The growing link between Southeast Asia and the Middle East is becoming impossible to ignore.

There is something charming about seeing familiar Thai faces show up on global runways, and this week it was Win Metawin and Faye Peraya in Riyadh. The duo made their debut at the opening of Riyadh Fashion Week 2025 on 16 October at Bedrock in Wadi Hanifa. The desert venue was already buzzing with sequins and the kind of measured chaos that fashion people live for.

Online, fans were quick to nickname them “habibi and habibti,” a playful nod to their chemistry and to the city itself.

Win, ever the gentleman and a global ambassador for multiple luxury houses, arrived looking every bit the leading man.

Faye, meanwhile, floated in with the confidence of someone who knows she belongs there. Posts on X (still Twitter to most of us) under #FayeXRFW2025 pointed to her wearing Vivienne Westwood and possibly pieces from Saudi label Atelier Hekayat, a name celebrated for blending heritage with modern-day elegance.

Vivienne Westwood opened the week with its first-ever Middle East showcase, presenting a collection that highlighted Saudi craftsmanship in the brand’s signature rebellious tone. Later this week, Stella McCartney will close the six-day celebration, bringing the event full circle. But somewhere between those two global names, the moment everyone is still talking about was simply Win and Faye in Riyadh.

Their appearance might seem like a small scene in the larger fashion calendar, but it feels like a glimpse of something bigger. The growing link between Southeast Asia and the Middle East is becoming impossible to ignore. Both regions share a deep love for artistry, individuality, and culture. Whether Win and Faye were official guests or simply soaking it all in, their presence added a touch of Thai charm to the Saudi capital. And online, as always, the world was watching.