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The Arab world is abundant with talent, with creative voices that transcend borders and a resilience deeply rooted in identity. Shaped by generations of a rich cultural heritage, the region’s artistic landscape continues to evolve, painting a distinct canvas that displays its unique talent to the rest of the world. Spotlighting this abundance of talent is Fashion Trust Arabia, dedicated to championing emerging talent across the fashion industry. Now, the committee has unveiled its finalists for the FTA Awards 2026, and taking the spotlight is up-and-coming Syrian designer Zeina Issa.
Nominated under the Debut Talent category, Zeina Issa transforms faith, culture and Arab womanhood into meaningful silhouettes. The London-based designer uses her work as a reclamation of a heritage she once was disconnected from and transcends it into pieces that elicit meaningful conversations on identity and belonging. Her designs shift in tone depending on the story she wishes to tell, sometimes soft – other times defiant. Her work has caught the attention of some of the biggest names in the global music industry, worn by the likes of Zara Larsson, 28, for her Midnight Sun Tour. She wore a metallic-foiled sheer pink top with a built-in hand-beaded bra, finished with crystal beads and fringe, paired with a foiled leather flower and the chain pink skirt.
Alongside an onstage ensemble for regional icon Zeyne, 28, who wore a custom chainmail top and skirt with appliqué and beaded lace. Zeyne was also spotted on a billboard in New York wearing one of the designer’s pieces. Sporting an intricate beaded dress design from Zeina’s Grad Dip Collection. The designer’s growing roster also includes Arya Starr, Suede Uluca, a member of girl group Manifest, and global pop star Tinashe.
For Zeina, fashion has always been about more than just garments; it’s a poetic canvas that provides a medium for one’s identity. Allowing her to transform heritage and lived experiences into pieces that defy convention. Having grown up in Abu Dhabi, the designer’s journey in fashion began at the root of her childhood. She first discovered the hit television show Project Runway, and realised that fashion was more than a passion, but a way of life. In the years that followed this revelation, her childhood sketches turned into her Master’s collection at Central Saint Martins – marking the beginning of a journey shaped by self-expression, heritage and resilience.
Having been away from Syria for over 15 years, since the war first began, the designer claims to have felt disconnected from her heritage during the early stages of her work. A notion further compounded by the lack of Syrian representation in the fashion landscape at the time. But in recent years, her relationship with her heritage has evolved, with Zeina increasingly referencing and reinterpreting it throughout her work.
The region is no longer confined to the backdrop of the global cultural conversation – it’s taking centre stage. Across the Arab world, designers are shaping the narrative and redefining the codes of fashion through their own distinct perspectives. Zeina Issa is part of this evolving movement, demonstrating how fashion can become a powerful expression of identity, heritage and belonging. Through her work, she brings Syrian culture into contemporary conversation, creating pieces that honour the past while looking firmly towards the future.
Zeina Issa will be presenting her work alongside other nominated artists to the FTA jury in Doha on November 28, where seven winners will be announced at the awards ceremony that same evening.
