers.

International winners at the WWD Global Fashion Awards included Alessandro Sartori for International Designer of the Year, celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta for Global Beauty Innovator, Korean skincare brand Glow Recipe for Best International Beauty Brand, and Italian luxury house Tod’s for Best Heritage Brand.

This year’s edition placed a particular emphasis on the beauty industry, with an expanded judging panel that included stylist Law Roach, Fashion Commission CEO Burak Cakmak, Institut Français de la Mode Dean Xavier Romatet, Hia Editor-in-Chief Mai Badr, Fairchild Media President Amanda Smith, and Saudi entrepreneur Mohamed Aldabbagh.

“The Saudi fashion industry is evolving at a remarkable pace,” said Cakmak. “These awards celebrate a new generation of leaders who are reshaping how fashion is seen and made in the region.”

Mai Badr said: “When we empower Saudi creatives to tell their story, we build an authentic cultural narrative that resonates globally.”

Xavier Romatet praised the innovation emerging from the Kingdom, calling the discovery of next-generation talent in Saudi Arabia “a thrilling challenge in a country full of potential.”