00:00عندنا باللهجة الغربية كلمة بنقول لها فلا
00:02that's like so cool yeah that's that's my favorite
00:05and like ويناسا ويناسا
00:07that's my favorite كلمة
00:14My name is Somi
00:16I am the founding creative director of a fashion brand called Somi London
00:20My story starts from being a child who was forced into a marriage at the age of 15
00:26Fast forward 2016 I wanted to take charge of my life
00:31I wanted to change my reality
00:33I richly packed my bag packed my dreams and went to London to pursue my dreams
00:37and find a better life for me and my kids
00:40When I went to London while I was going to college to apply for an English course
00:46because I couldn't speak English back then
00:48I saw an access for fashion course and I felt it just calling me
00:52and I went and I registered for that course
00:55Fast forward finished the access for fashion
00:57went to university done my bachelor degree in fashion design
01:02and then I have done my master's as well in fashion and business
01:06was so ready to take over the world and then boom lockdown happens
01:10What I did I used social media
01:13I launched my business in 2021 online
01:16and I started using TikTok, Instagram
01:19I used to model my stuff myself and just put it out there
01:23and once the lockdown has left it in London
01:25I got an invitation for London Fashion Week
01:28and everything just started from there
01:34Fashion has always been a form of expression
01:38My first fashion show, the collection was called Resurrection
01:42and the inspiration was coming from the Phoenix Rising from the Ashes
01:48and the collection was rich in culture
01:51I had my inspiration coming from the Eastern culture and Eastern history
01:59It was just my message to the world to show like here I am again
02:03rising from the ashes, standing for myself, making something, making a legacy for myself
02:09It was a beautiful fashion show during London Fashion Week
02:13I was actually born in Medina, was born and raised there
02:17Saudis actually have like they are experiencing a beautiful magnificent transformation
02:24and it's so nice to see how much opportunity is there for different sectors
02:30but especially fashion
02:31Saudi designers are genuinely very very talented
02:35I mean Saudi women in general, like as a child
02:38my favourite activity was going to weddings in Saudi
02:42and just look at women, those elegant women
02:45wearing different textures, different colours, beautiful designs
02:55The talent has always been there
02:58They're having a room, a safe space to unleash that talent
03:02to experiment and create something beautiful
03:05Super super excited to be back in Riyadh
03:08I feel like I'm home
03:10There is a sense of belonging here
03:12and Riyadh is magical
03:14So, I went to the university
03:16I studied the first time in Saudi Arabia
03:21So, to speak Arabic
03:23But, from the day that I came to Riyadh
03:25because I'm practicing it more
03:27So, it's easy to speak
03:28But, when I'm in London, I don't speak a lot
03:30So, I don't think about Arabic
03:32I think about English
03:33Why are you in Saudi Arabia?
03:34What are you talking about?
03:36I love to say it
03:38I mean, there's a language in the southern language
03:40I don't know
03:41I don't know
03:43It's like so cool
03:45Yeah, that's my favourite
03:47I'm like
03:50That's my favourite word
03:52Be the change that you want to see in the world
03:54I see women competing all the time
03:57A bit of competition is healthy
03:59But, imagine if we come together
04:00Hold each other's hand
04:02Uplift each other
04:03Do it
04:03I mean, how hard can it be men do it?
04:05You know, like when men start their own business
04:07They bring their family
04:11And everyone is coming together
04:14Even if they don't have the skill
04:15They're mentoring each other
04:17They're uplifting each other
04:18I heard enough from
04:19Us women are competing
04:22I know one of my purpose is to give back right now
04:25Because I feel like I have learnt a lot
04:27I know so much knowledge that I can give back
04:30And I actually started my other business back in London
04:33Somi Talents Academy
04:34Where I'm continuously growing
04:37I'm continuously evolving
04:38So, I don't know what the bigger picture is for me yet
04:41Let's be realistic
04:43Fashion, it's a very, very competitive industry
04:45But once you find your own unique signature
04:48You're gonna stand out
04:49You're gonna make me emotional
04:56No, it's okay
04:57For my kids
04:59Know who you are
05:00And believe in yourself
05:02And know your value
05:06That's the key
05:06That's the key
05:07Uh...
05:09You just had to do it
05:10I can't do it
05:10You can't do it
05:10I can't do it
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