From Runway to Reform: The Saudi Fashion is Engineering a Multibillion-Dollar Ecosystem
By: Samar Yahya
Riyadh – Asdaf News:
During the recent RLC Global Forum, Burak Cakmak, CEO Saudi Fashion Commission, spoke to Asdaf News on the value of the RLC Global Forum as a key moment for the retail industry to come together and discuss what’s happening globally. The Saudi edition is especially focused on the Gulf region and understanding the potential of the Saudi market for international brands. It’s also a chance for the Commission to showcase what’s happening with local businesses, both from a retailer and local brand perspective.
Cakmak explained that when the Commission started its journey, there wasn’t a strong focus on the fashion industry. The Commission launched diverse initiatives to formalize engagement, create programs, and document local brands. Cakmak expressed his pride in saying the Commission worked with over 300 Saudi brands in the past four and a half years, which surprises many people. Cakmak noted that the Commission discovered a wide range of product categories, not just thobes and abayas, but now there is a strong growth in leather goods, accessories, jewelry, traditional and contemporary fashion, and even beauty and fragrance. These brands are growing, attracting investments, opening stores, expanding online, and entering international platforms like Farfetch and Net-A-Porter.
On the role of the Fashion Commission to support these brands, Cakmak commented that the Commission is both a regulator and an enabler, where programs are created, such as Saudi 100 Brands and Riyadh Fashion Week, to connect local brands with global experts. The Commission provides knowledge on business strategy, merchandising, online sales, international markets, pricing, and marketing, in addition to organizing platforms like Fashion Week to help brands showcase their work to the public and industry, including retailers who may consider partnerships, distribution, or opening stores in key locations across the country.
Cakmak agreed that the Commission works with entrepreneurs and startups as its core focus because aiming to identify the next multi-million or multi-billion dollar brands. Parallel, the Commission works with the entire ecosystem, including retailers, to name a few: Shalhoub and Naomi. While they don’t necessarily need help to improve their businesses, they benefit from insights. The Commission publishes annual reports and data analytics, and works as a catalyst connecting entrepreneurs, startups, and key players to collaborate and grow together.
On the alignment of Fashion Commission vision with Saudi Vision 2030, Cakmak reflected the substantial achievement of putting Saudi fashion on the map, creating infrastructure, and establishing an annual calendar of key industry events. He indicated how Vision 2030 is centered on Saudi talent and creatives, especially with most of the population under 35 years. The Commission has formalized a sector that didn’t previously exist. Today, aspiring fashion entrepreneurs have access to many resources and programs. The Commission brought top international institutions, like Istituto Marangoni from Milan, to Saudi Arabia, now operating at KAFD. The Commission organizes local and international events, supports brand participation in global industry moments, and measures impact through the annual reports. In 2025, the Saudi fashion industry, including beauty, reached $32 billion USD, representing 2.6% of GDP.
Cakmak concluded that the next steps will be continuing to grow and project the industry to reach $40 billion USD by 2029. Through partnerships with the Ministry of Investment and the Ministry of Industry, the Commission is encouraging international brands entering the Saudi market and ensuring that local brands benefit from this growth, gain recognition, and continue to expand their businesses.
