About Me
Hi, I am Zeina, a fashion design graduate from AMD in Berlin.
I’m Zeina, an Egyptian creative deeply connected to my Arab heritage. Named Best Graduate of AMD Stage 2025, I use fashion as a personal and political tool. My greatest inspiration is my culture—it fuels my purpose, identity, and vision. I create to honor where I come from and to celebrate the richness, resilience, and evolution of the Arab identity.
Set to debut at Neo.Fashion during Fashion Week, my graduate collection is a visual narrative of Arab identity—born from generations of resistance and resilience. Through design, I confront stereotypes and reclaim space for our stories. Fashion, to me, is a mirror of society and a medium of defiance. I create to amplify Arab voices, to heal through heritage, and to wear our truth with pride.
INSPIRATION
In my skin, I found home: fashion as a path to self and heritage
In a world obsessed with inclusion, I often feel like an exception. The Arab identity is still filtered through fear, politics, and myth. My inspiration comes from watching that identity evolve—reshaped by colonisation, displacement, and stigma, yet never erased. This collection channels that journey, born from a deep need to find peace in my own skin, and to reflect what it means to belong without apology, even when the world refuses to make space.
This work is more than fashion—it’s memory, resistance, and reclamation. My collection captures the shifting Arab identity as it navigates external pressures and cultural survival. Each piece speaks from a collective voice, not limited by borders but united by experience. Through form and fabric, I seek to challenge the narratives forced upon us and offer a new one—rooted in pride, complexity, and the power of being seen as we truly are.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Zeina Abouelmaaty
Concept
Concept
The Nomad - Look 1
The Nomad - Process
In Memory - Look 2
In Memory - Look 2
In Memory - Process
In Memory - Process
Hands Tied - Look 3
Hands Tied - Process
The Arab Self - Look 4
The Arab Self - Process
The Arab Spring - Look 5
The Arab Spring - Process
The Human Shield - Look 6
The Human Shield - Look 6
The Human Shield - Look 6
The Human Shield - Process
DETAIL
"Torath" is my most personal creation yet.
My collection is a cultural extension of Arab perseverance against stigma and dehumanisation. It draws deeply from my life’s journey, shaped by experience, tradition, and rich heritage. Through storytelling, each garment reflects elements of this tapestry, forming a cohesive fashion phenomenon. It touches on broader global themes—identity, migration, belonging, and tradition. Rather than centering a single nation or my Egyptian background, it embraces the entire Arab enigma, showcasing its complexity and richness. This raw approach aims to inspire pride in fellow Arabs and challenge long-held perceptions. The designs spark dialogue on the Arab world’s place in the global narrative—one often silenced, yet always present. With this collection, I take a bold leap, presenting my truest self—unfiltered and unapologetic. I’ve created six looks that harmoniously chart the evolving Arab identity, with each look telling its own story and piecing together our shared narrative.
"I am from there. I am from here. I am not there and I am not here. I have two names, which meet and part, and I have two languages. I forget which of them I dream in." - Mahmoud Darwish
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
