Saudi-Arabian fashion entrepreneur Hatem Alakeel has joined Esquire Saudi Arabia as a Contributing Editor ahead of the publication’s launch date in KSA in March 2021.
In an exclusive interview with Esquire ME, Alakeel states that – as Contributing Editor – he will try to “break the ceiling on the limitations of men’s wear and talent in Saudi”. Moreover, Alakeel believes that Esquire Saudi will be the perfect platform to “shed light on the hidden gems in the Kingdom” – both male and female.
Alakeel – who is a passionate Saudi Activist – will surely deliver on his promise and will be a fabulous addition to the Ridyadh-based team. Known for spotlighting Saudi talent and culture in his work, Alakeel launched Authenticite – a creative consulting agency focused on connecting “Saudi culture and vision” to the rest of the world – during the 2020 Covid lockdown.
Alakeel tells Grazia ME why Authenticite wants to focus on local talent in the Saudi arts and design community:
“The pandemic has given us a level of introspection that has highlighted the importance of local…It’s helped to really give that kind of perspective, showcasing how interesting Saudi talent can be. It’s helping to remove the stigma attached to us that we are not only consumers, we are creators as well”.
He also shares how Authenticite aims to uplift local Saudi talent:
“There are some amazing artisans that people just don’t even know about in Saudi. So we are in the process of looking at all the best artisans that have a craft that can translate into something that can be styled with something international. And that’s really the whole idea of the agency: it’s about showcasing the vision locally made”.
In addition to his creative agency, Alakeel also owns his own fashion label Toby by Hatem Alakeel – which has received numerous awards including Esquire Middle East’s Best Regional Fashion Designer. The brand is a perfect expression of Saudi ethos – and is a beautiful representation of Saudi culture mixed with an international flair. This paired with his previous column editorial experience will surely make him a successful Contributing Editor for the brand.
With the addition of Alakeel, Esquire hopes to build a strong editorial team of local contributors, creators, and stylists who can bring Saudi’s culture to a global audience.