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RIYADH: In Riyadh, old clothes are finding new life. Across workshops and wardrobes, repair is becoming routine, rework is turning into style, and closets are raw material for creativity and community. At the heart of this shift is Taqia House, a label built on reuse and reimagining fashion. 

Rakan Faris, 25, told Arab News, “I fell in love with fashion and art from an early age, growing up in the Y2K era, shaped by my family, surroundings, music, and lifestyle.”

Faris — with Paris training in one hand, Riyadh roots in the other — launched Taqia House under the slogan “Turning nothing to everything.” He began with hats before expanding into garments as more people embraced the concept. 

The Sakhaa Program is also pushing the shift forward, having recently signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a used clothing recycling plant in Riyadh.

The program will reduce textile waste, raise awareness, create jobs, and provide clothing at little or no cost through a scalable model.

Faris said, “Riyadh’s youth, spirit, culture, and future aspirations all merge together in the identity of Taqia House.”

Inside the studio, a worn cuff or frayed edge is a starting point, not a stop sign. Pieces are redesigned so their past use guides the next version.

“Storytelling is one of our favorite parts of reworking garments. Each piece already carries a story, and by reworking it, we rewrite that story and change its path,” said Faris. 

With steady intake, makers can route items to their next best use: repair sturdy garments, redesign high-potential pieces, pass along intact clothes, or turn scraps into new material. 

“The process is not always easy. The volume of overlooked garments is overwhelming, and often the filtration takes longer than the actual creation,” he said.

At Taqia House, curation is deliberate. “We carefully assess whether a garment has potential for the current theme or capsule, if it should be reserved for a future drop, or if it’s best passed along — either donated or reused as fabric scraps,” Faris explained.

Attitudes are shifting with these systems. “The stigma still exists, but it’s gradually fading,” he said.

More customers now look for durability, creativity, and meaning in their clothes. 

“Customers in the Kingdom are becoming more conscious. They want to be stylish while also protecting the environment,” he added. 

The future depends on skills. “We need educational programs, courses, and degrees focused on sustainable fashion and upcycling,” Faris said.

Training in repair, fiber identification, pattern-cutting, and sustainable design can turn a flexible plant model into local jobs and better outcomes for donated items.

For him, impact is measured in changed perspectives as much as sales. “We measure success not just in sales, but in how a collection shifts perceptions.”

From donation points to sorting lines to studios and storefronts, Riyadh is building a practical loop for clothing.

The Sakhaa Program provides structure and access, independent labels give it momentum, and more residents are choosing to wear reimagined garments.

LONDON: ������Ƶ and the Syrian Arab Republic on Sunday launched a digital link between the Saudi Seha Virtual Hospital and the Syrian Ministry of Health and agreed to strengthen their healthcare partnership.

Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel, the Saudi minister of health, and his Syrian counterpart, Musab Al-Ali, attended the launch of the initiative in Riyadh after signing a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the health sector.

This digital link is a significant advance in health cooperation between ������Ƶ and Syria, facilitating direct communication between their health platforms for constant access to services, remote consultations, diagnoses, and treatments, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

It also allows Syrian medical staff to access Saudi expertise, receive specialized consultations, and improve response times for critical cases, the SPA added.

Al-Jalajel said that the MoU with their Syrian counterparts aims to establish a robust health system in Syria, improve access to efficient health services and virtual healthcare solutions.

The agreement addresses strategic areas in the health sector, including emergency management, e-health, preventive medicine, therapeutic health, and health investment.

It includes training, expert visits, and the organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops. It is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance regional and international health cooperation, solidifying its position as a premier center for virtual medicine and digital transformation, the SPA added.

Since the regime change in December in Damascus, Saudi charities and ministries have increased humanitarian, health, and energy support for Syria to assist the country during its political transformation following a decade of civil strife.