Welcome to the debut of Fashion Maxxing With…, Cosmo ME’s latest series spotlighting the brands, designers, and fashion minds defining our moodboards and probably your next wardrobe obsession too.
When it comes to fashion brands that truly understand the modern Middle Eastern woman, there’s one name that immediately comes to mind. You’ll recognise the energy instantly: from the fluid sway of the fabric to the signature prints on kaftans, modest blazers, and, more notably, the abayas. We’d even go so far as to call this brand a literal work of art.
For our first-ever Fashion Maxxing With…, we sat down with Ghada Al Subaey, founder and creative director of the Qatar-based ready-to-wear label 1309 Studios. A designer whose creations constantly land in our saved folder (and now in our shopping cart), Al Subaey perfectly represents where modest fashion and modern design intersect.
Known for designing clothes that have become hallmarks in every contemporary Khaleeji girl’s wardrobe rotation, here, the creative director opens up about her origins and identity – while lifting the lid on how she makes fashion feel personal, intentional, and distinctly her own.
Cosmo ME: Looking back, what was your childhood like, and how did it shape your creative eye today?
Ghada: I was such a feeling-first kid. I’ve always been super drawn to clothing in an emotional way, like softness, movement, textures… anything expressive. I think I was romanticising outfits way before I even knew what design was.
Cosmo ME: What were some of your earliest memories of feeling inspired to create?
Ghada: I think it started with how deeply I connected to clothing. I was always obsessed with pieces that felt fluid and feminine but still had strength to them. That’s probably when fashion stopped feeling like “just clothes” to me and started feeling more like storytelling.
Cosmo ME: What moments or cultural influences most shaped your art growing up?
Ghada: Growing up in Qatar shaped me a lot. There’s this constant mix of heritage and modernity around you, and I think that balance became part of how I naturally see fashion now. I love it when something feels culturally rooted but still fresh and current.
Cosmo ME: When did you decide to fully take that leap into creating?
Ghada: Launching 1309 Studios in 2015 was the real leap. My style kind of figured itself out over time just by leaning into what I naturally loved, clean silhouettes, softness in movement, cultural depth, and pieces that feel elevated without trying too hard.
Cosmo ME: Walk us through your creative process. How do you design traditional pieces through a more modern lens?
Ghada: It always starts with a feeling first. Then I build from there through movement, silhouette, tailoring, prints… all of it. I love taking something rooted in culture and making it feel sharper, cleaner, or more unexpected while still keeping the soul of it there.
Cosmo ME: How do you make sure your pieces stay your own? Even with all the evolving trends out there.
Ghada: I don’t really care about trends unless they naturally fit into the world of the brand. Everything still has to feel intentional and very us. I think when your foundation is strong, you can play with trends without losing your identity.
Cosmo ME: Do you see creation as a form of catharsis, or can it sometimes be tied to the pressure of producing?
Ghada: Definitely more cathartic for me. The second creativity starts feeling like a content machine, it loses the magic a bit. I always try to stay connected to intuition and emotion instead of just constantly producing for the sake of it.
Cosmo ME: What makes you want to create now?
Ghada: I still get really excited by the idea of building something lasting. The women I design for, the region, the creative scene here… all of it still inspires me so much. There’s still a lot I want to say through the brand.
Cosmo ME: What’s your response to those who criticise your work?
Ghada: I mean… not everything is going to connect with everyone, and that’s fine. I’ll always take constructive criticism, but I think if you try to please everybody, the work loses its point. I’d rather make something that feels real and true to the brand.