Through your own voice w/ Lamia Al Otaishan Aydın

In a world where fashion is so often about trends that come and go, Lamia treats design like a conversation—with herself, with the women around her, and with the stories that shaped her. As the Head of Women Designs and creative mind behind Les Benjamins, she’s built more than just a brand. It’s a reflection of her own evolving identity and a space where women get to exist on their own terms.

This conversation with our founder Duygu and editor Yağmur flows the way the best ones do—unexpected, real, and full of detours. Based İstanbul and Les Benjamins had their long-lasting friendship and as creative women, they have been supporting each other for a long time. That’s the most powerful thing. From movie scenes that spark entire collections to the constant search for that perfect balance between strength and ease, Lamia opens up about her creative process, the cultural noise she’s learned to tune out, and why dressing for yourself will always be the real power move.

Together, they dive into what it means to navigate a global industry as a Middle Eastern woman, how you learn to trust your own voice when the world keeps telling you to doubt it, and how motherhood made Lamia want to take up even more space. This is about clothes, yes—but more than that, it’s about women owning their stories.

YAĞMUR: We are so excited for this, let’s start! First of all, can you name a woman that inspired you growing up. 

LAMIA: I mean, the first and the easiest answer is my mom. I know it might sound cliché, but my mom is genuinely my biggest inspiration.

YAĞMUR: Is there a specific reason for that? Any advice she gave you that stayed with you?

LAMIA: So many advices over the years. but more than words, it’s the way she carries herself in this world. Seeing how strong and independent she’s been throughout her life really inspired me.

LAMIA: I mean, you know my mom, right?

DUYGU: Yes, she’s the strongest. Her energy is incredible, and she’s always glowing. That’s also where you get your beauty from. And your whole family is like this also.

LAMIA: Thank you. Yeah, we are five girls, which is crazy. I’m the second oldest. So her being a mom of five, it’s crazy.

DUYGU: That’s amazing. Six amazing women. 

YAĞMUR: Let’s talk a little about design. When looking for inspiration for new designs, where do you look? 

LAMIA: It all depends on the season and the main focus of the storytelling aspect of the collection and where would I want to go for the inspiration. But I love watching movies and I love getting inspiration from that, because in movies It’s kind of similar to the way we do collections. There’s a story behind each season and we try to translate that into the clothing. So when you watch a movie, you see the costumes and how they support the story without overshadowing it.

YAĞMUR: Any specific movies that come to mind?

LAMIA: Casino! It’s such a classic; you understand the story and see the outfits, the cuts. It’s not really costume-ish, but it really enhances the story.

DUYGU: You also follow so many up and coming women artists and you’re a big supporter of them too. Any new women artists you want to share with us? You’re so good at finding hidden gems.

LAMIA: I love Doechi now. I mean everyone is obsessed with her, but there’s an amazing artist. Her name is, I don’t want to butcher her name; Greentea Peng. No one knows about her. She’s incredible.

YAĞMUR: How do you utilize fashion to empower women?

LAMIA: At the end of the day I feel like you’re strong when you’re confident in yourself and what you’re wearing. I can be a bit selfish sometimes because I also design for myself. I always say it -and I know it sounds very ambitious- that like I do this for every woman. I design but I really imagine a lot of women in my head. I think of my mom, I think of my friends, I think of my sisters and they’re all very different. So I feel when they’re confident in what they’re wearing, they are the strongest. I try to merge comfort with looking sharp and strong.

DUYGU: Is your style a social statement for you? Because it feels like a statement. You’re not just designing “fashionable” items. I feel like there’s always something behind it.

LAMIA: Yes, definitely—it is a social statement. But also it’s very personal. When you dress up for yourself, you feel so good but when you’re dressed messy, you feel a type of way, it affects your mood. I always try to think of how you can —not empower because I don’t like to use the word empower, I feel like we’re already empowered with everything that we do in life—, but I feel being comfortable is associated with confidence and feeling like the strongest and the best version of yourself. 

YAĞMUR: Can you share a moment where you felt you truly made an impact through your work? 

LAMIA: I mean, there are so many moments, it’s hard to pinpoint one. But I think a lot of our collaborations were really meaningful—especially the ones with female artists. Like the one we did with Dr. Azra, the henna artist. I loved that project so much because the designs carried very positive messages within them. I also loved what we did with Esra Gülmen. I found it very empowering because the message was strong—especially considering the cultural context of our region. We were pushing certain buttons, addressing uncomfortable truths. As a woman, why should I be questioned for my personal choices just because of where I’m from? There are so many taboos and stigmas. And one of my favorite moments was the whole Julia Fox custom design project. It was so fun working with her stylist, working directly with her. Such a nice experience. There was also something we did with Kehlani, but it never officially came out. She wore a jacket and pants for a video shoot. That was super nice too.

DUYGU:It’s coming!

LAMIA: Yeah! It was awhile ago but I don’t know when It’s coming out. And I really loved what we did for Afife, for Demet Evgar. Learning about Afife’s story—what she did for women in Turkey—was incredibly inspiring. It was also very inspiring for me as well. I had never heard her story before. Working on that project allowed me to open conversations about her with so many people. They would ask “What are you working on?” And I would be like; ‘we’re doing these looks for this actress that’s doing this play’ and explaining who Afife is. And I feel now we need a lot of more Afife’s. We need more women like her to be; ‘’we’re here, we’re ready to make an impact and leave our mark.’’

DUYGU: Basically, we are creating our own versions of Afife, in our own time.

LAMIA: Yes!

DUYGU: And honestly, you’re always supporting me, without even realizing it. I’m creating this magazine as a way to express myself, to finally be fully me. And I feel that kind of support from you.

LAMIA: Same here. I really believe that, you know? Together, we can lift each other up. And I absolutely hate this mindset where people feel entitled to criticize women—how they look, how they dress, how they talk. Like, who gave you the right to judge? I’ve always believed in this idea of togetherness. I love supporting the people I genuinely care about—not just because they’re talented, but because of who they are as individuals. It’s always better together. You support me, I support you. That’s the real power.

“I absolutely hate this mindset where people feel entitled to criticize women—how they look, how they dress, how they talk. Like, who gave you the right to judge? I’ve always believed in this idea of togetherness.“

YAĞMUR: Being a minority in any industry is always challenging. As both a woman and of Middle Eastern background, what was the key motivation that you held onto when you faced struggles? 

LAMIA: When it comes to this topic, I really feel that as women—and particularly in this industry, but honestly in almost every industry, where men still dominate—we’re carrying a much bigger mission. That’s why, for me, the focus has always been: how can I improve my work? What can I do to make the work itself better? I want the work to speak for me—not my position, not my background, not the labels people put on me.

There have been so many struggles along the way, but I always come back to this: believe in yourself, believe in your voice. I’ve faced so much outside criticism—people assuming I don’t know what I’m doing, or treating me like I’m just “the partner” standing on the side. I’ve talked about this so many times, and my answer is always the same. I don’t need to stand there and explain myself. I don’t need to say “Hey, I’m here.” I prefer my work to show what I do best.

DUYGU: But I think this comes from the culture too. When you’re from the Middle East—you constantly feel this pressure inside you, like you need to hide yourself a little bit. You feel like you shouldn’t be too loud, or you should take a step back.

LAMIA: Exactly. 

DUYGU: I feel this for myself too—and for you. It’s something we’re always carrying. But when I look at women in Europe, they’re so much more confident in putting their work out there, front and center. That’s something I actually admire. They always lead with their work. And I think we need to shift our mindset a little bit. The world is moving so fast, everything’s changing, and we can’t just keep holding back.

Sometimes people get it wrong—they assume your power comes from somewhere else. They think it comes from your husband, your family, your connections, or even money. But the truth is, the power is yours. It’s always been yours. You can have all of these things—support, connections, family—but none of that automatically makes you successful.

YAĞMUR: Exactly. It’s the mindset that get’s you further.

LAMIA: It’s the mindset, exactly. But honestly, this year, something inside me shifted. I don’t know if it’s motherhood or just growing into myself, but something changed. I’m like—you know what? I’m ready to do more. I really am. Zohaer comes to me with something and I’m just like, “Okay, okay.” He even calls me Lami-no because I used to say no to everything. I was always like “no, no, no, not doing this.” But now, I’m so ready. Benji’s always supported me, always pushed me—but I think it’s also personal. Maybe it’s cultural, maybe it’s just who I am, or maybe it’s the way women from our region are perceived. I don’t know. It’s probably a mix of all of that. But for so long, I was comfortable staying in the background.

DUYGU: I mean, you’ve been designing the women’s collection for eight years—maybe even more—but this year was the first time you walked out on the runway in Dubai. I was shocked. I was like ‘Go girl!’

LAMIA: It was a decision we made right before. Because, after our last show we did in 2019 in Paris, in Palais de Tokyo, I was hiding. Even then, Benji asked, “Do you want to come out?” and I was like “No way!” But now, you I feel like change is coming. Let’s see. 

DUYGU: I can feel it! And I think motherhood has something to do with it. When you have a child, maybe you feel more whole—like the missing piece falls into place. Do you feel that way?

LAMIA: Yeah, 100%. It’s the best feeling in the world. I honestly can’t even put it into words. Every mom I know understands exactly what I mean. I’ve changed—completely. There’s been this crazy shift. And you know me, I’ve always been very “no bullshit.” I’m direct.

DUYGU: She’s like black and white. There’s no gray area.

LAMIA: Exactly. And sometimes people find that bluntness a little too much. But I’d rather be like that than fake. After becoming a mom, I’m even more black and white. I have zero time for bullshit now. I’m definitely bolder and more confident. I don’t want to waste time. 

YAĞMUR: I think it’s a stance. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. 

LAMIA: Exactly. It’s just about owning your own power.

DUYGU: That’s really nice. 

YAĞMUR: In your opinion, what is one main struggle for women in fashion? And what’s one advice you would give to women that are entering the fashion area? 

LAMIA: I mean, there are so many successful women in fashion—women who know exactly how to voice their ambitions and make sure their work gets seen. But the thing we still lack is togetherness. There’s still so much unnecessary competition. I really believe if female creatives supported each other more, we could change so much for future generations. And, as I said before, listen to that small voice in you. When it’s like ‘no, this doesn’t feel right’ or ‘yes, this feels right’ Go with it. Authenticity is very important. Because you can look at people, you can get inspiration from people, but at the end, you are the one that’s going to have an impact when you’re your true self. Like when you are 100 percent you in your vision, in your personality, in what you want to do, I feel that’s the most important and impactful.

YAĞMUR: Especially in our culture, we have these set in stone ideas about women. What they are, what they can do, what they can’t do—What is one key stereotype for woman that you’ve realize to be false? 

LAMIA: So many!—I think being a mom, especially a new mom, really changed my perspective. When I was pregnant people kept asking, “But how are you going to work?” And I was like; “I’m pregnant, I’m not dying.” I didn’t understand why they saw it as such a problem. Of course I worked until the very end of my pregnancy.

DUYGU: It’s not an illness…

LAMIA: Exactly! It’s not an illness. My mom had five girls, and she worked all the way through every pregnancy. I literally worked until the day before I gave birth. And after I had my son, the same comments continued—“You can’t leave him alone, you’re a new mom.” As if being a new mom automatically makes you fragile. Of course, it wasn’t easy to leave him and go back to work. But I think that step was really important.

DUYGU: And the main struggle is not working—it’s missing him. 

LAMIA: Yeah. It’s something different.

DUYGU: It’s emotional.

LAMIA: Exactly! 

DUYGU: But it doesn’t stop you. It doesn’t affect your ability to work or your power.

LAMIA: I went back to work after two months. Even right after giving birth, I was already working from home. It never stopped me—and I think that’s something important to say.

YAĞMUR: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

LAMIA:Oh my god. I would say believe in yourself more. Do you remember our first interview we did, what was it, like 10 years ago? 

DUYGU: Yes! And now It’s the 10th year of Based Istanbul. 

LAMIA: That’s crazy. But yeah—that’s what I’d tell my younger self: believe in yourself more. Be more confident. Speak your mind. When I first started working at LB, everything felt so serious—especially because I came from haute couture, and it was this very structured world.

DUYGU: She was doing haute couture back then.

LAMIA: Yeah. I had this tiny atelier with my friend from school. It was just the two of us doing everything. And then when I moved into LB, suddenly there were so many outside opinions—people telling me, “You should do it this way, not that way.” It took me two or three years to finally say, “No, I don’t like that idea,” or “Actually, I want to do it this way.” I still remember the first time I said, “We’re doing a blazer suit with a skirt.” I had so much pushback—especially from the business side. They said it wouldn’t sell. But luckily, Benji was always pushing me to trust my instincts. That’s why confidence in your own voice would be my biggest advice to my younger self.

DUYGU: You know, after having all these comments for the very first time now, a lot of people are really interested in your opinion. Are you afraid of giving them advice? Because, you don’t want to affect their opinion or the creative vision. What is your approach to them? I know everybody is reaching out to you on social media and when they see you in universities, is it hard to give any opinion about creative vision of someone else.

LAMIA: It really depends on how they ask. If someone comes to me saying, “What should I do? Where do I start?” my first answer is always: trust yourself. Trust what you want to do. After that, I’m happy to give my opinion—but I always say, “You don’t have to agree with me.” That’s the point—this is your vision, not mine. I can only share my own experiences and the things I’ve learned. And even then, what worked for me might not work for them. I always tell them: take advice, listen to people, but in the end, do what feels right to you. I’ve had so much outside noise throughout my career—people saying, “Do tracksuits with rhinestones because it’s more feminine,” or other ideas that didn’t align with my taste. I would just smile and say, “Thanks for the advice,” but inside I knew it wasn’t me. That’s the balance I want young designers to listen to everyone, but filter it through your own voice.

DUYGU:I agree totally. 

DUYGU: Also, how do you define the Les Benjamins woman? Because there are different DNA’s from the main collection, all the time but the woman’s collection is really different and we can see the different approaches of you and Benji. How do you and Benji create that balance?

LAMIA:We always talk about this. Benji has his personality, and I have mine. That naturally comes through in the collections. But the storytelling keeps everything cohesive.

DUYGU:It’s really interesting because you two are so different, but the end result feels so connected.

LAMIA: Exactly. Because the story comes first—that’s what ties it all together. While designing, I have my own voice and my own vision, but I always have to respect the bigger story that we’re telling for the whole collection. That’s why it never clashes. You see a lot of shared details across both lines—but there are also things we do just for women, like certain colors or fabrics. It’s like LB is this big umbrella, and under it, you have two distinct identities: men and women. And when you look at the Classics collection, that really represents where I am now. It’s very minimal, very timeless. Pieces you can throw in a suitcase for a five-day trip and create multiple looks without overthinking. I feel like the brand is maturing with me. I’m growing up, evolving, and my perspective is shifting—and the brand reflects that.

I also have the seasonal collections—that’s where I get to play and experiment.

 ” I love supporting the people I genuinely care about—not just because they’re talented, but because of who they are as individuals. It’s always better together. You support me, I support you. That’s the real power.“

DUYGU: Like a permanent wardrobe.

LAMIA: Exactly. You can use it everywhere. 

DUYGU: I love how you express your ideas about being a woman through the classics. They feel timeless, but they also feel like they come from a real place— something you actually want to wear for life.

LAMIA: Exactly. And quality is everything to me. If you’re going to invest in a piece, it should last. It should stay with you and evolve with you.

DUYGU:And in the end, it reflects you more.

LAMIA: Exactly.

DUYGU: When you talk about the collection like this, it hits different.

LAMIA: Yes, exactly. I made it for myself.

DUYGU: Thank you so much Lamia.

LAMIA: Thank you guys. I really enjoyed this!