Fashion entrepreneurs’ designs exhibited in London’s Mayfair
Tue, 06 Oct 2015 16:21:00 BST
Sanya Rehman’s and Zahra Mahmood’s Sanzaa collection will feature at this year’s Urban Muslim Fashion Show
TALENTED entrepreneurs, who started from small beginnings by selling garments on a Bradford market stall, are one of the featured designers at the annual Urban Muslim Fashion Show, which takes place in the exclusive Mayfair area of West London.
Friends Sanya Rehman and Zahra Mahmood (pictured right), along with their award-winning business Sanzaa, will be unveiling their new designer collection of Modest wear and scarves and hijabs on the London catwalk on Saturday 10 October.
Sanzaa’s ambitious story began on a small market stall in 2010 when they were studying for their A-levels at Bradford’s Belle Vue Girl’s School. Even then, they had a keen entrepreneurial spirit and were selling garments every weekend and after school, whilst studying for their exams. 
It was through this time when they first became attracted to buying and selling within the fashion industry.
“We received such a buzz from trading with our clients on the market stall,” said Sanya. “We couldn’t wait to work on the stall after school and at the weekends to trade and talk with the customers. We just loved the whole atmosphere,” she said.
It was during their time on the University’s Enterprise Development degree, when they had gained enough confidence, that they decided to open their own permanent business premises, which is on Duckworth Lane in Bradford, and redesigned the empty shop into a modern fashion boutique.
“Sanzaa has grown and evolved with us,” said Zahra. 
“Initially, we were selling just basic dresses, then we added scarves and hijabs to the collection. Now, we are designing our own unique pieces and accessories, just to keep up with the demand.”
The inspiration for their style came after the business partners noticed that many of the clothes in the high-street stores were unsuitable for Muslim women to wear and then, of the clothes which were suitable, there wasn’t a varied selection to choose from.
“We noticed a distinct gap in the market,” said Zahra. “The clothes in the high-street stores are gorgeous and really stylish, but they don’t fully meet the needs for modest Muslim women. With Sanzaa’s collection, they now have more choice” she said.
“Our new modest wear collection is casual yet glamorous and great for any wardrobe,” added Sanya. “Our designs showcase that, however you choose to dress, you can always feel elegant, fashionable, beautiful and, most of all, individual. We can’t wait to share our upcoming range of beautiful clothing and hijabs.”
Their business drive led to the pair being named in the top three for the Bradford Telegraph & Argus newspaper’s award Young Business Entrepreneur of the Year in Sanzaa’s first year of trade and the future certainly looks bright as Sanya’s and Zahra’s designs become more vast, varied and sought after.
