The Six: Fashionable footwear from the Middle East

Flatter your feet with these footwear brands. (Shutterstock)
Updated 22 October 2018
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The Six: Fashionable footwear from the Middle East

DUBAI: Whether you’re into heels or high tops, these Middle Eastern shoe brands will have something unique to flatter your feet.

Andrea Wazen
Andrea Wazen is a Lebanese shoe designer who creates high quality, handmade footwear for women in Beirut. She just designed her own wedding shoes — white platforms with a slinky strap at the ankle.

Poise Design
Founded by Emma Boutros in Lebanon in 2010, Poise Design creates custom-made footwear for discerning clients.

Nora Aytch
US-Lebanese shoe designer Nora Habbal is the face behind the London-based brand, which is sold in high-end department stores around the world.

Amina Muaddi
Amina Muaddi, a Jordanian-Romanian designer, dreams up her creations in Paris before they are produced in Italy.



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These boots bring all the boys to the yard

A post shared by AMINA MUADDI (@aminamuaddi) on

Darmaki
Sultan Al-Darmaki is an Emirati shoe designer known for his elegant yet bold styles. The brand has become a staple in many department stores across the world and is known for its signature origami-style heel.




Darmaki design shoes with staple origami heel. (Darmaki supplied)

Katrine Hanna
Born to an Australian mother and a Lebanese father and raised in Dubai, Hanna launched her eponymous brand in 2017. Her designs are inspired by the concept of combining the surreal with the real.


Coach taps Elyanna for Spring 2026 campaign

Updated 18 February 2026
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Coach taps Elyanna for Spring 2026 campaign

  • Chilean Palestinian singer also fronted firm last year
  • Star has made a donation to World Food Programme

DUBAI: Chilean Palestinian singer Elyanna is fronting yet another campaign for Coach, this time an “Express Your Many Sides” Spring 2026 initiative unfolding exclusively in the Middle East.

Across the campaign images, the focus is placed on the US fashion house’s leather bags, shown in a range of shapes and sizes.

Elyanna is pictured carrying the Tabby 26, distinguished by its structured flap silhouette and signature metal “C” hardware, presented in a warm maple tone.

Across the campaign images, the focus is placed on the US fashion house’s leather bags, shown in a range of shapes and sizes. (Instagram)

Other styles include a compact shoulder bag with a curved profile and a larger, softer leather bag designed to sit under the arm. The bags appear in smooth and lightly grained leather finishes, styled in both light and darker colorways.

In the images, Elyanna’s wardrobe is kept understated to complement the accessories. She wears lightweight layers, including fitted long-sleeve tops paired with sleeveless vests and fluid trousers in neutral shades.

She also appears in a sheer, pale green dress layered over a long-sleeve base, patterned with small heart motifs.

In the images, Elyanna’s wardrobe is kept understated to complement the accessories. (Instagram)

Last year, Elyanna was the face of Coach’s Ramadan 2025 campaign. She was seen against a desert-inspired backdrop, styled in pieces that blended contemporary fashion with cultural influences.

The music sensation also carried Coach’s signature handbags, each featuring the gold chain accents.

Elyanna said in a statement: “Working with Coach again felt natural because it’s a brand I love and connect with in terms of lifestyle and expression.

“We’re aligned in our values, and it was great to be a part of it again for another year because it continues to reflect that alignment. I was also able to donate to the World Food Programme through our partnership once more, which means so much to me.”

Elyanna has been normalizing Arabic lyrics in the Western world throughout her career, taking inspiration from artists including Lana Del Ray and Beyonce, as well as Middle Eastern legend Fayrouz.

The Los Angeles-based singer’s music is a mix of Arabic and Western beats, which she attributes to her multicultural upbringing.

Her debut album “Woledto,” released in 2024, featured nine songs: “Woledto,” “Ganeni,” “Calling U,” “Al Sham,” “Mama Eh,” “Kon Nafsak,” “Lel Ya Lel,” “Yabn El Eh” and “Sad in Pali.”