Fashion

Fresh Off His FTA Win, Saudi Designer Ziyad Buainain Talks Next Steps

BYKhaoula Ghanem

November 25, 2025

Before he was crowned a 2025 Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) winner in Doha on Saturday, Ziyad Buainain had already carved out his own idea of eveningwear. Born in Saudi Arabia and based in London, he launched his namesake label in 2021 with a simple principle: the dress shouldn’t just enter the room, it should say something once it’s there. Eveningwear, to him, is a conversation between body and structure.

That approach took him straight to the spotlight at the seventh edition of Fashion Trust Arabia, where his work stood out not for volume or sparkle, but for intention, beating out Dana Almulla and Sharifa Alsharif Alhashemi to take home the prize in the Eveningwear category. Indeed, Buainain isn’t trying to seduce with theatrics, he wants his creations to communicate on their own. “I hoped the judges felt the intention behind each piece and appreciated the quality and craftsmanship woven into every detail,” he told MILLE. “I wanted the work to speak for itself and for them to connect with the pieces the way I do.”

Photographed by Kamila Banks

The jury did more than connect. They were delighted. “Viktor and Rolf kept saying how clever the pieces were and smiled every time I showed a new way to wear something,” he recalls. “Gisele said my hats and bags were so fun. Reem Acra kept telling me how impressed she was and how beautiful the pieces looked. Hearing that from someone I consider a legend meant so much to me.”

Buainain’s eveningwear is glamorous, yes, but it’s also constructed with purpose. Instead of leaning on embellishment, he builds tension through sharp lines, hidden mechanics, and playful accessories that function like protagonists. His woman doesn’t wear a dress so much as she interacts with it. The sculptural silhouettes, transformable elements, and bold hats are there to animate the wearer, not overpower her.

Photographed by Kamila Banks

That clarity, paired with craftsmanship, secured his FTA victory in Doha on Saturday. And when his name was announced, the composure snapped. “I was in complete shock,” he laughs. “It felt like an out of body experience and I barely remember walking up the stairs,” he says. “I kept flashing back to moments in our small atelier in London where my seamstress and I poured everything into these pieces… I even had to cut my speech short because I was too overwhelmed.”

As for how he’ll be using the win and the financial grant and mentorships that come with it? “I want to grow the business, bring more help into the studio, and develop new ready to wear evening pieces at more accessible price points,” he says. His plans also include elevating his digital experience. “I also want to improve the website and e-shop to create a better experience for our clients.” The mentorship component is equally critical: “I am excited to absorb as much industry knowledge and expertise as I can. I’m excited for what’s next!” So are we.

Fresh Off His FTA Win, Saudi Designer Ziyad Buainain Talks Next Steps

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Fresh Off His FTA Win, Saudi Designer Ziyad Buainain Talks Next Steps

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