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Embodying the motto “represents a vision of the contemporary East,” Turkish luxury streetwear brand Les Benjamins and its creative director, Bunyamin Aydin, delve into Middle Eastern identity. The SS24 collection, “Kismet Voyage East to West,” honours Sadun Boro, the first Turkish amateur sailor to circumnavigate the globe, through a fusion of futuristic and traditional patterns and cuts.
Dubai-based Marmar Halim, led by the Egyptian designer of the same name, is renowned for evening gowns favoured by celebrities such as Maddison Beer, Becky G and Huda Kattan. Halim’s gowns feature exquisite fabrics with unique silhouettes and intricate draping, evoking a romantic and ethereal quality.
Founded by Libya-born, London-based designer Mabruk Ali, Medina combines streetwear with luxury fashion. The brand’s pieces, inspired by the Libyan and Saharan landscapes, feature vibrant colours and textures. With a focus on exploring Middle Eastern cities, Medina crafts timeless garments with an asymmetrical twist.
Sisters Nafsika and Stephanie Skourti leveraged their combined fashion and business expertise to establish Nafsika Skourti. The brand is known for its versatile contemporary designs, incorporating elements like corsets, embellishments, and elegant fabrics.
Founded by Yasmeen Mjalli, Nöl Collective is dedicated to preserving traditional Palestinian craftsmanship. The brand collaborates with local artisans to produce sustainable clothing using eco-friendly techniques such as plant-based dyes and hand-weaving. Their latest spring collection features hand-embroidered hearts in rich, vibrant hues.
Named after the Arabic word for light, symbolising “the light between the heavens and Earth,” NÜR is a hypoallergenic jewellery brand. Founded by Afghan-American Nilo, the brand aims to make elegant gold jewellery more accessible, inspired by her grandmother’s fondness for gold.
Lebanese designer Roni Helou established his eponymous brand to focus on sustainability and local craftsmanship using deadstock, vintage, and organic materials. After winning the inaugural Fashion Trust Arabia prize in 2019, Helou moved to Doha, where he collaborates with creatives across Qatar.
Inspired by Kurdish heritage, Sayran is a jewellery label that reinterprets traditional styles with a modern twist. Incorporating symbols such as the evil eye, pomegranates, and seven eyes with Y2K, indie, and futuristic aesthetics, Sayran’s most recent collection, “Azadî,” meaning freedom in Kurdish, launched for Nowruz.
Shabab International offers unisex capsule collections that merge Arab identity with edgy and classic streetwear. Co-founded by Mohamed and Zainab Hasoon and Omani Mohammed Al-Kindy, the brand’s name, meaning “youth” in Arabic, blends futurism with nostalgia in one of the region’s pioneering streetwear brands.
Head of a small-batch, slow fashion brand, Tala Barbotin Khalidy splits her time between New York City and Beirut. Khalidy collaborates with artisans in Lebanon and Syria to support local crafts and preserve tradition. Her collections, influenced by diverse cultural traditions such as truck paintings and courtyards, feature signature styles like crochet, patchwork, and intricate patterns in rich colours.
Kuwaiti designer Yousef Al-Jasmi has dressed some of the world’s biggest stars, including Beyoncé, Cardi B, and Kylie Jenner, in his beaded and diamond-encrusted dresses.
London-based Yuzefi, founded by Iranian designer Naza Yousefi, has gained acclaim in the fashion world. Known for its uniquely shaped handbags named after foods like “Pretzel” and “Dinner Roll,” Yuzefi also offers apparel, all inspired by Yousefi’s childhood and professional experiences.
French-Moroccan designer Sophia Kacimi created Zoubida to delve into Morocco’s rich textile histories. Using upcycled sofa covers and curtains, Kacimi crafts bold patterned jackets, fun accessories, and home decorations, collaborating with skilled artisans across Morocco.
Qatari designer Ghada Al Subaey founded 1309 Studios to highlight Qatari design motifs within sustainable modest fashion. Signature prints, created in collaboration with Arab artists, adorn 1309 Studios’ flowing and structured garments.
Founded by Eric Mathieu Ritter, Emergency Room Beirut operates on the principle that clothes are made by real people for real people. The brand creates collections from upcycled materials, working closely with garment workers and engineers across Lebanon.
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