The pursuit of passion: how Abdulaziz al Musallami found his way into fashion

For 27 year old fashion designer Abdulaziz al Musallami, the path to fashion was anything but straightforward.
After enrolling in a business programme after high school, he quickly found himself disconnected from his studies.
“The beginning of my university life was a failure because I wasn’t studying something I liked. I kept repeating courses five or six times. I just couldn’t accept studying at all”, he said.
“I reached a point where I felt like I lost myself, like I was walking in a desert and didn’t understand anything”.

However, Al Musallami decided to take a risk and start over.
“I’ve always had a love and passion for fabrics. I like looking at fabrics, I like clothes. I had this feeling that I should do what I believe is right and what I want”, he said.

In 2021, he dropped out of his business programme, took on a part time job and enrolled in a fashion programme at the Scientific College of Design, a decision that came with significant challenges.
“Studying wasn’t easy, especially since I was paying for my studies myself while working. It was a very tough period”, he said. “Sometimes I wouldn’t even see my mother for three or four days. I’d leave early in the morning, go to college, then go to work, then sit somewhere to finish assignments and return late at night”.

Despite the pressure, his efforts soon began to show results. During his studies, he participated in a craft exhibition showcasing handmade leather bags.
“On the last day, I was shocked. I made around twenty five bags over five days and by the last day everything was sold. That’s when I felt that people really liked my work”, he said.
Today, Al Musallami works across multiple mediums, with a core focus on handmade leather goods.
“I make unisex bags. My goal was to make men’s bags, but I noticed men don’t really buy them. Women actually buy more from me”, he said.
His range includes everyday pouches, custom sized pieces and laptop bags, with options for personalised colours, materials and finishes.
Alongside his leather work, he designs abayas and dresses; and offers bespoke tailoring for both men and women.

“My concept is to create unique pieces. I don’t like seeing someone wearing the same thing as me, so I try to make each piece one of a kind”, he said.
Attention to detail remains central to his work, particularly in abaya construction.
“With abayas, I always notice mistakes in tailoring in the market”, he said, explaining that many designs lack consistency in how they fall. “For example, the flare should be even all around, sometimes you’ll see it higher on the sides and lower in the front, which is incorrect”.
“So when I work with a tailor, I focus on these details and on fabric quality”, he added.
He also experiments with structure, including layered designs that balance form and movement.
Looking ahead, Al Musallami is continuing to develop his skills in leatherwork, while working towards a long term goal.

“My dream is to have a boutique specialised for men. I feel there is a gap in the market. There aren’t really boutiques for men”, he said. “My goal is to create a space focused on appearance, style and grooming, a full concept where I personally style customers”.
“At the same time, I also like women’s fashion because it has more creative freedom. Ideally, I want both something for women like dresses and abayas; and even workwear”.
Al Musallami sells his work through his Instagram pages, @by_azooz for abayas and tailoring; and @by_azooz_leather for leather goods. He also accepts custom orders, with fittings arranged directly with clients. For women, fittings are done with a female family member present, while he takes measurements himself for men.