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Designer Fathima Ashrafi hopes to broaden the appeal of the traditional Arabic abaya to international markets with the cut and quality of the cloth she uses and her contemporary styles and embroidery expertise.
Business is blooming at her shop, Lantana, located in a cosy neighbourhood in Jidd Ali, where her exclusive range is on display. Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants and its aromatic flower clusters called umbels are a mix of red, orange, yellow, or blue and white florets.
Its colourful vibrancy inspired Fathima's creativity as has watching the abaya's transformation from a piece of simple clothing dictated by local custom to one of choice.
She said: "Nowadays, in the malls, I even see expatriates wearing abayas - and not just Arab ladies. Everyone seems to be intrigued and interested in owning and wearing one.
"I hope to someday take my abaya designs to international shows - and why not? Even they can make a fashion statement!"
The Bahrain-born Irani mother-of-two believes the abaya is a superbly convenient item of clothing and can look elegant and trendy too. Her range of outfits is also affordable starting from BD20 up to BD150 and will shortly go on open display at a group exhibition of abaya designers to be staged in Hoora.
Fathima, 35, a former sales and marketing executive, explained: "Regardless of what you wear underneath, a beautiful abaya can make you look elegant and sophisticated. Nowadays, it is even seen in corporate offices where professionals are opting to wear the abaya.
"I have just begun wearing them and I find them extremely comfortable. My sisters began using them after marriage and motherhood and I have followed suit."
Her love for fashion started at an early age. She said: "I remember when I was around nine years old I would take my clothes to the tailor and tell him how I wished to have them stitched. I would never allow my mother to choose my dresses!
"However, my main inspiration has been my older sister, Masooma. I grew up watching her offer her friends' advice on what to wear and what new trends to choose."
She hopes one day to follow in the footsteps of celebrated Bahrain-based designer Kubra Al Qaseer. "I love her work - she's so elegant and wonderful! I also really love the way she has built her life from a modest background to being one of the most wanted and sought after designers in the region today!" she said.
Fathima says she is continuingly conjuring up designs in her head from every day occurrences that attract her eye. She said: "The other day I was helping my little girl with her studies and I came up with the idea of incorporating geometric shapes into my designs."
She handpicks her material from India and China and now boasts a growing list of clients both in the kingdom as well as from neighbouring Qatar.
A leading Bahraini actress has also commissioned her to produce an exclusive abaya for her to wear during Ramadan.
Fathima is likely to expand her range of outfits to include the traditional jalabiyas after successfully creating a range for her mother and hopes to expand into designing wedding dresses.
For further details she can be contacted on 77022855.
