Fashion Archives - Jalya

NOAHA FAYAD

Emily Gruz — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 18:41:32 +0000

Although I have been a hairstylist for 11 years now, I recently started my business here in Edmonton a year ago. The community has been so humbling and supportive, Alhamdulillah. My goal is to educate woman about not just beautifying the hair but also to maintain the health and integrity of the hair & scalp. Pretty much like a scalp facial. Clean your scalp & moisturize your hair. – Noaha

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by noha fayad (@nohas_salon)

When did you start your business? Was there something/someone who inspired you?

What inspired me to pursue my career in Edmonton was really my dad. I don’t want his knowledge and what he taught me to be forgotten. I want to keep teaching woman how to properly wash comb and style their hair. His passion for hair inspired me. Every time a woman would sit on his chair back home in our small town of Peace River, she would leave feeling and looking amazing. You see, we walk around carrying our hair with us every where we go. It doesn’t matter if you’re hijabi or non hijabi, thick hair or very thin hair; it is my obligation as a hairstylist to show and teach woman how to properly groom and take care of the health of their scalp and hair.

Would you say you reached all of your goals since you started or do you have more to achieve?

My ultimate goal is for every single woman that sits in my salon to get the full salon treatment meaning a proper wash, a proper hair cut and a proper blow out. Our scalp is an extension of our face and its something we should not be neglecting. It’s the little things that make all the difference, the old school rules. 😉

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by noha fayad (@nohas_salon

The post NOAHA FAYAD appeared first on Jalya.

NURMEEN YASSIN

Emily Gruz — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 22:42:39 +0000

I am the founder of Vice Hijabs, a small business that specializes in the sale of hijabs and accessories. At Vice Hijabs we strive to sell luxury products, at an affordable price. – Nurmeen

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vice Hijabs (@vicehijabs)

When did you start your business? Was there something/someone who inspired you?

I launched Vice Hijabs in February of this year. What inspired me to launch my own brand would be the amazing Arab women in our community. I see these boss women launching and succeeding all over Edmonton. I see ladies take an idea they had and bring it to life and it is truly inspiring for someone who is just starting out like myself.

Would you say you reached all of your goals since you started or do you have more to achieve?

I do think I have reached a lot of my main goals this year, but as I complete each and every one, I keep adding to this list so I’m not sure if I’ll ever stop having goals that I want to achieve. I would like to be able to ship my products all over the world and I hope one day I will be able to say that I am doing just that.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vice Hijabs (@vicehijabs)

What are the ups and downs when dealing with the Arab community?

The biggest up with the Arab community I have experienced is the amount of support I have received from people who I have no had a prior connection with. It’s the best feeling when people who you have not previously interacted with support you endlessly. I have yet to see a downside to the Arab community, I have received no backlash or criticism from anyone.

What would you change if you had to do it all over again?

Personally, I would not change how I launched or go about my business. My main priority for my brand is customer service. I aspire to have only 5/5 reviews from all my customers, whether it is about my products, my prices or how I communicate with my customers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vice Hijabs (@vicehijabs)

What challenges has Covid-19 brought to you and your business and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge Covid-19 has brought to my business is that I’m selling a physical product that my customers are not able to see and touch in real life. Every customer has to have some sort of trust in my business and products before purchasing. They have to be able to trust my words when I say how soft a hijab is or how it does not slip off the head whereas before covid, I could host pop-ups and have people see the luxury quality for themselves.

The post NURMEEN YASSIN appeared first on Jalya.

UMM KHALID SAIFULLAH MEHTER

Emily Gruz — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:01:19 +0000

“After moving to Alberta from Toronto, we saw a need for modern Islamic Lifestyle products at an affordable price. SunnahSouq was born from that need…we would continuously get questions from our students and parents asking where they could also buy similar thobes and products. We are in our early stages still, but Alhamdulillah we’ve gotten a great response for our thobes and baby and doll hijabs (handmade in Edmonton)! We are also excited to announce that we are stocking Also Sophia products for Ramadan and Eid. Our children don’t have to feel that Islam is boring or strict… we have two amazing Eids to make more fun and enjoyable than any other holidays. We hope in the future to stock other Islamic items that will complement your modern Muslim home and bring the beauty of Islam to your life.” – UMM KHALID SAITFULLAH MEHTER

When did you start your business? Was there something/someone who inspired you?

We started our business just under a month ago. It’s been simmering on a back burner for years, and we said Bismillah and just started. Our biggest inspiration lies in our work of Dawah and teaching Islam (our primary jobs). We saw a great need in our students’ lives to make Islam more accessible and relatable, especially to the youth. @SunnahSouq was born from a need to supply Islamic lifestyle products that we, as second and third generation Canadians need to stay grounded in the faith.

Would you say you reached all of your goals since you started or do you have more to achieve?

Not at all. We have big goals for Edmonton and the greater community at large, we aim to curate upscale Islamic lifestyle products and make them more accessible and affordable.

What are the ups and downs when dealing with the Arab community?

Our business is aimed at the Muslim community of Edmonton, and of course that does include many Arabs. I hope this feature brings our business to their notice and of course, Arabs are famed for their generosity and akhlaaq.

What would you change if you had to do it all over again?

I wouldn’t change anything, it’s all a learning curve and I’m still just starting out. Alhamdulillah, I signed up with @salamsudduf intention membership and I find it’s been so beneficial in finding why I’m on this path and really grounding myself.

What challenges has Covid-19 brought to you and your business and how did you overcome them?

Starting a business during the pandemic might not be the easiest thing, but Alhamdulillah, I think everyone is realizing what can be done from home. In a way, the pandemic pushed us out of our comfort zone of teaching/imamat only and encouraged us to explore other avenues of spreading the beauty of Islam. One challenge we’re working to overcome is reaching people in other parts of Edmonton, and we hope this feature will help us in that insha’Allah.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SunnahSouq (@sunnahsouq)

The post UMM KHALID SAIFULLAH MEHTER appeared first on Jalya.

JESSICA HALABI

Emily Gruz — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 17:36:15 +0000

Jessica Halabi started out with her fashion design business called, “Jessica Halabi Fashion”. As soon as she finished fashion school in 2007, she entered a fashion competition which awarded her best local designer, and that’s when she got her foot in the door. From there, Jessica began making custom gowns, taking part in fashion shows around Canada and invited to international shows. Jessica Halabi Fashion appeared in national news and magazines worldwide. Jessica was soon named the top 10 designer in Western Canada. Shortly after getting married and having children, she decided to slow down her fashion career. That’s when she started “La.Looshi”, her baby brand. Named after her daughter Alya (who they call “looshi”). La.Looshi is a trendy baby & preschool line of clothing infused with Jessica’s Middle Eastern culture, represented with the keffiyeh. They work with babies of all abilities and races to be inclusive and often donate sales or profits to charities.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessica Halabi (@jessicahalabifashion)

When did you start your business? Was there something/someone who inspired you?

Jessica Halabi Fashion started in 2007. I always loved art and fashion, so I fused these two together. I’m often inspired by Lebanese designers; Elle Saab, Zuhair Murad, Georges Hobeika and Basil Soda. La.Looshi started in 2014 shortly after the birth of my first born Alya and my son Odai. They inspired me 100%.

Would you say you reached all of your goals since you started or do you have more to achieve?

I think I reached more goals than I thought I would, but there is so much more!! Once my children are a little older and my focus can be balanced a bit more, my goals will shift. Last year, La Looshi was recognized by the Arab American National museum and they now carry many of our products. That was huge for us!

What are the ups and downs when dealing with the Arab community?

The Arab community has been so supportive towards me and has helped my business grow. The biggest “up” would be if someone in a family likes your work, they will all like your work – and that works the opposite way as well, so that’s a big fear for me.

What would you change if you had to do it all over again?

There’s not too much I could change. As a full time mother, I put most of my focus on my family which leaves less time to pursue my career to its full potential. So right now I mostly try to keep relevant business wise, so I know when the time comes where I can focus mostly on business (once again), I’ll have a big following and support system.

What would you change if you had to do it all over again?

Since covid-19 hit, La.Looshi became a mask making factory. Right from the beginning, masks became high in demand and I felt ashamed to charge and profit off the pandemic. We ended up donating hundreds of masks to local charities and shelters, sick people/people in remission, and nurses worried that PPE may run out. At one point I was staying up all night and day making these masks and I ended up putting them in my regular rotation on my website; sales went way higher than expected (hamdillah). It really helped. I also donated all profits from my keffiyeh masks to the Red Cross for the explosion in Beirut. For Jessica Halabi Fashion, I truly thought 2020 would be my come back year for my gowns (as I had taken lots of time off to focus on family). Many people had booked custom gowns and wedding dresses & unfortunately many weddings/events ended up being rescheduled. At first it was worrisome, but in the end the events had set dates and my clients and I worked together to figure it all out. I really am lucky to have amazing customers who trust me.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessica Halabi (@jessicahalabifashion)

The post JESSICA HALABI appeared first on Jalya.

Edmonton’s Afflatus Hijab fashion line hit New York runway

Heba A — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 18:09:48 +0000

Wedad Amiri was going to a lot of weddings and it was costing a lot of money. “It was so hard to find a full-length dress with sleeves and fully lined,” she explains. So, she created her own fashion line. Four years later, Edmonton’s Afflatus Hijab has customers all over the world.

“I’ve sold to Europe, the Middle East, throughout the U.S. and all over Canada,” says the young designer.

TWEET THIS

Amiri, a Muslim Edmontonian, wears a hijab and modest clothing. Like many other Canadians, she also wants to be stylish. Now the fashion world is taking note of her work.

The Gwen Point Jacket from Edmonton’s Afflatus Hijab fashion line. Dr. Gwen Point is a BC educator and advocate for aboriginal education. COURTESY: Melissa Ta Photography

A piece from the Afflatus Hijab fashion line, named after Maureen Callihoo Ligtvoet, an indigenous leader living in Treaty 6 Territory. COURTESY: Melissa Ta Photography

Artist Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet models a jacket named after her, part of the Afflatus Hijab fashion line that pays tribute to Indigenous women who are leaders and role models. COURTESY: Melissa Ta Photography

The 9.1 skirt, part of the Afflatus Hijab fashion line designed by Edmonton’s Wedad Amiri. COURTESY: Melissa Ta Photography

A dress from the Afflatus Hijab fashion label, named for Miss Minnesota USA contestant Halima Aden who broke barriers and made history as the first Muslim woman to wear both a hijab and burkini during the competition. COURTESY: Capture the Moment by Nadia

This skirt from the Afflatus Hijab fashion line, designed in Edmonton, Alberta, was named for Nevin Darwish, the first Arab woman to command an Airbus 380. COURTESY: Capture the Moment by Nadia

Afflatus Hijab will be featured on the runway at Maarkah New York Fashion Week on Sept. 10. The event website puts Amiri in good company, proclaiming: “An elite selection of international celebrity designers from across the world will present their exquisite new haute-couture and Modest collections.”

It’s about more than fashion

Amiri has named some of her pieces after women suffering from mental illness. She uses the example of a long, sleeveless red vest called the Nakita Valerio. Valerio is an Edmonton writer and social advocate who holds a master’s degree and is on the executive of the Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council. Her struggle with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and C-PTSD is detailed on the Afflatus Hijab website, along with this advice: “You are resilient. You are still here. See how incredible you are, according to your own development.” The “Nakita Valerio” vest from the Canadian fashion line Afflatus Hijab. This piece is from part of the line designed to highlight mental health, and reduce the stigma around mental illness.

“She helped a lot of people with her story,” says Amiri

Other pieces are named after women dealing with bipolar disorder and anxiety. Each has a story. So too do the women that earlier pieces are named for, Indigenous and Muslim women who Amiri considers trailblazers.

“There’s this narrative that we have no rights, we’re oppressed and all of this,” she says.

“So I wanted to change the narrative and show Muslim women are doing great things in society.”

These are women like Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American Muslim legislatorin the U.S., and Doaa Elghobashy, an Olympian from Egypt who garnered global praise after competing in beach volleyball in her hijab.

“It’s been pretty amazing.

We’re a small business here in Edmonton and it’s interesting to see that people from around the world come to see my clothing line on my website.”

The post Edmonton’s Afflatus Hijab fashion line hit New York runway appeared first on Jalya.