Saudi costume designer recalls five decades of creativity

Cairo: With more than five decades of traditional costume designs under his belt, Hassan bin Ghaith has a lot to reveal about his evocative career.

Having inherited the profession from his ancestors, Saudi citizen Bin Ghaith said he has been keen to make the traditional attires more attractive and highly treasured.
“Folk costumes are associated with the two Eid and important occasions,” he told the Saudiah TV channel, referring to the Islamic festivals of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha.

“This is our family’s profession, which I decided to develop and transform into folklore. I also decided to develop a reference for expensive and precious fashion pieces.”
The seasoned professional explained that he has innovated a reference about the authentic types of clothing that uphold the heritage and national identity.
“Traditional Eid costumes include those of children and embroidered pieces that exude distinction and vibrancy,” he said. “Children are the stars of the Eids. The Eid clothes are noted for movement and should be different from the everyday clothing,” he argued.

Bin Ghaith staunchly advocated the heritage attires.
“The past is lovely and should not be tampered with. We should not labour under the illusion that things coming to us from abroad are better than ours. We have beautiful costumes that carry our heritage and our folks’ memories. They make our civilization different from others.”

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has placed increasing emphasis on national identity and heritage.

Since 2022, February 22 has been designated as Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day and an official holiday.

This day commemorates the establishment of the first Saudi state in 1727 by Imam Mohammad bin Saud, aiming to forge a stronger connection between present-day Saudis and their national heritage.
The Founding Day anniversary typically features cultural and folk festivities, spotlighting the kingdom’s rich heritage spanning three centuries.