Princess Nourah unveils Asprey collection inspired by Saudi heritage

Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - RIYADH: An artful new collaboration between Princess Nourah Al-Faisal and luxury brand Asprey brings together Saudi Arabian aesthetics and British sophistication.

The royal designer of Nuun Jewels teamed up with Asprey ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Jewellery Salon 2024 to produce limited-edition versions of the iconic Pochette 1781 by Asprey.

The Pochette 1781, as interpreted by Princess Nourah in five styles representing regions of the Kingdom through traditional embroidery and patterns, is part of the capsule collection that will be on display in Riyadh and Jeddah.

Saudi heritage and diversity is at the heart of the collection. Princess Nourah said: “My goal with this collection was to embody the five main regions of Saudi Arabia, by highlighting the regional difference and diversity of each region and the absolute beauty of our heritage.”

Princess Nourah said that each design reflected the essence of each of the five regions, “highlighting their intertwined colors and the beauty of their decorations and techniques.

“By embracing and celebrating the diversity within our heritage, I aimed to create a visual narrative that instilled a sense of pride and connection between individuals across the Kingdom,” she said.

The traditional clothing, architectural elements and vibrant colors that define each region are beautifully expressed through intricate and one-of-a-kind embroidered designs made with the finest materials and craftsmanship.

Princess Nourah, who is also the CEO of Art of Heritage, a socially responsible organization committed to the preservation and conservation of Saudi cultural heritage, said: “To ensure authenticity and accuracy, I extensively used the Art of Heritage archive as a reference, which served as an important source for the patterns used in my designs. Through this collaboration, I also sought to present the cultural richness of Saudi Arabia.

“My goal was to invite people from all over the world to show appreciation and admiration for the complexity, beauty and deep meaning inherent in our cultural fabric.”  

The Art of Heritage is an organization dedicated to protecting Saudi Arabia’s cultural legacy. More than 57,000 distinctive objects, including clothing, jewelry, textiles and photos, are housed in its archive.

The new collection falls within Asprey’s mission of collaborating with global creatives and giving them the freedom to re-present the brand in contemporary ways while providing a platform to celebrate their craft and artistic skills, as well as cultural background.

“I am very excited and honored by this first collaboration with the creative Princess Nourah Al-Faisal. She has reintroduced the iconic Asprey Pochette 1781 bag from the house of Asprey, creating unique and collectible pieces through the application of craftsmanship and designs full of cultural aspects,” said John Rigas, president of Asprey.

The Pochette 1781 bag, part of the distinctive Asprey 1781 collection inspired by the travel bags of the early 20th century, can be carried by hand or around the body using a detachable shoulder strap.

The Asprey x Nuun Jewels collection will be displayed at Jewellery Salon trade shows in Riyadh from Feb. 20-23 and Jeddah from Feb. 27 to March 1.