I See Where I Have Made Plenty of Poets but Not So Very Much Poetry
In June 2021, the Fashion Commission of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture announced the launch of the Saudi 100 Brands program in partnership with Vogue Arabia. The inaugural mentorship program is set to prepare 100 Saudi designers, brands, and fashion companies through a rigorous year-long, subject-matter-expert-curated intervention, led by the international fashion industry’s most experienced experts, such as LVMH, Kering, Valentino Groups, Chanel Limited, amongst others. Along with guidance from luxury experts, professors from Central Saint Martins, the Royal College of Art, Yale, and Parsons also partake in the designers’ mentorship journey. Fortunately, TOO DARK TO SEE TOMORROW had made the shortlist.
In December 2021, the program unveiled their ‘Saudi 100 Brands’ exhibition held in Riyadh. The week-long exhibition was carefully curated and showcased the works of the shortlisted designers, including TOO DARK TO SEE TOMORROW (visuals below). The exhibition tasked the participating designers with creating a piece that reflects elements of Saudi heritage, including personal history.
Named “I See Where I Have Made Plenty of Poets but Not So Very Much Poetry,” Alwohaibi showcased an autobiographical work that goes hand-in-hand with a doomsday mood adaptation that is reflected in the silhouette of this piece. Crafted in Florence, Italy, from Tuscan leather, this black lambskin coat features a high-standing collar with a front invisible zip fastening attached to a black leather panel skirt.
In contrast to his previous designs, which overtly captured the childlike enthusiasm that eluded him as of late, Alwohaibi sought out a new approach in an attempt to provide him the outlet to surrender his naïveté and work within the confines of emptiness. Alwohaibi’s departure is also his ode to claiming his creative freedom.
