Egyptian designer Farida Eid crowned Most Commendable Designer 2025

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Farida Eid from Egypt has been crowned the Most Commendable Designer 2025, held in Nairobi, Kenya, by the Real Leather Stay Different (RLSD) Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase, making her the first non-Ethiopian to win the prestigious award.

Eid’s winning design, the Zahw Serpent Sandal, is a striking blend of ancient history and modern luxury. The sandal crafted from purple cowhide leather with intricate copper serpent motifs revives a historic Egyptian symbol of sovereignty and divine authority for today’s fashion stage.

The judges lauded the Zahw Sandal as a powerful demonstration of leather’s beauty, versatility, durability, and sustainability. They highlighted its authenticity, rooted in cultural history innovation, through artisanal copperwork and commercial viability.

"Farida's Zahw Sandal is not only a powerful demonstration of leather’s qualities but also a bold reminder that our heritage can define the future of fashion. We are proud to see her carry Africa’s story onto the global stage," said Beatrice Mwasi, Team Lead for the RLSD Africa Showcase.

A graduate of a design in Milan, Eid said her award is both a personal achievement and a platform to champion African creativity on the global stage.

"This title is not only a celebration of my work but also a call to champion leather’s beauty, versatility, durability, and sustainability, and to show the world the strength of African creativity,” she said.

As the RLSD Africa champion, Eid will represent the continent at the International RLSD Showcase in Taipei, Taiwan, on October 27-28, 2025. She will also showcase her work at the Continental Showcase in Lusaka, Zambia, later this year.

Now in its third year, the RLSD Africa showcase has established itself as a vital platform for emerging African designers. 

This year’s competition drew hundreds of entries with 116 submissions meeting strict criteria for originality, craftsmanship and sustainability.

From this group, 15 finalists were chosen to create prototypes and present them to a panel of international experts.

The competition is a key part of the global Real Leather Stay Different Campaign, which advocates for natural leather as a sustainable alternative to synthetics while providing African designers with crucial global visibility.

Previous winners include Ethiopian designer Ruth Girmay, who has since become a judge and ambassador for the program.