Vogue Arabia editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut. Photo: Ziga Mihelcic
Many decades ago, Diana Vreeland, one of the most revered fashion figures of the past century and an iconic Vogue editor, coined the term Youthquake. Thee year was 1965 and Vreeland, with her usual tenacity, found the perfect word that de ned all the revolutionary changes that completely transformed fashion, music, and pop culture in the 1960s. Considering its extremely young and determined population, I truly believe that Arabia is experiencing its own Youthquake. Every day I hear about a new artist, musician, fashion designer, entrepreneur… This energy really excites me and makes me thankful for living in a part of the world where things move forward.
To celebrate Arabia’s creative community and youth, we are hosting for the first time ever a two-day event, open to the public, in Al Balad. In the heart of Jeddah’s Unesco-protected historical district, we have put together an incredible program full of performances by Saudi creatives and talks with Saudi designers, but also activations by international brands that want to celebrate the city’s youth. It will be fun, engaging, and an incredible moment to connect with Vogue on different levels. All the Vogue team will wait for you there, along with the fabulous Saudi cast of this month’s cover, so I hope to see you on February 8 and 9.
Also attending our event will be the new cast of season two of the AlRawabi School for Girls, shot exclusively for our February cover too. As you know, this series created a true revolution in Arab TV, targeting topics such as self-esteem and mental wellbeing. I’m excited to see the development of this show that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of Arabia’s teen world.
Lastly, my heartfelt congratulations to Iraqi singer Rahma Riad, who chose Vogue to reveal the sex of her unborn baby. On the radio or on TV, with an incredible voice and personality to match, Riad is one of the most loved stars in the region. Do you want to know if she’s having a boy or a girl? Turn to the next pages and enjoy your reading.•
Originally published in the February 2024 issue of Vogue Arabia
