When it comes to personal grooming, it seems it is all about women, which is not very accurate. This perception has partly been formed since the markets are mostly full of beauty and personal care products for women.
This trend is, however, changing with several global and local brands offering grooming products for men. Layth Co. is one such company that offers natural beard grooming products such as oils, balm, mustache waxes.
Founded by Mansour Barri in 2019, the company’s products help in soothing men’s facial hair and skin, control beardruff (dandruff in beard) and gives beards healthier and nicer look. The company’s products are made of natural oils and butters. The idea of beard grooming came to Barri when one of his friends suggested he keep a beard, as it would look nice on him.
Barri told Arab News he acted on his friend’s advice and started growing a beard. He said he liked the idea and the changed look. After a few weeks, he entered the phase when he had to take care of his facial hair to maintain a tidy look. “I started to give it special attention and care and bought all sorts of products to maintain it.”
It was then Barri realized there was a shortage of beard grooming products in the Saudi market. This led him to launch his line of products to cater to the needs of an important market segment. He went to one of Jeddah’s famous salons and asked for beard oils. He was shocked when the barber told him he had never heard of such a thing. “I was shocked at that moment. How come that Arabs who are traditionally known for keeping beards never thought of beard care products? That incident sparked an idea in my head, why shouldn’t I introduce beard care products to the Arab world? There are a whole lot of beard product brands around the world, but only a few that are Arab.”
He immediately started contacting suppliers and comparing their oils and testing them on himself. Layth means male lion in Arabic, and for Barri a beard represents a lion’s mane. Barri is trying to break the stereotype that men do not take care of their appearance or that only women care about their image.
“I believe the opposite is happening, as most men that I know visit a salon once a week or every alternate week.” The company offers its products online via its web portal (www.layth.co). Products are shipped locally and internationally, and Barri hopes to expand his project with the launch of a salon that specializes in beard grooming and care. Keep up with the beard care brand on Instagram (@layth.co).
Startup of the Week: Natural products making beard maintenance easy
https://arab.news/4ywsy
Startup of the Week: Natural products making beard maintenance easy
- Founded by Mansour Barri in 2019, the company’s products help in soothing men’s facial hair and skin, control beardruff (dandruff in beard) and gives beards healthier and nicer look
Cara Delevingne wears Saudi label Ashi Studio
DUBAI: British actress and model Cara Delevingne wore a black gown by Saudi label Ashi Studio to the premiere of “La Venue de L’avenir” (“Colours of Time”) at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
The strapless gown featured a sleek, satin-like finish with a sculpted bodice that flowed into a straight, floor-length skirt, subtly draped at the hips. She paired the look with sheer black opera gloves for added drama.
Delevingne, her hair styled in soft waves, completed the ensemble with an emerald and diamond necklace and a matching ring from Hassanzadeh Jewellery.
Delevingne’s gown was originally presented during Paris Haute Couture Week as part of the brand’s Spring/Summer 2025 couture collection. The version shown on the runway was in blue.
Delevingne was not the only star dressed in designs by Saudi couturier Mohammed Ashi, founder of Ashi Studio.
Hong Kong-Taiwanese actress and model Shu Qi also championed the designer at the premiere of “Resurrection,” wearing a deep burgundy velvet gown from his Spring/Summer 2025 collection.
The strapless dress featured a sleek, form-fitting silhouette. Its standout element was the train at the back, adorned with intricate gold-thread embroidery depicting trees, birds, houses, rivers and other landscape details.
Ashi and his atelier have been based in Paris since 2018. In 2023, he became the first designer from the Gulf region to be invited as a guest member of the Federation de la Haute Couture in Paris, which allowed him to present on the official couture calendar.
In 2024, Ashi was commissioned to design the official cabin crew uniforms for Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national airline.
His designs have also been worn by a number of international public figures and performers, including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Penelope Cruz, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
He most recently dressed US actress Ali Ahn, star of Netflix’s “The Diplomat,” in a cream sculptural ensemble for the Screen Actors Guild Awards held in Los Angeles in February.
That same month, “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo also wore one of his creations to the 2025 Grammy Awards. Her look was from Ashi Studio’s Fall/Winter 2024-25 collection, titled “Sculpted Clouds.”
Fashion trailblazers honored at Riyadh awards
- Saudi Fashion Awards spotlight innovators and local talent
- Women’s Wear Daily collaborates to honor Saudi creatives
RIYADH: Women’s Wear Daily, in collaboration with the Saudi Fashion Commission, honored several creatives at an awards ceremony in Riyadh on Thursday.
Alessandro Sartori, artistic director of Zegna, was named International Designer of the Year, while Matteo Tamburini, creative director of Tod’s, received the International Brand of the Year award.
Patrick Ta, founder of Patrick Ta Beauty, was named International Beauty Innovator of the Year, and Glow Recipe was awarded International Beauty Brand of the Year.
Additional awards presented by the Saudi Fashion Commission celebrated the achievements of several Saudi Arabia brands and individuals.
Rawan Kattoa was named Fashion Stylist of the Year, Rayyan Nawawi received the Fashion Photographer of the Year award, and KML was recognized as Menswear Brand of the Year.
In addition, Abadia was named Womenswear Brand of the Year, Charmaleena as Jewelry Brand of the Year, and the Elite Model Honorary Award for Model of the Year went to Talida Tamer.
The judging panel included industry leaders Law Roach, Amanda Smith, Burak Cakmak, Xavier Romatet, Mohammed Aldabbageh, and Mai Badr.
In her acceptance speech, Kattoa said: “This award means so much to me. It represents a journey that started as a freelancer ... I want to thank my husband for his support, my parents for their inspiration, and all the creatives who made this possible.”
Ahmad Hassan, co-founder of KML, said: “This is such an award for the first time ... It means the world to us. Being recognized in our home country makes this achievement even more special.”
“We were born and raised here, and to have our work celebrated in Riyadh is a dream come true. This award inspires us to push boundaries and innovate in our designs,” he added.
Reflecting on the evolving fashion scene, Hassan said: “Events like this showcase the incredible talent we have in Saudi Arabia. It encourages us to keep creating and to elevate our craft.”
“We are committed to telling our story through fashion and contributing to this vibrant industry,” he added.
Dubai Fashion Week set to return this autumn
DUBAI: Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) is set to make its return this autumn with its series of Spring/Summer 2026 shows, running from Sept. 1 to 6 at its longtime home in Dubai Design District (d3).
As the first event on the international fashion calendar — ahead of New York, London, Milan, and Paris —DFW’s upcoming edition builds on the momentum of February’s Autumn/Winter 2025/26 showcase, which drew widespread attention with headline-grabbing appearances by international models and a grand finale by iconic Indian designer Manish Malhotra.
The season also spotlighted emerging regional voices, such as Les Benjamins, a correspondent member of the Arab Fashion Council, alongside global names like Paolo Sebastian.
Saudi Fashion Awards set for May 22 in Riyadh
DUBAI: The Saudi Fashion Commission is set to host the second edition of the Saudi Fashion Awards on May 22 in Riyadh.
The ceremony will celebrate the “visionaries, creatives, and entrepreneurs shaping Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing influence in the international fashion and beauty industries,” according to a released statement.
Key awards this year include the Fashion Stylist of the Year prize; the Fashion Photographer of the Year prize, presented in collaboration with Hia Magazine; the Menswear Brand of the Year trophy; the Womenswear Brand of the Year prize; the Jewelry Brand of the Year award; and the Elite Model Honorary Award for Model of the Year.
The judging panel includes Hollywood stylist Law Roach; Amanda Smith, CEO of Fairchild Media Group and WWD; Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission; Xavier Romatet, Dean of Institut Français de la Mode ; Mohammed Aldabbageh, KSA Managing Director of Chalhoub Group; and Mai Badr, Editor-in-Chief of Hia Magazine.
“Riyadh is proudly emerging as the capital of fashion, beauty, and the future of the creative industries in the region. Its transformation from promise to global presence on red carpets, runways, and retail spaces reflects the ingenuity and dedication of a new generation of trailblazers redefining regional and international fashion standards,” Çakmak said in a released statement.
Rawdah Mohamed walks the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival
DUBAI: Somali Norwegian model Rawdah Mohamed walked the red carpet at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France on Saturday night.
The model showed off a blush pink-toned look, complete with a drop waist, on the red carpet ahead of the premiere of “Die, My Love.”
The film is an adaptation of the 2017 novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz about a new mother who develops postpartum depression and enters psychosis. “Die, My Love,” starring Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, earned a six-minute standing ovation from the audience at Cannes.
Directed by acclaimed Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay, the film has been hailed by critics, with Deadline calling it a “brutal but beautiful portrait of a woman on the edge.”
Visibly teary eyed during the standing ovation, Ramsay addressed the crowd, saying: “Wow. I’m so overwhelmed. Thanks to these amazing actors. I’ve got to get it together — I’ll see you in a minute.”
Joining Lawrence and Pattinson in the cast are LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, and Nick Nolte.
Mohamed watched the film one day after appearing on the red carpet for the “Eddington” on Friday.
On Friday, she wore a look by Chinese couture label Cheney Chan. The gown hailed from the label’s Fall/ Winter 2024 collection.
A self-taught fashion designer, Chan was born and raised in the Jiangsu province.
“Growing up, my parents always wanted me to be a pilot,” he previously shared with Vogue Singapore. “I had cleared all the flying tests effortlessly back in high school, but it was unfortunately not where my heart lay.” Eventually, he gained a fashion media degree at Peking University before starting his eponymous label in 2012.
The label has previously been flaunted by the likes if US singer Kelly Roland and actress Anya Taylor-Joy.
Mohamed finished off her look with a matching hijab and bejeweled brooch.
The rising star has attended the Cannes Film Festival before, in 2023 and 2024, and is fast making a name for herself as one to watch in the fashion industry.
She has worked with brands like Boss and H&M and walked the runway during Roberto Cavalli’s show in Dubai in 2024.
