Saudi designer Ziyad Buainain has quietly built one of the most distinctive voices in the new wave of regional luxury design. As a finalist in the Evening Wear category at the 2025 Fashion Trust Arabia Awards, taking place this November, he represents a generation of creatives merging craftsmanship, emotion, and purpose into a modern couture language.
Founded in 2021, his London-based label embodies a global perspective shaped by his life across Al Khobar, Tokyo, Leysin, New York, Milan, and London. This multicultural lens informs a design philosophy rooted in contrast — balancing strength with delicacy, structure with fluidity, and discipline with freedom. Each collection is a dialogue between art and architecture, tradition and experimentation, exploring how garments can carry both resilience and vulnerability.
Every piece from Ziyad Buainain is crafted in London from deadstock, recycled, and responsibly sourced materials, a reflection of his belief that sustainability begins with intention. His approach to eveningwear favours emotion over embellishment, using form, movement, and precision to express a quiet kind of drama. Through his commitment to mindful creation, he redefines luxury as something thoughtful and enduring rather than excessive.
Buainain’s work speaks to a broader cultural moment in the Arab world, where designers are shaping their own narratives on the global stage. His collections invite reflection on identity, craft, and modern Arab expression, offering a vision of couture that is refined yet radical. As he prepares for the FTA Awards final, his perspective feels both deeply personal and distinctly international — an example of how fashion, when rooted in meaning, can connect worlds while remaining true to its origins.
Being named a finalist in the Evening Wear category is a major milestone. What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
Personally, it feels like a moment of reflection, to pause and appreciate how far the journey has come. My work being recognised and seen on this level is incredible. Professionally, it is an honour to be acknowledged by such respected figures in the industry. It reminded me that my work and stories resonate and connect with people. It also feels meaningful to represent the region at a time when so many powerful creative voices are emerging from it.
Evening wear is as much about architecture as it is about emotion, sculpting form, light, and movement. How do you balance structure and softness in your designs?
That balance is at the heart of everything I do. I am drawn to contrasts, so I often start by exploring tension between strength and vulnerability. I build structure to support the body, but I like to soften it with fluidity and movement. For me, structure represents resilience, while softness carries emotion. When they coexist, the result feels human and alive, not static. It is about creating a sense of presence, but also poetry.
Where do you draw inspiration for your silhouettes, from art, architecture, culture, or perhaps your own experiences of the region’s heritage?
My inspiration comes from many places, but it always begins with emotion. I am drawn to absurdist film, surrealist art, and the feeling that comes from something slightly off-balance or unexpected. My time living in Tokyo taught me to appreciate form and restraint, while my Saudi roots gave me an appreciation for storytelling and symbolism. The silhouettes often sit somewhere between those worlds, combining discipline with fluidity. I like to create pieces that hold memory and movement at the same time.
Many of your pieces convey a strong sense of drama and refinement. How do you use craftsmanship and materiality to bring those emotions to life?
Craftsmanship is where emotion becomes visible. I am very deliberate about how each piece is made, from the cut to the choice of fabric. I work mostly with deadstock, recycled, and responsibly sourced materials, so there is intention behind every decision. The drama comes not from excess, but from precision and detail. I like materials that move and react to light, that have a sense of depth. Refinement, to me, comes from restraint and from allowing the craft to speak for itself.
How do you see the dialogue between modern Arab identity and global couture evolving, and what role do you hope your brand will play in that conversation?
The dialogue is becoming more confident and complex, which is exciting to see. Designers from the Arab world are now shaping the conversation rather than trying to fit into it. There is a growing sense of individuality and purpose that feels authentic. I want my brand to be part of that shift by offering a perspective that is rooted in the region but speaks globally. My goal is to show that modern Arab identity can be experimental, emotional, and forward-thinking, while still being connected to its depth and heritage.
If you could describe your creative philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?
To create with honesty and intention, using design as a way to tell stories that hold meaning and hope.
From where do you get your inspiration and when or where are you at your most creative?
My inspiration often comes from observing people and the world around me. I am drawn to emotion, to how we move, feel, and interact with our environments. I am most creative when I have space to think, usually in the studio or while travelling. Research also fuels my ideas; I often look to art, psychology, and social topics that feel relevant to the moment. Creativity, for me, begins with curiosity and evolves through experimentation.
Looking ahead, what is the vision for your brand?
My vision is to build a brand that feels timeless, emotionally grounded, and responsible. I want it to stand for conscious creation, where craftsmanship and storytelling are equally important. I hope to keep pushing boundaries in how we define luxury, focusing on meaning rather than excess. Ultimately, I want my work to inspire reflection and possibility, especially for young creatives from the MENA region who are shaping the future of our industry.
By Lindsay Judge
