Zahra Lyla: The brands I love

Zahra Lyla is the social media starlet; you NEED to add to your follow list in 2021. When it comes to all things fashion and lifestyle across the Gulf, Zahra has been a mainstay for many years, after finding success with her first blog in 2009.

In 2009, Zahra felt like she needed an outlet to express her newly acquired love for fashion, beauty, and style, and voila, Just Lyla {previously Lyla Loves Fashion} was born. It is a journal of sorts that chronicles her experiences in the fashion industry in the Middle East and eventually the UK.

Zahra had a very successful time in London; it was here where she obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Fashion Communication & Design from Central Saint Martin’s and a Master’s degree in Media Production from London College of Fashion (LCF). In addition, she was able to gain coveted internships at Harper’s Bazaar and The Sunday Times Style magazine.

Since then she has created opportunities for herself to work with the likes of Harper’s Bazaar UK, The Sunday Times Style, and assisting top stylists such as Mel Ottenberg, photographers Sean and Seng, and model Joan Smalls. And in 2016, Zahra was given a life-changing opportunity to help with the roll-out of Vogue Arabia, the Holy Grail for all those in the fashion world.

We asked Zahra what her favorite brands are and why. Her insights are below:

Cartier – Founded in Paris in the 1840’s, Cartier is synonymous with luxury and occasion. Zahra affirms, “they were one of the first luxury brands to collaborate with me when I first started blogging. They worked with me on 2 launches and gave me full creative control which is very rare.” 

Bottega Veneta – The Italian fashion powerhouse is known for its high-quality shoes, handbags and jewellery. Their headline ranges include Cabat, Knot, and Pouch bags and are adored all across the world. “I was one of the first social media personalities they worked with in the middle east. They flew me to London and Venice on different occasions and got a chance to visit the factory and represent the Middle East at their launch events.”

Tiffany – Zahra is extremely proud to work with the brand which needs no introduction, “Not only have they supported me as a social media personality, but they also hired me to create content for a collection launch in Dubai.”

We love to get inspiration from Zahra’s social media feeds, and you can follow her @zahralyla.