Rabia zargarpur biography of donald

While living in New York City in early 2001, Rabia Zargarpur, a native of Dubai, decided to adopt the hijab, or headscarf, into her daily wardrobe. It was then that she was confronted with a dilemma - at least in the eyes of a fashion conscious young woman. Her newly chosen lifestyle left her with nothing stylish to wear. Having graduated from New York's prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology two years earlier, only to abandon her passion to pursue a career in business administration, Ms Zargarpur, or "Rabia Z" as she is known professionally, discovered her calling.

She started designing and sewing simple tunics and long blouses and marketing them to women who wore the hijab in the US. Realising the potential of her designs, she returned to Dubai to begin selling her clothing in the UAE. "I realised there are women around the world that have the same issue - they want to dress modestly, follow their faith and yet they don't want to miss out on what's in style and things that are more fashionable," said the designer, 31, who debuted her first collection last year.

A growing number of men and women in the region are taking on the delicate balancing act of transforming modesty into a hip, chic and mainstream concept without violating the basic principles set by Islamic tradition. With warm weather, tax-free incomes and high levels of consumer spending, designers say their "home" market represents the perfect platform to jump-start any Arab fashion line. The evidence is in the numbers. According to Colliers International, Emirati households represent an average spending power of US$23,000 (Dh84,400) per household per year; Western households average $19,500 a year; other Arabs average $13,500; and Asians average $10,000.

As Dubai and Abu Dhabi emerge as global fashion destinations, designers agree that the evidence of their success is in seeing names such as Calvin Klein and Emilio Pucci strut down the catwalk alongside regio

DUBAI: Rabia Z. Zargarpur is a superwoman. Learning about her insane current schedule, one wonders when she finds the time to eat and sleep.
Business trips aside, the designer – the force behind the renowned modest fashion brand Rabia Z – has been focusing on the official launch of her Rabia Z Modest Fashion Academy, plus her online Rabia Z Mentorship Program. Then there’s her consulting work, rebranded Rabia Z launch and sustainable fashion collection.
“And of course, family time with my husband, entertaining our 6-year-old twins and our 14-year-old son, who are off for the summer,” the 40-year-old founder, CEO and creative director told Arab News. “So yeah, pretty much business as usual!”
Zargarpur’s brand first came to life in 2002, as one of the world’s first modest fashion, ready-to-wear e-commerce stores, a time when the industry certainly wasn’t as known as it is today.
“We were producing the basics line in Dubai and selling out of San Francisco from my grandfather’s garage,” the Emirati-Afghan-American explains. “We relaunched as a full-on designer brand back in Dubai, on runways in 2006, and won the Emerging Designer Award at Dubai Fashion Week in 2007.”
She went on to showcase modest fashion on mainstream runways and fashion weeks across cities including New York, London, Milan, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Buyers and customers certainly took notice – today, Rabia Z sells to 71 countries.
To Zargarpur, modest fashion is more exciting than ever. “It is finally ‘du jour,’” she exclaimed. “For me – (someone) who has tirelessly worked almost 18 years, the majority of it towards building awareness for this huge market at a time when neither this sector nor the term ‘modest fashion’ existed – I am happy to see it flourish globally.”
Now she predicts that it’s Saudi Arabia’s turn to fully embrace the market. “Saudi women have always been style savvy and with the major changes we’ve seen this year, we will see

Almost everyone I know has called me a trendsetter, which after several ‘surprised myself' experiences made me realise that I have a strong fashion forecasting sense."

But the crunch really came around six years ago when Zargarpur started wearing the hijab.

She added: "It was then I realised the need to be a designer for the modern Muslim woman, especially because there weren't any designers catering especially to our needs to dress modestly and yet stylishly.

"I have two lines, a mid to high price range and also a trendy lower price range which will be under a sub label. I am working on finalising that brand name. My presented line is fun, chic, versatile, modest, comfortable, practical, sporty, and classy and that is all I can say for now until the show!

Inspiration

"My inspiration for the competition designs would have to be my friends who cover up.

"There are many others demanding style with modesty. Having done my Spring/Summer ‘08 collection during the hot summer of Dubai, I was inspired to make this collection as cool and comfortable as possible without the need to layer the outfit for the purpose of covering.

"I have designed my ready-to-wear line as a complete look from head to toe. I was inspired by all the busy mums, working Muslim women and active students. There is something for everyone in mind."

How did it all begin?
From the age of six I knew all I wanted to do was design. I would use decorative silk flowers and leaves to make evening gowns for my Barbie dolls. Then as a teenager I got into designing my own evening gowns which got appreciative attention from strangers who would stop and ask me about my dresses, as well as from friends and family. One gown even helped me become high school prom queen.

What's your design style?
I have more than one style in my designs but all are more or less linked and they are: modern hippy chic; trendy; boho-chic; high street wear; sporty; casual