A typical workday for Alsayed begins with a 45-minute barre workout, followed by coffee and her nine-to-five job in luxury marketing. Once off work, she makes a to-do list, works on scratching tasks off it, obtains samples of fabrics, and makes sure all orders are delivered within three working days. She tries to be in bed by midnight at the latest. The Abaya Factory aims to release two collections a year, in addition to custom-made orders. “During Ramadan, we usually design kaftans as well,” says Alsayed. Each collection has a theme. The latest colorful collection called Alwaha (The Oasis) showcases vibrant prints and was inspired by and shot in AlUla.
Alsayed, who credits her mother as her ultimate inspiration – for her patience and unconditional love and for having shared her knowledge of textiles with her from an early age – now draws most of her design inspiration from her travels after seeing how different cultures work with varied cuts and silhouettes. “When I go to Mecca, I see textures and colors of textiles that really inspire me,” says Alsayed. Working with luxury brands, attending high-profile events, and constantly meeting with clients also motivates her to create elegant clothing. All The Abaya Factory’s abayas have a side zipper to transform into jackets, making the pieces practical for women who have multiple types of events and places to be in through the day. “We were also the first brand to make matching pants with the abaya to look like an outfit or even a suit when worn as a jacket, or to camouflage with the pants when worn as an abaya,” adds Alsayed. The designer envisions those who wear her clothing as women who “love to do more than one thing a day, and elegant women who pay attention to detail.”
Originally published in the June 2024 issue of Vogue Arabia
