Over the recent years, local businesses have been growing with young entrepreneurs at the helm, a return of traditional stylistic influences and Riyadh’s bustling economy at the epicenter. In this issue, let’s dive into the Saudi brands gaining traction.
There’s no arguing that Riyadh’s favorite Riyadh pastimes include eating and shopping. You can find our guide to Riyadh’s best brunches in DQ Living’s Issue 5. For this issue, we’re taking you shopping! If you want products that are uniquely Saudi, here’s a list of homegrown local brands we’d love for you to shop from.
Arwa AlBanawi
Bridging gaps between high-end fashion and streetwear, Saudi designer Arwa AlBanawi has used an eclectic mix of contrasts, blending traditional tailoring with contemporary “east meets west perspectives”. AlBanawi stands for empowering women and communicating the Arab culture through her brand.
Her travels abroad instilled a deep love and appreciation for fashion. A former investment banker, she saw a void in the market for womenswear that is both professional and fashion forward for the young business woman. After studying at the London College of Fashion in Dubai, she launched her namesake brand in 2015.
AlBanawi’s urban-tailored suits and statement tees in Arabic writing have been spotted in the pages of Vogue, the New York Times, Grazia, Marie Claire and on stars worldwide.
Products: Suits, graphic shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, athleisure dresses
Website: http://arwaalbanawi.com/
Instagram: @arwaalbanawi
Razan Alazzouni
From an early age, Razan exhibited a strong passion for all things related to art. Determined to pursue her passion formally and further develop as an artist, Razan applied to The School of Museum of Fine Arts and TUFTS University in Boston, Massachusetts where she spent her college years. While there, she concentrated on sculpture, screen-printing, and papermaking. Running parallel to her passion for art all these years was Razan’s love of fashion. Since graduating, Razan has dedicated herself exclusively to this field, and developing her own clothing line. Rather than abandoning her art roots, Razan’s education paved the way for creating articles of clothing that are not only creative and original but sculptural as well and which heavily draw on her earlier influences.
Razan’s clothing is all about exuding the femininity, delicacy and grace of the female form. Razan derives most of her inspiration from the natural poise of women. Playful and elegant, the use of soft luxurious textures is dominant and allows for movement in her designs. The combination of chiffon and silk lends to the idea of women as soft, ethereal beings, which only enhances their femininity. The unique hand beaded pieces of the collection reflect the meticulousness, layers, and detail that have gone into creating each of Razan’s signature flowers. Razan’s pieces maintain sculptural and artistic integrity, as well as transport the wearer into the glamorous and sophisticated realm.
Products: Clothing such as kaftans and dresses, jewelry and shoes
Website: https://razanalazzouni.com/
Instagram: @razanalazzouni
Chador
Chador is a clothing line designed with style and comfort in mind. Specializing in abayas and traditional Arabic dresses, Chador has set out to create timeless, high quality classic and sophisticated designs.
Chador was established in 2013 By Nora Aldamer (Parsons NY Graduate). Nora decided to enter the fashion industry due to the high demand for traditional clothing with top international standards. Coming from the same background and having the same needs as many Middle-Eastern women, made her know what the market was lacking and the brand quickly made its name in her hometown of Riyadh.
Nora was able to attract the modern woman in this traditional society that didn’t find what suited her contemporary taste. The dramatic change in the brand in the last year made her eager to improve and expand this sophisticated brand to other clothing categories and accessories.
Products: Abayas, traditional Arabic clothing
Website: chador.com.sa
Instagram: @chador
Sleysla
Sleysla was founded by Princess Fahda Bint Saud as a project under Al-Faisalya Women’s Welfare Society in 2004, with the intention of keeping traditional Saudi crafts alive through incorporating them into modern products. Sleysla was established as an attempt to improve the economic conditions of young Saudi women, solve the issues of poverty and unemployment, while also encouraging the appreciation and knowledge of products. This allowed for new markets and job opportunities to open up for women weavers of palm fronds around the Kingdom. Sleysla’s name and reputation, as a Saudi brand is known around the Kingdom, and in the Gulf region, and appreciated for its modernized, Saudi designs, and perfection of handmade products, and seasonal fashion collections. With sustainability, original designs, and the empowerment of Saudi women in mind, Sleysla has created its distinctive Saudi identity.
The products featured include eco-friendly handbags made of Sadu weave patterns with palm frond and palm fibre weaving, Sleysla original patterns and designs fabric printed on silk screen cloth, handmade pottery, high quality in-house hand-printed fabrics designed with modernized traditional Saudi motifs, and traditional hand embroidered pieces.
Products: Home decor, handbags, clothing, pottery and accessories
Website: sleysla.com
Instagram: @sleysla
Turquoise Mountain
Turquoise Mountain is a non-profit organization dedicated to the craftwork of Saudi artisans and the preservation of Saudi heritage crafts. With a focus on the importance of preserving and developing endangered crafts of Saudi Arabia, they have toured the country to find skilled artisans and provided the essential training, budget, and marketing for those artisans to thrive in the current market. A large portion of the profit from the handicrafts goes back to the artisans themselves, so they can be empowered and motivated to participate. Currently, you can support Saudi artisans by purchasing their product in Sogha, a retail store located at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence in the Diplomatic Quarter.
Products: Household items, jewelry.
Website: https://www.turquoisemountain.org/arabia
Instagram: @Turquoisemountainarabia
Lamb & Lu
Lamb & Lu is a passion project that is designed to bring sentiment back to daily jewelry. Founded by two long-term friends who share a mutual love for fine jewelry, Lamb & Lu celebrates personal connections by introducing their new approach to jewelry retail. Their jewelry are all minimalist, classic and well-curated to fit the needs of beautiful everyday wear.
Today, Lamb & Lu is an exclusive fine jewelry destination in the Gulf, and houses a number of local, regional, and international fine jewelry designers. Making everyday jewelry widely available within the GCC.
Products: Fine jewelry
Website: lambandlu.com
Instagram: @lambandlu
Studio 23
A young brand based in Riyadh, Studio 23 has been doing collaborative projects with other Saudi brands and occasionally releasing t-shirts and posters for the past 9 years. In early 2020, the brand launched independently. Studio 23’s designs focus on daily streetwear, with their aesthetic based on celebrating retro Arabian typography and infusing 80s/90s style.
Products: Graphic shirts, hoodies, athleisure wear
Website: 23-id.com/
Instagram: @studio23.sa
Chahine Jewelry
Chahine Jewelry is a fine jewelry brand based in Saudi Arabia. Passionate about jewelry, Chahine showcases hand-picked fine jewelry in the latest designs, trends, and fashion to be worn as everyday jewelry.
Products: Fine jewelry
Website: chahinejewelry.com
Instagram: @chahinejewelry
Zah Jewelry
Zah Jewelry is a carefully curated jewelry platform. Designed to bring sentiment back to daily jewelry, with the aim to make classic, understated, second-skin jewelry easily accessible to the effortless minimalist.
Zah Jewelry is an exclusive fine jewelry destination and houses a number of local fine jewelry designers, making everyday jewelry widely available.
Products: Fine jewelry
Instagram: @zahjewelry
Muse Rawan
Muse Rawan was launched in the last quarter of 2016 by Rawan Alsehli, a Saudi designer with a degree in fashion and accessories design who followed her passion in jewelry design.
Rawan’s Ohain pendants are inspired by the Ohain mountains, in the province of Hanakiyah, east of Medina. The mountain is known for its unique shape and features drawings of animals, plants and humans along with Thamudic inscriptions – all indicative of an ancient civilization. Her collaboration between artist, photographer, and explorer Moath Alofi is an ode to the richness of the desert, the beautiful rocks, inscriptions, and heritage of Saudi Arabia.
The daily wearable Musnad script inspired pendants, explains the designer, symbolises an ancient language developed around 9th century BC.
The Minaret earrings are adapted from the architectural silhouette of minarets, the multiplicity of layers, and different angles. “I changed the often-seen cylindrical shape to one that aligns better to the ear. Crescents too figure above the minarets of the mosques to indicate sanctity.” She drew on the repeated forms and the Islamic eight-pointed star, revisiting it in her own style. Architecture played a key role, in the form of the Prophet’s Mosque, for her Masjidi line. “I want to change the gold market that is replete with designs that have no art or life. So, I meld the art that I see and inspires me with my distinct vision for jewellery.”
Their most popular products among the Diplomatic Quarter’s community are their cufflinks. Two-eyed statue cufflinks are based on the two-eyed statue which is located in Taima and dates back to the fourth and fifth century BC. The man of suffering cufflinks are based on one of the most significant archaeological treasures in Saudi Arabia. The mysterious Suffering Man dates back to 4000 B.C. and was founded in Al-Khafa village near Hail.
Products: Fine jewelry, cufflinks
Instagram: @muserawan
Najeel Perfumes
Najeel Perfumes was established earlier this year, inspired by the Vetiver, an aromatic plant for perfumery. Their fragrances are inspired by popular aromatics in refreshing combinations. Najeel’s ‘leather’ fragrance has undertones of amber and tunica, their ‘fresh spice’ fragrance contains base tones of jasmine, oud and vanilla sandalwood while the ‘floral’ scent contains hints of raisin and oud to balance the rose and ameryllis fragrances. All these intriguing smells and more are available on their social media pages and can be ordered over Whatsapp.
Products: Perfumes
Instagram: @najeel_perfumes
Deem Perfume
Deem Perfume was established in 2017. The perfume library aims to create happiness for its customers and sell the finest quality perfumes and home fragrance. Deem is distributed by Modern Perfume Company which has over 20 years of experience in the perfumes industry. This specialization with expertise in the local market has allowed Deem to create distinctive and rare perfumes that reflect the sophisticated and distinctive taste of Saudi customers.
At Deem, perfumes are selected and formulated from the highest quality perfume ingredients characterized by the protocols of safety and standards of the international perfume The passion, professionalism and dedication to provide customers with fragrances that compliment the daily and special occasion needs of the regional market distinguishes Deem from other experienced perfume brands.
The best seller of Deem Perfume is Baby Powder Perfume, which takes you on a sensory journey back to the innocent, comforting childhood days. Suitable for all ages, this powdery scent is elegant, relaxing and simple. Deem Perfume has on its library more than 36 different scents with components used from all across nature and from around the globe, each taking you on their own unique journey.
Products: Perfumes
Website: deem.shop
Instagram: @deem_perfume
Coco Sabon
Established in 2015, Coco Sabon features handmade luxurious skincare from natural ingredients. Influenced by Arabian culture, scents and regional ingredients, the brand was created to provide a local natural skincare line for those who are looking to avoid harsh chemicals in their everyday care routine.
Indulge yourself in your own beautiful self care rituals with their fragrant and relaxing bath bombs, deeply moisturizing and nourishing creams, gentle soaps, and luxurious body oils. Oriental ingredients blended into handcrafted products that offer you a beautifully simple yet deeply sensuous and meaningful skin care experience.
Products: Soaps, body oils, bath bombs
Website: cocosabon.com
Instagram: @cocosabon
Teak Woodwork
Established in 2015, Teak Woodwork was opened to create high quality and artistic furniture where each piece is customizable to fit your personal needs and expectations. This high-end bespoke furniture designer is known for their elegant, sleek, and modern style. When styling or furnishing a space, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the wide selection of items. Creating a cohesive look can be an even bigger challenge. Working with a furniture designer like Teak Woodwork allows you to consult the expert artisans who pay close attention to your sense of style and needs, and help you come up with timeless designs. Providing you with a great array of classic and statement items, Teak Woodwork is the ultimate solution to creating the sophisticated and refreshingly serene home of your dreams. An epitome of classy luxury furniture, Teak Woodwork tailors each product to celebrate your style.
Teak Woodwork’s owner and designer Deema Aljaafari finds inspiration in many different ways and from many different places for her designs. “It could be nature or pieces of art, and sometimes I find inspiration from the simplest thing you can imagine.”
Created from solid wood such as oak, high-quality veneers, pure leather, and stainless steel which then has handcrafted details added by artisans, your furniture receives great attention to detail to ensure the highest quality finish every time.
Products: Custom-made furniture
Instagram: @TeakWoodwork
