All eyes are on the Saudi Cup 2021, not only because of the equestrian competition's significance, but also because it is an occasion for the celebration of high-end traditional Saudi fashion, which is the dress code for attendees per the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture's Fashion Commission.
According to Dr. Layla al-Bassam, a heritage expert who teaches the history of traditional Saudi fashion and textiles at the Prince Noura bint Abdulrahman University, the Cup's dress code covers five Saudi areas.
The main aesthetic options for women are the Maqtaa, Thobe and Abaya, which differ from one region to another, while men can choose between the Daqla and Saya.
Headwear is also part of the dress code. Women are advised to wear a straw hat inspired by Asir's heritage, the embroidered and draped headdress popular with brides, or incorporate traditional designs by adding metals and jewelry or layers of cloth decorated with yarn.
Bassam, who is also on the Saudi Heritage Commission's board of directors, believes that traditional attire remains visible in Saudi society, especially among men, saying that reviving Saudi outfit would inspire male and female designers.
She added that high-end traditional clothing featuring in the Saudi Cup is a strong gesture that signals a drive to maintain heritage and revive this attire, which she says is an expansion of Islamic fashion.
She also explained that the Daqla, Saya and the Mroden were worn regularly by men, as is apparent in many pictures of kings and princes, but they have recently been abandoned for the Bisht. All of these garments, she concludes, are "a symbol of our civilization and an embodiment of our character."
