Saudi Fashion Commission, RLC Global Forum Collaborate on Riyadh-based Initiatives

The Saudi Fashion Commission and RLC Global Forum are creating another attraction for leaders across fashion, retail, investment and policy.

The two parties are collaborating to bolster Riyadh’s “growing role as an international meeting point for shaping the future of the fashion industry,” according to a joint statement. The collaboration will kick off with a series of initiatives that take place in tandem with the RLC Global Forum on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4. The specifics of those initiatives have yet to be revealed.

“Fashion today is deeply connected to global culture, capital and influence. This collaboration creates a space for meaningful dialogue between international leaders and the wider fashion ecosystem. It reflects our commitment to building a globally engaged, future-focused fashion sector that is open, connected, and ready for long-term growth,” Burak Cakmak, Saudi Fashion Commission’s chief executive officer, said in the statement.

Panos Linardos, chairman of RLC Global Forum, added, “This collaboration brings fashion into broader global conversations around investment, leadership and transformation. Working alongside the Fashion Commission, we look forward to contributing to a platform that connects ideas, markets and decision makers shaping the future of the industry.”

The collaboration is meant to be ongoing, rather than focused on any single date or event. “It will connect leaders from fashion houses, retail groups, investment institutions and the public sector, fostering dialogue that links creativity with economic growth and long-term sector development,” the statement said.

According to the RLC Global Forum’s website, anticipated speakers include newly minted Saks Global CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Marco Bizzarri, Kiko Milano’s Simone Dominici, Bernstein analyst Luca Solca, Selfridges Group’s André Maeder and more.

Riyadh has become a hotbed of apparel-related activity in recent years, with the third edition of Riyadh Fashion Week taking place last October. That year, WWD inaugurated its first Global Fashion & Beauty Summit in partnership with Fashion Futures.