Bridging the gap between streetwear and high-end fashion. Saudi designer Arwa Al banawi is an eclectic mix of contrasts, blending contemporary “EAST MEETS WEST PERSPECTIVES” with traditional tailoring. Through her brand, Al Banawi advocates for women’s empowerment and cultural communication in the Arab world.
Her international travels instilled a deep appreciation for fashion. She saw a gap in the market for women’s professional and fashion forward clothing for young business women as a former investment banker. In 2015, she launched her namesake brand after studying at the Dubai-based London College of Fashion. In Arabic writing, AL BANAWI’S urban-tailed suits and statement tees have appeared in VOGUE, The New York Times, GRAZIA, Marie Claire, and on street style stars all over the world.
Arwa Al Banawi, a Saudi fashion designer, started her brand in 2015, when very few Saudi designers were entering the international market. Seven years later, she is relaunching with a fresh perspective that reflects the market of today. Arwa Al Banawi has reworked and realigned her brand values in response to the post-COVID demand for digital capabilities and a growing interest in sustainability to ensure that her business is current, relevant, and appealing to consumers today. Arwa launched her Resort 2022-23 collection back in September. The collection is a collection of pieces that are influenced by her mother and her upbringing in both Western and Eastern cultures. We learn more about the brand’s latest collection and future plans here.
In the interest of sustainability, they have rebranded. The world is focusing on strengthening their company’s core values by being sustainable, which is really beautiful because sustainability is a very important topic in every industry, not just fashion. During a time when the world seemed to have slowed down, the COVID period gave Arwa a chance to consider her sustainability strategy. They have been zeroing in on this in conditions of working with less paper with regards to their bundling, utilizing more maintainable materials and so on. In order to avoid overproduction, Al Banawi also introduced a pre-order model for her new collections. By not working on consignment deals, for instance, they are currently only collaborating with retailers that stand to gain from this model. They are fully focused and have regained their power by examining these elements and perfecting them in the way they are working. That is where their core values have been realigned, and Al Banawi is so proud and happy that they reached to this level.
The woman Al Banawi plans to design for is independent and confident. A women who enjoys both being stylish and wearing something practical and with a story. Also a woman who enjoys traveling, sophisticated and appreciates wearing authentic and custom made clothing. AL Banawi’s main goal is to make women feel confident and beautiful “She doesn’t shy away from speaking her mind or speaking her mind.” Al Banawi added, “Her fearlessness is the most gorgeous instrument, (for me excellence is incomplete without self-assurance).”
Al Banawi’s development has definitely been primarily business-related. She wanted to tell the world about her story when she started the brand. Her perception is that her comprehension of the business aspect of fashion has developed significantly over time. “I’m glad I’ve learned how to understand how to grow my business as well as your brand as it expands.” Said Al Banawi
