Saudi artists and creatives excel at Jeddah’s Fawanees Nights, showcasing art, fashion, and narratives.

JEDDAH, March 28, 2025 — Saudi artists and designers gathered at Jeddah’s ‘Fawanees Nights’ event to showcase their latest creations, featuring booths from local artists, fashion designers, perfumers, and even chefs.

Fantaka Boutique, a hub for fashion, art, creativity, and community, had a strong presence at the exhibition. "I don't see Fantaka as just a fashion brand—it’s a home, a lifestyle. I sell home decor, jewelry, and other thoughtfully curated items," explained Reem Derini, 30, founder of Fantaka Boutique, to Saudi Gazette.

The name "Fantaka" combines "fun" and "funky," reflecting the brand’s values. It is also based on a fictional character created by the founder, who has a diary, friends, and her own personality. "Fantaka isn’t just a concept; she’s a real character. On our website, she has a ‘diary’ where she shares her realizations, adventures, and memories, making her feel like a living personality," Derini said. "I refer to my clients as friends because Fantaka is about connection. Every piece she designs and creates by hand, she shares," she added.

Derini, passionate about art and creativity from a young age, wanted to share her designs without limiting herself to just art or fashion, leading to the launch of Fantaka not only as a brand but as a creative space and home. "I won’t stick to just abayas, bags, or yoga mats," she said.

“It’s my project, my passion. I love Fantaka, I believe in her, and I adore her personality. I hope to take her to great places,” she added.

Fantaka was officially launched three months ago, although it had been in development for years. Derini aims to support other small brands and foster a community. "Through Fantaka friends, I offer a platform for small brands, providing them with marketing, videography, and a space on our website to showcase their products under their own names," Derini shared.

Fantaka has collaborated with three brands so far, offering samples and discounts with purchases from each other’s stores to help their growth.

Derini hopes to further develop the boutique’s community through ‘Fantaka Nights,’ a series of events featuring workshops, collaborations, board games, and bazaars. "I want to build long-lasting connections with people. That’s why I focus on creating a brand experience that aligns with Fantaka’s spirit," she explained.

Before sharing products with her customers, Derini personally tests them at home. "Even our packaging reflects this—each product comes with a note that says, ‘From Fantaka’s home to yours.’"

The Fawanees Nights event also featured various artists, including Saudi seascape artist Kholoud Babkair, who shared her journey of balancing art and her medical career.

"I love the sea; I lose myself in it. I love the sky and the sea just as they are. I feel a deep urge to paint them. That’s what moves me—the things I love," Babkair told Saudi Gazette.

Babkair specializes in painting the sea exclusively, considering it an achievement rather than a limitation. "I could finish them quickly, but I’m a perfectionist. I work on a piece whenever I feel drawn to it — when it calls to me. My eyes always find the flaws, and I’ll never be fully satisfied with my work," she explained.

Babkair has participated in two exhibitions but never sold her paintings, as she sees them as emotional pieces. "I never sell my paintings. They’re like my daughters — pieces of my emotions and feelings," Babkair added.

Despite her busy schedule as an emergency medicine consultant and university teacher, Babkair stays motivated by sharing her work on Instagram. "Painting brings me comfort, and I make time for it," she said.

The Fawanees Nights event also featured Saudi painter Anmar Al-Harbi, known for blending abstract art with 3D effects, reflecting her love for the sea and diving. "I enjoy working outdoors, so I took my canvas and painted in front of the ocean, capturing the colors around me," Al-Harbi explained.

Al-Harbi never took formal art lessons but has developed her passion independently. She shared that her participation in the exhibition was encouraged by her mother, who saw beauty in her work. "Without her, I wouldn’t have accomplished anything. My thanks go first to God and then to my dear mother," she said.

The event also welcomed Islamic-themed art, with Saudi artist Taghreed Al-Basri showcasing a painting featuring a Quranic verse and an image of the Holy Quran. "True peace begins with the Holy Book—if its morals are applied, we would have fairness and harmony. That was the message behind my artwork," Al-Basri shared.

The Fawanees Nights exhibition, which started on March 1, runs through March 29 at Jeddah’s Galleria Hotel, featuring various small business owners and providing a space for local communities to gather.