Fashion didn’t sit still this year. It moved through pageants and palm groves, through regional runways and global boardrooms, reshaping how identity and industry speak to each other. If 2025 revealed anything, it’s that the region’s fashion moments now land with real consequence - who gets seen, who gets named, who steps onto which stage, and who claims ownership of the stories being told.

Some headlines unfolded in public glare, others in quiet board decisions, but together they mapped a year where representation, heritage, and financial power all shifted at once. Whether it was a Palestinian contestant stepping into a global spotlight, a British fashion house debuting in Riyadh, a regional entrepreneur expanding into Egypt, or a designer reclaiming authorship from colonial narratives, each moment added another layer to what fashion now means in the Middle East.

Nadeen Ayoub First Miss Palestine to Join Miss Universe

Nadeen Ayoub, crowned Miss Palestine 2022, became the first-ever representative of Palestine at Miss Universe, stepping onto the stage in Thailand in November with a mission to challenge stereotypes through visibility.

Vivienne Westwood’s MENA Debut at Riyadh Fashion Week

Riyadh Fashion Week went global as Vivienne Westwood opened its 2025 edition with the house’s first-ever MENA show, staged in a palm grove and featuring a Saudi artisan collaboration with Art of Heritage alongside SS26 looks and archival pieces.

Karen Wazen Expands to Egypt with Nationwide Eyewear Launch

Dubai-based designer and regional style figure Karen Wazen is partnering with Baraka Group to bring her eyewear label to Egypt. Dedicated Karen Wazen Eyewear boutiques are set to begin opening in early 2026, expanding to roughly 15–16 locations nationwide.

Montblanc Names Fatima AlBanawi Regional Brand Ambassador

Montblanc has named Fatima AlBanawi, the Saudi writer, director and actress, as its Regional Brand Ambassador for the Middle East, India and Africa.

Saudi Arabian Label Kaf by Kaf Launches Global Collection With Adidas

Saudi designer Kawthar Alhoraish, founder of Kaf by Kaf, introduces Lightbound, a sportswear collection for SS25 created in partnership with Adidas. Rooted in Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage, the collection brings together traditional design elements and functional, contemporary silhouettes.

Nour Arida Launches Sorbé Skin Care Brand Celebrating All The Feels

Lebanese-American model Nour Arida has long been a familiar face across luxury campaigns - from Audemars Piguet to Sephora - and on countless glossy covers. Now she’s sharing a vision of her own. She channels that ethos into Sorbé, her debut skincare venture, which moves away from the airbrushed performance of “perfect” and toward beauty rooted in genuine self-care - what Arida calls the “inclusivity of emotions.”

Egyptian Actor Nour El Nabawy’s Debuts Streetwear Label 'SOL&NEL'

Egyptian actor Nour El Nabawy launched Sol&Nel, a new streetwear label quietly emerging from Cairo’s expanding fashion scene.

Hadia Ghaleb Drops Five USD 30K Diamond & Gold 'Aleb Ghaleb' Sunnies

Hadia Ghaleb marked a new chapter with IRAM Jewelers by releasing just five “Al-Aleb Ghaleb” fine-jewelry sunglasses, crafted as collectible art pieces. Each pair was made with 18K gold and 355 diamonds, transforming a personal Arabic phrase into a maximal, meticulously engineered statement reserved for true collectors.

Saudi Actress Sarah Taibah Fronts Loewe’s First-Ever Ramadan Campaign

Loewe marked a new milestone with its first Ramadan collection, fronted by Saudi actress and filmmaker Sarah Taibah. Titled the Silver Capsule Collection, the campaign embraced fluid silhouettes and reimagined iconic bags and ready-to-wear through a Ramadan lens, with subtle visual cues around time and tradition echoing the rhythm and intimacy of the holy month.

Huda Kattan Reacquires Full Ownership of Huda Beauty

Huda Kattan, founder and co-CEO of Huda Beauty, has reacquired full ownership of her cosmetics brand by buying back the minority stake held by TSG Consumer Partners since 2017. The move ends an eight-year partnership with the private equity firm, returning Huda Beauty to complete founder ownership.

New York City's First Lady Rama Duwaji Wears Palestinian-Jordanian Designer Zeid Hijazi

Zohran Mamdani made history as New York’s first elected Muslim mayor, with Syrian-American illustrator Rama Duwaji by his side for her election-night debut. Dressed in black, she paired an embroidered top by Palestinian-Jordanian designer Zeid Hijazi—rooted in Palestinian folklore and Arab Futurism—with a velvet lace skirt by Ulla Johnson, using fashion as a quiet but intentional statement.

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