ZUZA ISHAM X FORTELA

Fortela celebrates a special encounter: with a woman who perfectly embodies the blend of grace, ease, and freedom that is in the brand's DNA. Radiant, with wheat-colored hair and an innate desire for freedom, Zuza Isham is one of those women who know, from a young age, that a dream, if cultivated with passion, always comes true.

Her life is filled with travel and experiences, but Zuza has always been centered around her: her passions, her outlook on life, love, and her lifestyle. Born in Poland, she now calls Fort Worth, Texas, home, a beloved place she shares with her husband, Chad, her partner in life and work. Together, they create vintage-inspired leather accessories while living like modern cowboys on a century-old ranch with their horses.

Zuza, would you like to introduce yourself to the Fortela audience?
My name is Zuza Isham, and I'm a rancher, an editor, and a photographer. I was born in Poland, worked in the fashion industry there, and moved to the United States in my mid-twenties. Here, I dedicated my career and lifestyle to cowboy culture, striving to preserve it through visual storytelling, fashion, photography, and writing. I've always followed my instincts. I've done so in life choices, in travel, in love. And that instinct has taken me far, to that mythical West I've dreamed of since I was a child. I could say I'm a creative who has turned her "magnificent obsession" for the Old West into a profession!

What makes you happy?
Writing, photographing, collecting objects that speak of freedom and the passage of time: like beautiful, well-worn jeans, dusty boots, and anything that carries traces of real life.

You often talk about the concept of freedom, including on your Instagram profile @zuzarides. What does being free mean to you?
Freedom is everything to me. Wide, unimpeded roads, my faithful horses to race with, living surrounded by sincere people, wearing clothes that improve with age and accompany you on many adventures. It is with this spirit and grace, this vision of mine, that I identify with the values of Fortela.

How did you come into contact with the world of this Italian brand?
As with all great love stories, I first met Fortela by admiring it "from afar," on social media. Then I met its creative directors, Alessandro Squarzi and Alessia Giacobino, and we immediately felt a connection. Fortela seemed like a reflection of my own taste: authentic, profound, timeless. They are people who live what they love, who are faithful to what they design. Fortela isn't just a fashion brand: it's a way of life.

An Italian brand with deep roots in Texan and Native American culture, with a free yet sophisticated spirit: what do you find in this style?
Everything, actually. In Texas, I live between our ranch and the city. My style is born from this very contradiction: strong yet delicate, wild yet controlled. Fortela perfectly captures that balance: the grit of the West filtered through Italian elegance.

How do you translate your artistic vision into your photos?
I spend my days outdoors, taking photographs, tending to our horses, and traveling in search of vintage pieces in small, forgotten Western towns. Mixing a little chaos with a little beauty, just the way I like it. I try to convey my style through images, stories, and moments that convey a sense of truth. Let me explain: I never try to "build" a lifestyle: I simply live it. When you truly surround yourself for a long time with what you love and what inspires you, the rest follows. I believe that authenticity, ultimately, always pays off in photography. That's why Fortela embodies the way I try to live every day: creatively, consciously, surrounded by timeless craftsmanship. Whether I'm driving an old pickup or riding a horse with a Western saddle, I'm always drawn to what's well-made and what's meant to last. Fortela isn't about trends, it's about legacy, and that's exactly the kind of life I want to live.

With your husband, Chad, you share a curiosity, a sense of adventure, and a shared vision of style. What would you steal from his wardrobe?
Haha! I have a real weakness for men's jackets. There's nothing better than a loose, soft jacket, with its scent, and roomy pockets to stash everything I carry with me.

What do you like to do together in your free time?
Well, actually, we like to "disappear"; sometimes to a ranch, other times on a road trip, without any clear plan. We set off on long drives, lose ourselves in unforgettable sunsets, or wander through unfamiliar towns, browsing flea markets, perhaps even having an impromptu dinner somewhere we've never been. We share the same restless, romantic energy, and we enjoy experiencing new things together.

What gift will you give him for Christmas?
A cotton flannel shirt is always a good idea for a cowboy, as are horse tack—he can never have enough of those!

And which Fortela item would you like to receive under the tree?
A pair of suede pants that fit perfectly, as if they were sewn specifically for me. The kind that's equally at home on horseback or at a dinner in the city. Fortela creates garments that aren't just worn, they're lived. They crease, they gather dust, they endure through time with you. For me, that's true luxury.