| Sarah Rashid |
SARAH'S INSPIRATION?
I am inspired by so many people and ideas on a daily basis. I mainly
draw inspiration for my work from nature, such as the colors and
geometric designs found in natural patterns. I am also very
influenced by Islamic art and architecture, Impressionist art, and
Modern art. Other fashion designers are also a big inspiration,
particularly Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney and other Chloe
designers, Anna Sui, Roberto Cavalli, Alexander McQueen, the list
can go on.
But at the end of the day, the people who truly inspire me the most
are my supportive family members and friends, and those I see and
read about, whether famous or not, who are pursuing their dreams
and making positive changes in the world. They are the ones who
inspire and motivate me on a daily basis.
| A Booming Market, A Talented Entrepreneur: Where Fabulosity Meets Islam |
Check out Sarah's website at www.symmetryfashion.com |
| SARAH, HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR AND START YOUR OWN BUSINESS? S
I wasn’t sure it was a viable career path for me until last summer when I developed a pin-free, convertible headscarf, took it to ISNA (Islamic Society of North America), and received an overwhelmingly positive response to it. I had been frustrated with the inconvenience and lack of variety in traditional headscarves and wanted to create something more unique that better suited to my active lifestyle without sacrificing fashion. Part of my vision was also allowing women to easily style the scarf in different ways because I wanted to respect the variety of ways in which American Muslim women wear the head scarf. At ISNA I found that both women and men really responded to the innovativeness of the idea of using buttons and ties instead of pins. I realized the potential market, particularly among young American Muslim women and decided that I would follow my dream of starting a fashion line. I am currently studying fashion design in preparation for designing clothing in addition to my scarves. |
| Born and raised in the U.S., Sarah Rashid of Pakistani heritage, studied Comparative Literature, Photography and Arabic at the University of Pennsylvania. While in school, Sarah designed clothes for herself and explored a niche in the fashion industry, an endeavor that would prove to be worthwhile. After graduating she taught for one year before pursuing her business, Symmetry Fashion. Learn how Sarah became a part of the booming Islamic Fashion industry. |
WHAT TRAITS DO YOU THINK ARE ESSENTIAL FOR AN
ENTREPRENEUR TO HAVE?
The most important traits of an entrepreneur are that she be extremely
passionate about her field and constantly seek to learn more about it.
Just like any leader, she needs confidence in herself and her ideas,
persistence in order to deal with the difficulties that will come,
resilience to recover and learn from mistakes, and the ability to adapt
to changing circumstances.
As her own boss, she also needs to be very self-motivated. Many of
these traits develop and strengthen as an entrepreneur grows in
experience. That is an exciting part of the process, so don’t feel that
you must have these qualities mastered from the beginning. However, I
think the one trait you must have from the start is having unrelenting
passion for what you do. That is the fuel that keeps you going.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO
WOMEN THINKING OF STARTING THEIR
OWN BUSINESS?
The most valuable advice I can think of would be
to study your field and talk to as many people as
you can who have started businesses or work in
the field you are interested in. The more you
understand the realities and the highs and lows of
business and of your field, the better prepared
you will be. However, at the same time, it’s
important not to let this information intimidate
you to the point that it prevents you from
starting.
As they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
You must always believe in yourself whole-
heartedly because your own attitude will
determine whether or not you succeed. I would
also strongly suggest finding a mentor, someone
knowledgeable about business who can guide,
encourage and challenge you.
WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR
SYMMETRY FASHION IN THE NEXT
YEAR OR TWO?
Within the next couple of years I plan on
introducing a clothing line Insha’Allah and
tying together my clothes and scarves to
form a cohesive collection. I have another
pin-free scarf coming out this summer in a
new style as well. I also plan on continuing
to support social causes through my
business. Starting this summer, Symmetry
will choose an organization each season that
is devoted to social justice and donate a
portion of its sales to it.
Our first recipient will be Kiva, an
organization through which we can given
micro-loans to entrepreneurs in the
developing world so that they can establish
their own businesses and lift themselves out
of poverty.
| SARAH RASHID President and Founder Symmetry Fashion |
| Sarah's new line of headscarves will be available in mid-July and at the Islamic Society of North America conference (ISNA) at the end of August 2008. |
| The Muslim market in the United States is estimated to be worth at least $1.4 billion. An untapped market, the Islamic fashion industry is growing exponentially and rising designers such as Sarah Rashid are working their art. |
| Send your comments and questions regarding this article to: fabulosity@amaany.org |
| Copyright © 2008 AMAANY Magazine, All Rights Reserved |
| Photo credits: Symmetry Fashion and Sarah Rashid |
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