One to Watch: Wadha Al Attiya Celebrates Empowerment Through Design

Wadha Al Attiya is on a mission to empower women through her designs

For Qatari designer Wadha Al Attiya, fashion is as much a philosophical ode to beauty as it is an art form. “My aesthetic is very feminine and elegant and I celebrate strength and empowerment in my designs,” she tells Harper’s Bazaar Qatar. “Fashion has always been a dream of mine. I remember designing dresses with a friend at the age of 10 and envisioning starting my own clothing brand one day.”

That journey into fashion saw her study at VCUarts Qatar, where she was invited to participate in the Liberty London luxury flagship store design collaboration; a remarkable partnership that saw leading fashion design students create a unique collection of abayas combining traditional Middle Eastern attire with Liberty of London’s archival textiles.

A former recipient of the Harper’s Bazaar Qatar Emerging Talent Prize for her VCUarts Qatar graduate collection last year, the young creative continues to hone her craft. “I’m always looking to translate my ideas into garments. My graduate collection was a tribute to the femininity and grace that I believe every woman possesses. I wanted to create a versatile range of dresses – from loose and flowing gowns to more tailored, structured pieces – with a focus on highlighting both the perfection and imperfection of beauty.”

This was achieved through an exploration of the ‘unfinished’, from seams to raw edges, and is an area that still inspires Wadha creatively. “It’s about finding beauty in the unexpected,” she tells Bazaar Qatar, “and embracing beauty in its many forms. Ultimately, I want women who wear my designs to feel confident and to embrace their own beauty.”

Lead Image: Supplied

From the Harper’s Bazaar Qatar Autumn 2025 Issue.