Farida Eid from Egypt is the RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025 Most Commendable Designer. Her winning entry, the Zahw –Serpent Sandal, captivated judges with its striking symbolism, technical precision, and deep cultural resonance, setting a new benchmark for Africa’s leather innovation.
Now in its third year, RLSD Africa is part of the global Real Leather. Stay Different. campaign, a consumer-facing initiative of the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA). In Africa, the programme is delivered in partnership with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) and coordinated by the Center for Business Innovation and Training (CBiT).
The Zahw – Serpent Sandal is inspired by ancient Egyptian iconography, where the serpent symbolises sovereignty, protection, and divine authority. Crafted from deep purple cowhide leather, the sandal is adorned with handcrafted copper serpent motifs and sculpted wooden heels, a seamless fusion of ancestral storytelling and modern elegance. Judges described the work as “wearable history,” praising its innovation, conceptualisation, relevance, and commerciality. It stood out as a powerful statement of the beauty, versatility, strength, and durability of leather, while presenting a compelling vision for the future of ethical fashion on the continent.
Farida is the founder of ZAHW, a Cairo-based footwear brand that fuses cultural identity with bold, contemporary design. A designer and patternmaker trained in Cairo and at ARSUTORIA in Milan, she crafts small-batch pieces using ethically sourced cowhide leather, each pair telling a story rooted in heritage. In 2024, she designed Egypt’s first fully local sports shoe, worn at the Paris Olympics. Now Head Designer at one of Africa’s largest footwear factories, she’s launching THE SOLESTUDIO, a space to mentor, create, and keep the art of shoemaking alive.
In accepting the award, Farida expressed both gratitude and responsibility: “Being named the Most Commendable Designer of RLSD Africa 2025 is a great honour. But it’s also a call, to champion leather’s beauty, versatility, and sustainability, and to showcase the strength of Africa’s creativity on a global stage.”
The judging panel also noted her readiness for international representation, with particular praise for the intellectual depth and symbolic clarity of her design. “Farida has presented a product that is not just technically sound and visually striking,” one judge said, “but a cultural narrative told through form, texture, and symbolism.”
Farida will represent Africa at the RLSD International Showcase in Taipei, Taiwan (27–28 October 2025) and the Continental Showcase in Lusaka, Zambia (26–28 November 2025). As RLSD Africa 2025 approaches its final stages, Farida Eid’s win reflects the immense design talent emerging from the continent. Her work stands not only as a model of creative excellence, but also as a call to future designers: to tell their stories, honour their heritage, and walk boldly into the global fashion conversation.
Josslyn Shi from California College of Art has been crowned Overall Winner of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition at a glittering final event held at the U.S. Embassy in London.
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Josslyn Shi has a Fashion Design BFA from the California College of the Arts. She was at the RLSD International Final event at the US Embassy in London to show her winning design, Ephemeral Eclosion.
