By Maria Cometti
One of the highlights of the Europe Month in Saudi Arabia this year is a documentary on the black robe worn by women in public in Saudi Arabia. Get to know the origins and culture of the abaya. E ach year the Delegation of the European Union to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf organizes Europe Month. The month-long program is a compilation of activities and celebrations of European culture here in Riyadh. This year Europe Month of May featured over 20 events including classical music concerts and fashion workshops featuring some of Europe’s great artistic talents. One of the highlights of Europe Month 2017 was the film screening of The Abaya Fashion Documentary directed and produced by Nancy Paton of PATON Productions. The film screening took place at the Residence of the Polish Ambassador. Nancy Paton is an award-winning Australian/Polish director and screenwriter residing between London and Riyadh.
The 20-minute abaya fashion documentary explores the origins of the abaya and how it is seen today in Saudi Arabia and the world at large. The traditional abaya serves as an important symbol of Islamic and national identity for people in the Arab Gulf States. Recently the abaya has emerged throughout the world at large and adapted to the needs and tastes of westernized Muslim women. The abaya even took to the world stage of high fashion when Dolce and Gabanna introduced their first ever abaya in 2015.
Through hiring Saudis to work on the documentary and interviewing Saudi Fashion designers, The Abaya documentary both promotes abaya fashion and helps to remove the stereotypes prevalent in the West regarding the traditional dress.
About the Delegation of the European Union:
The Delegation of the European Union to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf is a fully accredited diplomatic mission and is one of over 140 EU Delegations around the world. The Delegation officially opened in Riyadh in 2004 and represents the European Union to the GCC Secretariat and 5 of the 6 countries of the GCC: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, (a delegation to the United Arab Emirates opened in 2013)
Nancy Paton
PATON Productions
Email: nancy@patonproductions.com
Contact No.: +966 507 820 329
