Dose Smilarity
means Plaragism?
At GEJ, we believe originality isn’t about being new. It’s about seeing things differently.
IDENTICAL IDENTICAL
IDENTICAL IDENTICAL IDENTICAL IDENTICAL IDENTICAL IDENTICAL
Saudi Designers
Similarities to the International.
“There is no such thing as an original idea.” — Mark Twain
Every season, especially after Riyadh Fashion Week, the same comments echo across social media: “Isn’t that look similar to Saint Laurent?” “That’s basically another Schiaparelli outfit.”
But maybe — just maybe — similarity isn’t the enemy.
Fashion Similarities do not me Fashion Similarities do not m
In fashion, ideas are always moving, changing, and inspiring new ones. What we see on a runway today often comes from art, culture, history — or even another designer. This doesn’t mean copying. It means learning and creating something new from what already exists.
During Riyadh Fashion Week, people compared local designs to famous brands like Saint Laurent or Valentino. They said, “This looks similar,” or “I’ve seen this before.” But the truth is, every great designer has been inspired by someone else. What matters is how they use that inspiration — how they add their own touch, their own story, their own emotion.
When Saudi designers take ideas seen around the world and reshape them through their own culture, they’re not copying
— they’re joining a global conversation. Originality isn’t about being completely new; it’s about turning something familiar into something personal.
mean imitation mean imitation
Fashion Is a not a Competition Fashion grows when people share ideas. Designers learn from one another, build on trends, and give them new meaning. That’s what makes fashion exciting — it’s always evolving.
Simply, fashion doesn’t belong to one person or one country. It belongs to everyone who adds something new to it.
If you look closely at fashion history, you’ll see that everything is inspired by something else Designs evolve through time, reinterpreting old silhouettes, fabrics, and ideas In fact, originality in fashion rarely means creating something completely new it means giving existing ideas a new meaning, shape, or story
As writer Paul Letourneau explains in his essay “Innovation Isn’t About Being Original, It’s About Seeing Differently”, the goal isn’t to invent from nothing, but to see familiar things through a new lens. That’s how creativity grows by layering perspectives rather than erasing history.
True originality doesn’t mean doing something no one has ever done before it means doing it with purpose Riyadh Fashion Week 2025 showed how Saudi designers are becoming part of this global exchange Instead of asking “Who did it first?”, we should ask “Who did it with meaning?” Because creativity isn’t about being first it’s about being real
When two collections loo alike, it doesn’t mean one has less value. It shows how ideas can travel from Paris to Riyadh, from designer to designer changing along the way
Think of it like painting
Two artists might both paint the ocean, but their work will never be the same. Their colors, brushstrokes, and emotions make each painting unique. Fashion works the same way Designers may share a concept, but their details the fabric, the fit, the feeling make it their own
York built their names in fashion through strong voices and bold creativity Now, Riyadh is joining them, not by imitation , but by contribution.
The Saudi fashion scene is growing fast Designers are experimenting, learning, and showing that they belong on the global stage. Riyadh 3rd edition Fashion Week has become more than a local event; it’s an evidence of change Each collection adds to the story of what Saudi fashion could, should and would be Saudi designers are learning global styles minimalism, structure, tailoring but speaking them with a local & culture accent That mix of global influence and local identity is what makes Saudi fashion truly special.
Beyond the Cultural Frame
Saudi designers often use cultural elements (embroidery, abayas, desert colors) to show pride in their roots
These are powerful symbols, but lately, many collections look similar
So we ask: should Saudi designers continue focusing only on culture, or should they start exploring more personal, modern identities?
In our upcoming article, GEJ will explore how Saudi fashion can move from cultural storytelling to personal expression. We’ll discuss how designers can honor their heritage while creating new identities that stand out globally
True creativity might not just be about showing where you’re from, but showing who you are
IG: @gejmagazine
Email: gejmagazine@gmail com
