Big news in the fashion world with the announcement of a new international edition of Vogue — Vogue Arabia. The new magazine will officially launch next year with Saudi Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz appointed as editor-in-chief. Elizabeth Paton, styles reporter for the New York Times, calls it the “strongest, new voice to join a growing chorus demanding global recognition and respect for Muslim culture and its commercial clout.”
Vogue Arabia will be in good company as Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and Elle also publish Arabian editions. The magazine’s headquarters will be located in Dubai, featuring a 25-member editorial team. Eleven glossy issues will be printed a year, two of which will be solely in Arabic. An online edition is currently available.
“The Vogue Arabia woman is one who celebrates her tradition but also considers herself a highly educated global citizen,” says editor-in-chief, Princess Aljuhani Abdulaziz. “We understand luxury almost better than anyone else on earth. Middle Eastern women have been serious couture clients since the late 1960s.”
Ms. Abdulaziz says a pivotal element of her mission is to challenge misconceptions about Arabs and the Muslim world. “Many people don’t really know exactly what Arabia is, and there are major misunderstandings around modest dressing, too,” says the editor. “I have a responsibility to tackle those issues — through a fashion lens, of course.”
