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Fashion designer Khaleda Rajab has launched her latest range of outfits inspired by a rainy visit to the English capital.
Dreary London may have depressed the soaked shoppers cowering from a downpour but the Bahraini businesswoman was captivated by the scene.
Khaleda, 26, from Hamad Town, said: “I get inspired by my surroundings. My latest collection came from walking the streets of London. What caught my attention and inspired me at the time was seeing a couple of girls standing in a tight shaded area while it was raining – that’s when it hit me!
“Every trendy or fashionable woman’s worst nightmare is getting wet in an expensive piece of garment that might get damaged depending on the fabric they’re wearing. So I decided to take the concept of rain-drops and create garments that speak for themselves.”
She unveiled details of her latest line entitled Drops & Blades at the Financial Harbour’s Capital Club. On show was a range of her collections, including a simply cut tulip-shaped wedding dress which boasted a studded and spiked shirt on top, adding a unique gothic image to the look.
Khaleda’s creations certainly stand out in a crowd and she knows where her market lies. She explained: “These are for women that won’t leave their home without ensuring that their outfits make a statement. My designs are strong and eye catching. They’re made for the confident woman of today, one that is not afraid to take risks.”
Khaleda currently has four lines, the Khaleda Rajab Haute Couture, Khaleda Rajab Couture (KRC) Higher Line, KRC Lower Line and KRC Kids.
After graduating from the University of Suffolk in Boston, Massachussets, in business and marketing, she came back to Bahrain and fuelled her ardour for fashion while simultaneously combining her business knowledge, which has allowed her to develop a quality brand and an enduring collection.
“I believe every designer has to have a business background to make it into the industry,” she said.
“I currently have a standing boutique for three years in Bahrain, I have a large clientele and my brand is now selling all over the Middle East, in Dubai, Jeddah, Lebanon and Kuwait,” she said, “I’m also considering going back to Boston this summer to complete a fashion course.”
Wearing an elegant, striped, tight-fitting beige dress belted at the waist, along with a pair of leopard-print overstated heeled shoes which matched her beautifully blow-dried blonde hair, Khaleda remains confident about the future.
“My designs and personal sense of everyday style is loud, daring, and defiantly sophisticated, with an element of chick rock. I design for the women of today, not yesterday,” she said. “I create outfits for a woman that likes to take a chance with her everyday attire.”
While the models gracefully walked the room wearing her designs, the sunlight created an outer glow against the sequins that covered a majority of the dresses, making the wearer feel the empowerment Khaleda has repeatedly illustrated.
She has become a fashion icon amongst the country’s beau monde since she introduced her designs in the Khaleda Rajab Haute Couture and opened her store in the Falcon Tower, Diplomatic Area.
For more information visit www.khaledarajab.com
