The European heritage fashion houses have long dominated the regional closets. However, the Gulf’s luxury landscape is undergoing a thrilling shift with a new array of female designers, deeply rooted in Middle Eastern culture, claiming the spotlight. Crafting footwear that balances opulent aesthetics with unmatched wearability, these 5 female-founded, emerging luxury brands are redefining what it means to walk in style across the GCC.
Amina Muaddi
Though globally recognised, Jordanian-Romanian designer Amina Muaddi remains the spiritual heartbeat of modern Middle Eastern luxury footwear. Best known for her signature flared pyramid heel, her creations, designed in Paris and entirely handcrafted in Italy, capture the GCC’s dual love for edgy, contemporary street-style and traditional evening glamour.
Andrea Wazen
Born in London and raised in Beirut, Andrea Wazen has created a brand that stands at the intersection of opulence and sophistication, celebrating feminine empowerment. With edgy designs seamlessly intertwined with high-end luxury fabrics, Wazen’s footwear is designed to feel like wearable art.
Jennifer Chamandi
Lebanese-British designer Jennifer Chamandi brings analytical precision to high fashion. Her iconic “Eye of the Needle” buckle features a distinctive, gold-plated aperture carved into the stiletto heel to allow a delicate leather strap to be threaded through for extra support.
Zyne
Co-founded by Moroccan designer Zineb Britel alongside her business partner Laura Pujol, ZYNE has reinvented the babouche, the ancestral Moroccan pointed slipper. With every pair entirely handcrafted in Morocco by local female cooperatives, the brand bridges heritage craftsmanship with contemporary, luxury appeal.
Duha
Fusing a sleek, minimalist philosophy with striking, asymmetric sculptural heels, DUHA is a Dubai-based label founded by Tunisian-born architect Duha Bukadi. A Fashion Trust Arabia finalist, DUHA is known for avant-garde creations, now stocked on prestigious platforms like Moda Operandi, designed for the modern GCC woman who views her shoes as bold, conversational art.
