Saudi Mohammed Ashi The first Gulf designer to join the Haute Couture Federation

Ashi: This development is the most important thing that has happened in my career. Archival

Saudi fashion designer Mohammed Ashi has joined the French Haute Couture Federation, becoming the first fashion designer from a Gulf country to join this prestigious union.

On the sixth of July, he will organize his first fashion show «Ashi Studio», as part of the official shows of Paris Fashion Week.

"This development is the most important thing that has happened in my career," Ashi said in a statement, adding: "This recognition is very moving and provides me with an opportunity to share who I am with the public."

Ashi has already signed designs for many celebrities on the red carpet, including Deepika Padukone, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. He launched his fashion label in Beirut in 2007 and moved to Paris in 2018.

In a previous interview with AFP, Ashi noted that he never touched on his nationality, partly because of shyness; he still prefers not to take selfies, but also because of the fact that wearing clothes in Western fashion was largely taboo in public.

"In the nineties of the 20th century, I was the only Saudi fashion designer, but I never said I was Saudi. I wanted the clothes to be in the front, not me."

Ashi has been welcomed and appreciated in Saudi Arabia as an advisor to the Government Fashion Commission, which was established in 2020 to help develop a local fashion industry.

• Ashi has already signed designs for many celebrities on the red carpet, including Deepika Padukone, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.