October went by in a blink with runways all across the world keeping us busy. Regionally, social events have been keeping us busy. With international brands shifting their focus, the MENA region is being propelled to be just as globally relevant as its European peers. If you have no idea what we’re talking about, here’s a recap.
From Stella McCartney closing Riyadh Fashion Week to Maison Margiela developing exclusive residences at Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, here are all the fashion news scoops you may have missed.
Stella McCartney At Riyadh Fashion Week
Closing Riyadh Fashion Week’s third edition, and arguably its most international-focused show yet, was British label Stella McCartney. Held at King Abdullah Financial District, guests were welcomed to a new office tower, vacant for the designer to present her very first show in the Middle East. The show itself was a curation of past and present collections—AW25, SS26, and McCartney’s Ramadan capsule collection that is exclusively designed for the Middle East. It was a celebration of McCartney’s signature silhouettes: pantsuits with dramatic shoulders, gowns with cheeky cutouts, heavily sequined creations that danced along the light, the label’s signature Rider and Falabella bags neatly tucked under the arm, lacquered boots, and animal print jackets that don’t involve a single animal all appeared on the runway.
Committed to her ethos of sustainable luxury, McCartney explained the compositions of her looks in a 12-page booklet titled “Eco Fact Sheet 2025”, given to the guests before the start of the show. The booklet revealed the fashion industry’s impact on the environment and McCartney’s commitment to using animal-free, low-impact materials. Some of which were Yatay M, a vegan material made from fungal mycelium which is used as an alternative to leather, Sequinova, which are plant-based sequins derived from wood, as well as sustainably sourced viscose, biodegradable mesh and regenerated silk.
As such, the finale not only complemented the Kingdom’s vision for international visibility but also their approach to sustainability, as they focus on creating a fashion eco-system that’s both innovative in its design as well as being green.
H&M x Glenn Martens Launch
Another H&M collaboration to add to the wishlist, the latest one being with Glenn Martens, the Belgian designer behind Y/Project, Diesel, and Maison Margiela. The capsule collection takes a spin at H&M’s archive through Martens’ sculptural, offbeat lens. Wired shirts, sculptural denim, and voluminous ruffled boots nodded to his time at Y/Project, whereas satin dresses, skirts, and tops referenced trompe l’oeil, one of Margiela’s signature codes.
While the collection is set to launch on Thursday, October 30, a launch party celebrating the collection took place at French restaurant Le Guepard at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. With candlelight and baroque decor, the French eatery was transformed into a moody canvas spotlighting Martens’ designs. Featuring regional influencers, Emirati content creators Mohammed and Humaid Hadban, and our cover star, Ameni Esseibi, guests had the chance to get up close and personal with the clothes. It was then followed by a three-course dinner and a curated dessert spread featuring local and international sweet treats, dressed up in dramatic fashion with crimson roses.
Huda Beauty to Sponsor Miss Universe Palestine
Just last week, Huda Beauty announced that they will be partnering as a sponsor with Miss Universe Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub. The announcement came on Instagram with Huda Beauty mentioning in the caption, “This moment is so much bigger than pageantry. It’s about strength, pride, and representation.” This announcement reinforces Huda Kattan’s ongoing commitment to supporting Palestine and its creatives.
Making history as the first-ever Palestinian representative, Nadeen Ayoub is a model, wellness advocate, and founder of the Olive Green Academy and Sayidat Falasteen Foundation. She has been a steady champion of sustainability, education, and pushing for progress for women in Palestine. Her participation will be both a form of representation and an act of resilience against the genocide in Gaza. This November, she will be competing with 130 entrants, representing Palestinian pageantry and glamour on the world stage, featuring a full beat, courtesy of Huda Beauty.
Maison Margiela Residences at Palm Jumeirah
Venturing into residential living, fashion house Maison Margeila has partnered with ALTA Real Estate Development to create 25 bespoke residential units at Palm Jumeirah. Aiming to redefine how we inhabit space, the units will echo the Margeila spirit by using the Maison’s codes of deconstruction, trompe-l’oeil, and transformation.
While new in practice, the house is quite familiar with architectural design. Its spatial identity can be seen on its sets, retail and office spaces, as well as its interior design for the La Maison Champs Élysées hotel. Now, along with renowned Italian architect Carlo Colombo, we can expect bespoke furniture curated to pair perfectly with the building’s interiors, creating an ambience that’s both fashionable, artistically inclined, and rooted in luxury living.
The launch was celebrated with an intimate candlelit dinner at Jumeirah Marsa al Arab. Featuring regional content creators, industry experts, and friends of the brand, guests got a first look at the vision of the residences while also celebrating the unique, one-of-a-kind collaboration.
Coccinelle x Peanuts
Coccinelle’s latest drop will instantly makes you smile. The Italian leather label has teamed up with Peanuts to celebrate the comic strip’s 75th anniversary—and yes, Snoopy, Lucy, and Linus all make an appearance.
The capsule keeps things simple but smart with three everyday pieces—a shopping bag, raincoat, and bucket hat—all rendered in sleek coated fabrics made from recycled polyester. Each comes in its own character-coded shade, Midnight Blue for Lucy, Greenery for Linus, and Snow for Snoopy.
Launched October 13, this one’s for anyone who believes fashion should have a sense of humour, and heart.
HUGO x Jujutsu Kaisen
From one surprising collab to another, HUGO has collaborated with anime company Crunchyroll to release a capsule collection focused on the wildly popular anime series Jujutsu Kaisen. Blending HUGO’s contemporary style with the dynamic visuals of the anime universe, the collection features womenswear and menswear that incorporate the anime through bold graphics, iconic imagery and scenes, and character cutouts. HUGO’s tailoring elevates each piece to be a stylish statement, embodying the aesthetics and visual language of the anime.
The collection is available to shop at hugoboss.com and at HUGO stores globally.
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 Launch
Launching their latest running shoe, the PUMA Velocity NITRO 4, the brand decided to highlight the latest release by taking running to a higher level. At 4 AM, the brand introduced an activation to athletes and influencers—letting them run wild 219 meters above the ground at the Sky Views Edge Walk, Address Sky View Hotel. In partnership with XDubai, treadmills were installed on the Edge Walk’s platform suspended high above the city. With the views of the skyline, runners were able to understand how Velocity NITRO 4 improves breathability and traction while also enjoying the sunrise and that infamous ‘Runner’s High’.
You can find the PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 at PUMA stores, puma.com, and PUMA partner retail stores across the region.
