2026
Alia Zaki Ali is the founder and designer of L’alingi, a London-based accessories house that turns the handbag into a wearable work of art. She is Lebanese, with threads of Palestinian and Iraqi heritage. She was raised in Beirut, a city whose glamour, resilience and love of celebration run through everything she designs. Home is her inspiration. The name L’alingi comes from the Iraqi word for tangerine, a fruit whose scent and taste carry Alia back to her grandmother’s land in South Lebanon.
Alia always knew she would be a designer, but the path was not straightforward. She arrived in London at 23 with a degree in graphic design and no fashion experience, finding the industry hard to break into. She built a career in advertising and freelance design while sketching constantly on the side. She also spent years searching across Europe and the Middle East for factories to translate her ideas into craft. In 2017 she took the leap and presented six bags at a trade show in Paris. L’alingi was born that year, alongside her two children. Her designs have been crafted in Lebanon ever since, and despite the turbulence and instability there, the brand persevered.
Her graphic designer’s eye defines the brand: sculptural statement shapes, showstopping materials, playful colour and unexpected juxtapositions. Each piece is designed as a conversation-starter rather than a logo, because L’alingi is about resonance, not recognition. Interiors and jewelry are her constant muses. The now-iconic Eternity Clutch was inspired by her own engagement ring, and it led to bestsellers such as the Taliya Clutch, Taliya Feather Pouch and Love Clutch.
Self-taught and independently built, L’alingi is stocked by international retailers such as Harvey Nichols, Saks and Ounass. Alia was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe in 2021 and was an Emirates Woman of the Year honoree in 2024. She now leads a small, close-knit team working between London and Beirut, including her sister Noura.
