India inspires designer Selina Farooqui

As chic and pretty as her collection, Selina Farooqui is a new and promising designer in the Middle East.
Farooqui is a designer who imbibes the aesthetics of culture and luxury together in her collection.
It is a combination of royal colors, traditional embroidery and sophisticated designs that set her clothes aside from the competition.
W Doha acknowledged Farooqui’s work by presenting her with the Best Fashion Designer Award in 2011 and offered its hotel premises to showcase her collections.
In 2012, Farooqui was honored with the Arab Women’s Award for Best Young Designer of the year.
A graduate from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Arts, Qatar, Farooqui’s love for fabrics took her on a journey of designing clothes.
Here’s a short interview with this multicultural designer:

Tell us about yourself.
I am a 26-year-old fashion designer based in Doha. I am an Indian. I was born and brought up in Saudi Arabia and moved to Qatar when I was 15. I started studying fashion design at VCUQ in 2006, and my career kicked off in the middle of my university years. It was the 2010 Annual Fashion Show at VCUQ and I was showing my junior year collection that night. I presented my first ever “Indian-Inspired” collection. The show was successful. That night, I was approached by a boutique owner from Qatar, who had fallen in love with a jacket I designed. She wanted it to be sold in her boutique. I wasn’t expecting anything like that yet I eagerly said yes and went on to create a follow-up collection for the boutique, featuring that one jacket. In doing so, I had to create my brand from scratch. I did everything from designing the logo, to making the tags, labels and packaging in a matter of a month or two. By August of that year it was sold out. This started a chain of events and opportunities and exposure to the press. This threw my brand in the public eye and got the attention of the fashion scene in the city. I continued to sell my collection in Doha, but also started selling in Dubai. I showcased my collection in Istanbul as well. Early milestones made me create my brand Selina Farooqui, my lifelong dream, goal and career. I am continuing stronger than ever today.

How has your journey been so far?
It has been a memorable journey full of ups and downs. I still remember the days when I first started, and I worked with local tailors, running back and forth from the fabric souk to the tailor. I used to sew my own embroideries, hours in front of the TV at home, sewing crystals onto a dress. My mother and me would sew my “Selina Farooqui” labels onto the backs of my garments. These are all fond memories. And things that have taught me that everything, every dream starts somewhere. And in the beginning you have to do many things your self and put in the hours of hard work. And by no means does the hard work stop there. It continues, but in time you learn how to work and function a business. In 2013 I finally stopped working with individual tailors and found myself a small production facility in India. This has been career changing for me. I now work with a consultant,and I manage and design everything from the embroidery to the fabric to the dress.Despite the challenges. I know this is what I am so passionate about, its my life, its what makes me happier and gives me a sense of pride and worth, its what I am good at. Therefore, the journey itself and the little triumphs throughout it (such as finding something that inspires me on a vacation, or sketching something that I cant wait to create in real life, or seeing the first samples in toile of your collection, seeing artisans hand embroider ornate designs which you drew on a sketch pad and gave to them to bring to life, sewing on your label with your name woven on it onto the back of a dress, experiencing people see your collection and be excited about your work, or even discovering a certain procedure necessary for business, these things, that happen daily are what remind me that this is what I am meant to be. I still get excited.

From where do you draw your inspirations for your collections?
My culture is what inspires me the most. I am originally from India, but was born and brought up in the Middle East. Although the two cultures are uniquely different, there is a common thread that runs through them. Everything from the architecture to the textile histories of the regions, the taste for rich jewel tone hues, the use of gold and silver, the textures embroidery, beadwork, the hand craftsmanship and the styles of ethnic garments are all things I am in love with and that inspire me every day. But I take these inspirations and make them my own, I add a modern twist to them to create something both unique and wearable.

What makes your outfits different from others?
I think about a woman who wants to stand out, feel exceptional, and a woman who loves to treat herself and indulge in collecting beautiful pieces for her wardrobe. This is a woman who appreciates craftsmanship and maintains a balance of the traditional and the modern. My specialty lies in the detail and dimension of my embroideries, the array of colors offered in each collection, and my signature volumes (feminine, flowing, romantic) and shapes, such as the petal shape of my logo, which can be seen all over the collection — in the collars, the yokes, the necklines, etc.

What do you like to do besides designing clothes?
I love to travel. It refreshes me, inspires me and motivates me.

Any advise for young upcoming designers?
I would advise young designers to always consider a few key things when launching a collection. I think to myself: Is it different? Is it “me”? Does it compliment a woman’s body? Is it versatile? Is it something that someone would want to invest in and buy for themselves? Will it be timeless? And is it exceptional? The last quality is my favorite. I love making each piece of the collection a strong, statement piece. Each piece is a jewel. It can stand-alone, yet at the same time, be in harmony with the rest of the collection. Also, when launching a brand, young designers should focus on quality. It may be more expensive and time-consuming to produce a high quality collection with clean finishing and good fabrics, but it puts you on a level to compete with other brands already existing. In my opinion, it’s better to offer a small, well made, high quality collection. Then build from there.
A cause that is close to your heart?
A few years ago, I had a fashion show hosted by the French Embassy here in Qatar in support of the Qatar National Cancer Society. The funds from this event were donated to the Cancer Society. It’s important to give back to our community and to causes such as these. I hope to host more fashion shows for charity in the future.

Your upcoming collections and projects?
I have just started sketching for my next collection. I would like to do something a little different for the next season. But in general for the future I see myself continuing on this path, more collections, exploring other diverse inspirations, learning more about textiles and embroidery, developing my own textiles and prints, and creating two lines of clothing, one luxury-evening line, and one ready-to-wear line. I am working on an accessories line, and one day in the future, maybe looking into a beauty line.

What are three must-haves in a woman’s wardrobe?
A large handbag that you can throw everything in on a daily basis and still look put together and stylish. An embellished pair of flats, as they are so versatile to dressing up an outfit and still staying comfortable. and a chic white blouse with lots of volume. I love an oversized, but still neat look.

What are your views about India and its handicrafts?
India is a true inspiration. The architecture, the colors, the drapes of traditional clothing, the value of craftsmanship, natural materials, and of course, the thousands of techniques of embroidery which decorate the country and its people. My current SS14 Collection highlights the art of Indian embroidery. It is a collection inspired by Indian jewelry and ornamentation. Embroidery has been an age old tradition in India, and I have incorporated a fusion of Indian techniques of metal wire work and thread work, mixed with some contemporary touches of stones and matte beads and crystals. The dresses in the collection have my signature volume — flowing, feminine, gently draping the body, complimenting all figures. Braided belts, tassels, and other details decorate the pieces and make each one special.

Where can one buy or order your clothes?
They are available in Rubaiyat Luxury Department Stores in Jeddah, KSA. And in Doha, they are available at Impression Boutique, in The Pearl Qatar.
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