On breaking barriers
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Makeup by Shirley Anne Dapaah, using the Jordana Ticia Nude Divinity Palette and Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter.
When Saudi Arabia-born Lamia AlOtaishan Aydin joined Istanbul-based streetwear brand Les Benjamins, she spearheaded its first female-oriented line. Now the label’s head of womenswear dresses scores of high-profile celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, and regularly collaborates with acclaimed female artists from the Middle East. Here, as part of our Women Who Win series, AlOtaishan Aydin tells Penny Goldstone how coming from a rich cultural heritage has influenced her work.
“Turning away revenue is hard when you are self-funded and it feels really daunting”
“Les Benjamins was founded in 2011 by Bunyamin Aydin [Lamia’s husband], and I joined in 2017 to start the women’s line.”
Take us back to the beginning of the business…
‘Karlie’ gold dress
£186
Handbag
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£930
Henrietta
&
Orlagh
McCloskey
and staying authentic
Rix
Lamia
Aydin
“I have many, but I would say the brown leather cardigan is my favourite.”
Do you have a favourite piece in the latest collection?
“I would never compromise on authenticity; on staying true to the brand’s values and vision while achieving long-term success. [It’s] steady and slow.”
What is one thing you’d never compromise on when it came to the business?
“I’ve faced many challenges along the way, but the biggest was launching our handbag line. The key lesson learned was to trust my instincts and have confidence in myself – sustainable, healthy growth for any product takes time. Today, our handbag line ranks among the top three best-selling categories at Les Benjamins.”
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
“I would never compromise on authenticity; on staying true to the brand’s values and vision while achieving long-term success”
“I enjoy celebrating the small wins that build up to larger achievements by acknowledging the hard work and dedication of everyone on my team. It’s never just about me; the success of Les Benjamins is a reflection of both a strong team and effective leadership working together.”
How do you celebrate success?
“Growing the women’s line.”
What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
“I can’t point to one big mistake – I’ve made many along the way, each serving as a valuable lesson to learn and grow from.”
Any big mistakes?
“I want to help women feel confident, break barriers, and have more opportunities to express themselves and be heard.”
What would you like to change for women?
“The key lesson learned was to trust my instincts and have confidence in myself – sustainable, healthy growth for any product takes time”
“I love working and collaborating with female creatives. It allows us to share diverse perspectives, support each other and push our creative boundaries together. As a Saudi woman, my identity deeply influences my work – being part of a rich culture with deep traditions and artistry inspires me to blend heritage with contemporary fashion. Representing Arab women in this industry carries a sense of pride and responsibility. It means breaking stereotypes, celebrating our culture globally and creating a platform where diverse voices can thrive.”
Does your identity influence your work?
“It’s not always easy and it often becomes challenging to separate, as I find inspiration in the things happening around me during my personal time.”
How do you achieve the right work/life balance?
“Always listen to that little voice that speaks so loud in your head and trust your instincts.”
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“My proudest moment was to witness the success of the lines I launched with the brand, including jewellery, eyewear, handbags, perfumes and women’s apparel.”
What’s your proudest moment so far?
“Progress, not perfection. And fake it til you make it.”
Do you have a mantra?
“Everything my mother passed down to me.”
What is your most treasured fashion item?
“I want to help women feel confident, break barriers, and have more opportunities to express themselves and be heard”
“I don’t have a specific place, but I love Shoreditch and Soho.”
Any favourite places in London?
Henrietta: “In the early days we had a lot of people giving us advice and conflicting opinions. But we never compromised. We stayed true to our gut and made decisions that we always felt were right for the business. Ultimately, the product is what we haven’t compromised on. Orlagh leads the design team, so the DNA over the past nine years has stayed true to RIXO.”
Orlagh: “The fit of our product is something we are constantly reassessing and working on. With fit being so important, we [added] an in-house alteration service to our King’s Road store, which helps us to identify areas for improvement in the design or manufacturing processes. Liudmyla [Kirk] is our in-store Alteration & Repairs Specialist – she has been with the business for years and helps perfect every garment at RIXO.”
What is one thing you’d never compromise on when it comes to your business?
“Les Benjamins was founded in 2013 by Benji [Lamia’s husband, Bünyamin Aydin], and I joined in 2017 to start the women’s line.”
Take us back to the beginning of the business…
“Les Benjamins was founded in 2013 by Benji [Lamia’s husband, Bünyamin Aydin], and I joined in 2017 to start the women’s line.”
Take us back to the beginning of the business…
“Les Benjamins was founded in 2013 by Benji [Lamia’s husband, Bünyamin Aydin], and I joined in 2017 to start the women’s line.”
Take us back to the beginning of the business…
“I would never compromise on authenticity; on staying true to the brand’s values and vision while achieving long-term success”
“Les Benjamins was founded in 2013 by Benji [Lamia’s husband, Bünyamin Aydin], and I joined in 2017 to start the women’s line.”
Take us back to the beginning of the business…
“I have many, but I would say the brown leather cardigan is my favourite.”
Do you have a favourite piece in the latest collection?
“I would never compromise on authenticity; on staying true to the brand’s values and vision while achieving long-term success. [It’s] steady and slow.”
What is one thing you’d never compromise on when it came to the business?
“I’ve faced many challenges along the way, but the biggest was launching our handbag line. The key lesson learned was to trust my instincts and have confidence in myself – sustainable, healthy growth for any product takes time. Today, our handbag line ranks among the top three best-selling categories at Les Benjamins.”
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
“I want to help women feel confident, break barriers, and have more opportunities to express themselves and be heard.”
What would you like to change for women?
“The key lesson learned was to trust my instincts and have confidence in myself – sustainable, healthy growth for any product takes time”
“Growing the women’s line.”
What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
“I can’t point to one big mistake – I’ve made many along the way, each serving as a valuable lesson to learn and grow from.”
Any big mistakes?
“I want to help women feel confident, break barriers, and have more opportunities to express themselves and be heard.”
What would you like to change for women?
“I love working and collaborating with female creatives. It allows us to share diverse perspectives, support each other and push our creative boundaries together. As a Saudi woman, my identity deeply influences my work – being part of a rich culture with deep traditions and artistry inspires me to blend heritage with contemporary fashion. Representing Arab women in this industry carries a sense of pride and responsibility. It means breaking stereotypes, celebrating our culture globally and creating a platform where diverse voices can thrive.”
Does your identity influence your work?
“Progress, not perfection. And fake it til you make it.”
Do you have a mantra?
“Everything my mother passed down to me.”
What is your most treasured fashion item?
Jacket
SHOP NOW
£215
£930
Blazer
SHOP NOW
£380
Skirt
SHOP NOW
£633
Shirt
SHOP NOW
£127
Bag
SHOP NOW
£186
Jacket
SHOP NOW
£93
photographs: Abdullah Yazic