COVERED Edition 2 Issue 2 | Page 17

Style Africa delivers a professional service with an international appeal, positioning SA Designers on an global level. I’ve always been aware of the Islamic and Modest wear market and did some research on how and who represents this market. On finding the Islamic Fashion and Design Council and after a few interviews, my CV, knowledge, skills and experience played in my favour when Alia Khan Global Head of IFDC offered me the South Africa Country Manager role for the IFDC. 5. Your recent appointment to run IFDC SA brings the challenge of introducing Islamic modest fashion to South Africa do you think our people will embrace it or shy away from it? Within the first year as IFDC SA Country Manager I have managed to assist emerging designers in getting their foot in the door. as well as introducing them to the right people and steering them away from the wrong ones. It has also gained some designers global marketing on our Pret-A-Cover virtual fashion week in which they were interviewed by International Magazines like Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar, Hijub, BBC and other local designers featured in IFDC’s international magazine as well. For entrepreneurs and small businesses the South African IFDC team created the Modest Fashion Emporium in the Factory Shop Expo allowing vendors to reach a bigger market and introduce themselves to a new customer. 6. What are your interests and hobbies? I enjoy writing poetry, learning new things, styling head wraps, turbans and scarves, skipping, dressing up, presenting, singing, this could take a while to list. I’ll stop there. 7.Favourite food? I don’t really have a favourite food but tend to have my favourites at restaurants I go to like: I love a well made French toast which I found at Pearl Spoon, Myatts mango atchaar chicken sandwich, I live on the Herbalife Apple and cinnamon, and Chocolate shakes for breakfast…. 8. Favourite book and movie My favourite book is `The Cosmology of The Self’ by Sheikh Fadlala Haeri My favourite movie —- I haven’t watched movies in a while and nothing stands out as a favourite.