Saudi Arabia’s Growing Fashion Ecosystem Anchors a Sustainable Industry Future

With established textile giants like Türkiye, India, and China dominating global supply chains, how does Saudi Arabia plan to position itself as a credible player in this space? 
Filiz Karakul: We do not seek to replicate the models of Türkiye, India, or China. Instead, through the Saudi Fashiontex Expo, we are establishing a new regional fashion hub built on the pillars of innovation, quality, and sustainability. Saudi Arabia’s competitive advantage lies in its strategic logistics infrastructure, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and pro-business reforms that facilitate and simplify foreign investment.

By positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional hub, the Saudi Fashiontex Expo aims to foster integration between international industry leaders and local producers, creating a platform for mutual benefit and shared growth. This collaborative approach promotes the exchange of expertise, technology, and best practices, enabling Saudi Arabia to align with global standards while developing specialized, high-value segments such as technical textiles, sustainable materials, and luxury fashion manufacturing.

Regional sourcing has its own bottlenecks — from access to raw materials to labour force readiness. What specific gaps do you see in the Saudi textile value chain today, and how does the Expo aim to address them? 
Filiz Karakul: It’s true that the Saudi textile value chain is still evolving — from raw material sourcing to skilled labor. Saudi Fashiontex Expo plays a key role in addressing these gaps by facilitating knowledge exchange, B2B partnerships, and technology transfer. Through seminars and the fashion show during the event, we connected local entrepreneurs with international experts in fiber innovation, sustainable dyeing, and automation. Each edition helps to close the gap between ambition and capability.

Sustainability and circularity have become non-negotiable in the textile sector. What pressure points do you see for Saudi producers and traders on this front, given the country’s energy profile and manufacturing set-up? 
Filiz Karakul: Sustainability is both a challenge and an opportunity for Saudi producers. Given the Kingdom’s energy-intensive economy, the transition toward circularity is essential. Fortunately, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in renewable energy and green industrial zones, directly supporting more sustainable textile manufacturing.

At the Saudi Fashiontex Expo, the remarkable participation of exhibitors from Japan and the United Kingdom has already enabled access to cutting-edge sustainability practices, including eco-friendly materials, water-saving dyeing innovations, and recycling solutions. This collaboration reflects a growing shared commitment to advancing sustainability across the textile value chain.

The Gulf region has immense buying power, but much of the fashion consumed is imported. Do you see Saudi Fashiontex Expo as more of a platform to boost domestic production, or as a gateway for international players eyeing the Saudi and wider Middle East market? 
Filiz Karakul: The Saudi Fashiontex Expo serves both purposes. On one hand, it supports the development of domestic production capabilities by connecting Saudi businesses with suppliers and investors. On the other hand, it acts as a gateway for international brands and manufacturers seeking entry into one of the world’s fastest-growing fashion and retail markets. The event positions Saudi Arabia as the natural hub for fashion trade in the MEA region. Looking Forward – Building a Textile Future

Beyond trade exhibitions, how do you see this platform helping to nurture local talent — designers, textile engineers, or supply chain managers — who will be needed to build a sustainable industry? 
Filiz Karakul: Beyond trade, we see education and talent development as central to our mission. Through partnerships with universities, design schools, and industry associations, Saudi Fashiontex Expo creates tangible opportunities for aspiring designers, textile engineers, and supply chain specialists to engage with industry leaders and gain hands-on insights.

This year’s Vision Fashion Show embodied that mission, featuring ten designers — predominantly from Saudi Arabia, alongside participants from Morocco and Switzerland — showcasing their work to an international audience. In addition, the Designer Trend Zone highlighted innovative collections and emerging trends from across the region. Complementing these initiatives, the “Future of Fashion” seminar series hosted 23 sessions with over 60 speakers, exploring topics such as sustainability, smart fabrics, and digital innovation. Together, these programs position the Expo as a catalyst for nurturing the next generation of creative and technical talent driving Saudi Arabia’s fashion future.

Many expos remain transactional, with deals signed and booths showcased, but little long-term ecosystem building. How are you ensuring that Saudi Fashiontex Expo has a lasting impact rather than being a one-off spectacle? 
Filiz Karakul: The Saudi Fashiontex Expo was conceived not as a one-time showcase, but as the cornerstone of a long-term ecosystem for the Kingdom’s fashion and textile industry. The relationships and partnerships formed here extend far beyond the exhibition halls, driving continuous engagement throughout the year.

Through follow-up trade missions, digital matchmaking platforms, and sustained collaboration with both public and private stakeholders, we ensure that Saudi Fashiontex Expo’s impact endures well after the event concludes. Each edition builds upon the last — fostering continuity, innovation, and lasting value rather than momentary spectacle.

Finally, if we were to return three years from now, what do you hope will have changed in the Saudi textile and fashion industry as a result of this Expo — both within the Kingdom and in its international reputation? 
Filiz Karakul: Three years from now, we hope to see a fully integrated Saudi textile and fashion ecosystem — from raw materials and manufacturing to design, branding, and export. We envision Saudi-made textiles being embraced by regional designers, local brands competing globally, and the Kingdom recognized as a leader in sustainable, innovative, and culturally rooted fashion.

Through the Saudi Fashiontex Expo, we aim to accelerate this transformation by supporting the growth of Saudi fashion designers, strengthening both exports and imports, and enhancing the overall brand value of the Saudi fashion industry. By bringing together designers, manufacturers, and international partners each September in Jeddah, the exhibition continues to serve as a unifying platform — driving collaboration, innovation, and long-term industry development within the Kingdom and beyond.