London Runway Issue 14

NODNOL CF . HCNUAL NOIHSAF URUHU . OLLETUC ANEROM

NOIHSAF DNA TIXERB . KILAM DAMA ,ELYAB YRREIHT HTIW WEIVRETNI

ISSUE 14

APRIL 2018

LONDON

RUNWAY

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CONTRIBUTORS Editor: Rhiannon D'Averc - editor@londonrunway.co.uk Editorial Assistant: Candice Wu - info@londonrunway.co.uk Lead Photographer: Rhiannon D'Averc Photographer: Joanna Foster - shoots@londonrunway.co.uk Lead writer: Rachel Parker - features@londonrunway.co.uk Lead graphic designer: Sophie Brown design@londonrunway.co.uk Lead stylist: Monica Pereira - stylist@londonrunway.co.uk Contributors: Ian Clark, Helen Ifeagwu, Morena Cutello, Ilaria Ricci, Ana Lazovski, Molly-Kate Sharples, Jay Tarone Special thanks to Amad Malik, Thierry Bayle, and Rahab Inghalwa

Advertising enquiries - info@londonrunway.co.uk Submissions - info@londonrunway.co.uk Š 2018, London Runway and contributors

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IN THIS ISSUE Letter from the Editor

We've had a busy week, but first, let's talk about the current epidemic hitting fashion shows.

Yes, you're not the only one to have noticed it - they're dropping like flies.

We've counted three cancellations and one postponement in the two weeks since issue 13 alone, so we're feeling anxious. Hopefully, this pattern ends rather swiftly, because we do love our shows.

Still, onwards and upwards we've got some special treats for you this week. We headed out to the launch of Uhuru, a new online shopping experience which is going to revolutionise the way that ethically-minded fashionistas shop.

We also headed to Fashion Collective London's networking event, and had a bit of a word in some important ears. You'll be reading all about that when you get to our three interviews for this issue. Yes, three - it's a bumper crop to look forward to. We're bringing you viewpoints from all sides of an event: organiser, speaker, and model.

We're also bringing you a brand new editorial featuring the slick looks of Italian designer Morena Cutello, taking you into a world you'll long to be part of. We shot on location at the beautiful Fulham Palace, taking full advantage of the sudden spring weather and fresh blooms.

Meanwhile, there are a couple more features for you to read. Yes, that's right - more! We're thinking about what kind of impact Brexit will have on the fashion world, as well as examining the state of fashion business right now.

Don't forget, we're open to submissions, so go ahead and check londonrunway.co.uk to read our guidelines for writers, photographers, and artists. We're looking forward to seeing what lands in our inboxes from you creative sorts.

And as always, drop us a line via info@londonrunway.co.uk if you have a show you think we should see or a feature you think we should run.

Enjoy!

We're also currently taking on three new intern positions covering arts, music, and fashion news. If you're interested in working with us, search on Fashion Jobs to spot the application form before the end of this month.

Oh yes - and that does mean we've got some very exciting things coming. Watch out for new feature sections for the next issue, and even more as soon as our new team members arrive.

RHIANNON D'AVERC

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CONTENTS Photography Uhuru Launch Event - 4 Fashion Collective London Workshop - 6 Muslim Lifestyle Show - 13 Hats By Maria's New Pop-up - 21

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Walled Garden (cover feature) - 25

Features Is Brexit in Vogue? - 10 Interview: Amad Malik - 19 Interview: Thierry Bayle - 23 State of Fashion: Business Trends - 38

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Interview: Rahab Inghalwa - 40

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UHURU FASHION LAUNCH We had a lot of fun at the launch event for UhuruFashion.com, a new online shopping destination which promised the most ethically sourced goods money can buy.

Megha Shah feels strongly about the fact that 20% of clothes are only worn once, and the environmental disaster the fashion industry is causing. So, with a love of great clothes, the only thing to do was to create a start-up which would provide both high quality and sustainability.

Uhuru provides a place where you can compare and contrast items on an ethical basis, with total transparency. They look for brands that represent female empowerment, artisanal value, and sustainable manufacturing.

5% of each sale is donated to a charity of your choice, which is the icing on the cake. In case you were wondering, Uhuru is Swahili for 'freedom'. The site wants to give back this basic right which has been stripped by fashion for many people around the world.

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FASHION COLLECTIVE WORKSHOP Last week, the non-profit organization Fashion Collective organised a fashion workshop event.

Providing a space for all fashion enthusiasts and professionals to meet and mingle, the night showcased some beautifully designed footwear by luxury footwear brand Duke and Dexter and an informational talk on the business side of the fashion industry.

With the aim to inform up-andcoming designers and brands on not just the creative side of fashion but the business side as well, we definitely learned a thing or two about sustainability in the fashion industry.

In this day and age where almost everything is dominated by capitalism, a good idea and some rose colored glasses aren’t going to cut it. Photography by Ian Clark

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IS BREXIT IN VOGUE? Helen Ifeagwu talks to fashion industry professionals about the impact of Brexit - and how it is already being felt.

Nestled in the heart of Soho, London, among the bustling shops, cafés, and restaurants, sits a petite shop with white-washed walls on Broadwick Street, easily overlooked. But Broadwick Silks is nothing short of a hallmark of the London Fashion industry, supplying fabrics for over 25 years. Inside, a seemingly perennial assembly of bold and opulent cloths, fabrics, and wools is stacked in sky-high piles covering every part of the walls. Each fabric is a visual identity of a different fashion period, from gilded elegant cloths that catch the spirit of ancient empires to modern geometrically patterned materials.

Broadwick Silks is a popular landmark for groomed filmmakers, interior designers, fashion designers and students alike. Its selection of materials is serious eye candy to its regular clients of London’s creative scene.

As it stands, the British fashion industry is a growing market that has accounted for £28 billion added to the British economy, according to the British Fashion Council. In a study by Fashion United, an international fashion business platform, figures show the industry has also accounted for 555,000 jobs in fields related to fashion in the UK to date.

Brexit, however, could paralyse this industry’s growth.

Textiles are one form of goods that Britain imports and exports tariff-free from EU nations, some of which are the UK’s main trading partners. In such a climate rife with opportunity for

trade, supply chain businesses such as Broadwick Silks have seen great success in recent years. In view of Britain’s upcoming exit from the EU, Eve Lewis, sourcing manager of Broadwick Silks, says the business has been “crippled” by the exchange rate between the dollar and pound when the pound fell just after the Brexit referendum in June 2016.

So, should businesses pro-actively plan new marketing strategies around Brexit?

“I think at the moment nobody really knows what the effect of Brexit will be on business, because we just haven’t got a clue as to what it’s going to involve,” Eve tells me, hard at work measuring fabric at the shop counter for one of her many professional clients; this one making costumes for a movie. The business, known for its “exotic” fabrics, imports most of these from China and India, paying between 8-10% duty on them, which is costed into their pricing. With a highly international customer base, Broadwick Silks could face some challenges when Britain leaves the EU.

By March 2019, the government has set the intention to stop free movement between borders as a measure to control immigration. This may have a ripple effect on trade between the U.K and EU nations. Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council correlates the sharp rise of “UK apparel and textile exports to the EU” from 4.5bn to 5.8bn in 2014 to the current tariff-free movement of goods between the nations. According to statistics in various trade reports, including the renowned Creative Industry Federation, the HM Revenue & Customs and the trade map by the International Trade Centre, the UK relies primarily on EU countries such as Germany and France as trading partners.

A quick trip next door from Broadwick Silks leads to Misan Fabrics, another SoHo-based textile company, and also a prominent fabric supplier to the British ready-to-wear and couture fashion scene. The luxury fabric store is known for its authentic European fabrics, some of which are fine silks, “French lace, jacquards, brocades, and tweeds”. A Brexit trade negotiation could spike the costs of import taxation which may adversely affect Misan Fabric’s sales of these products. Though if a trade crisis were looming, their iota of hope is that the bulk of their product is British-made fabric produced in North Yorkshire from windmills in the Midlands.

IS BREXIT IN VOGUE? A spokesperson for the company, which has been consistent in its success for over thirty years, remains confident: “I think if people know where it’s coming from, they don’t mind paying that extra bit. None of our fabrics are from the far east.”

If London’s top fabric suppliers are threatened

by Brexit, this will inevitably have a domino effect on emerging fashion designers.

Jane Asple is an upcoming Irish designer who showcased designs by her brand, EmmaByJane, at a Fashion Week presentation. Her newest collection of dainty gold and silver accessories and her fusion pink “Emma” bomber encapsulate the loving spirit of friendship.

In terms of the future of her business, Jane Asple says she looks at Brexit from the “Irish point of view”. Ireland is integral to the Brexit debate, as it primarily relies on Britain as its largest trading partner. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, before the referendum in 2016, Ireland’s exports to the United Kingdom were valued at around 16.5bn.

When Britain leaves the EU, and with it, access to the single market, the introduction of barriers and tariffs could increase import costs significantly for EU countries.

“As an Irish designer, we have to now look at the European market and we can no longer solely depend on growing our business in the UK,” says Jane uneasily. “As an Irish designer, I would have probably put all my eggs in the U.K

basket before, and now you really have got to not focus on it.”

With plenty of grey areas in the resulting Brexit trade agreement that have yet to be clarified, Jane Asple has found a loophole. Social media allows for an international reach, so EmmaByJane has taken its sales to online platforms instead. “Online is where my business is growing and its 67% of the sales after year one,” says Jane. Perhaps online, the business could escape potential problems caused by labour laws limiting job opportunities for EU citizens, which Jane would have to face if physically

selling her products in-shop.

Also exhibiting their newest collection of jewellery at a Fashion Week presentation was Stööki, a “multidisciplinary art collective” and fashion brand based in London. Bosola Ajenufija, one of the designers of Stööki, showcased a new selection of pieces that marry the qualities of asymmetrical geometry and natural forms. The collection features new iterations of polished and textured gold and silver rings and necklaces, catching the bold spirit of youth culture.

IS BREXIT IN VOGUE? Stööki’s jewellery is handmade by Nadia Abbas, a jewellery technologist based in Hackney, London. As with many other emerging brands, the EU has provided financial muscle through funding schemes to boost initial growth. This has allowed Stööki to make its debut in the fashion industry with its handmade pieces, and initial success is now pushing the brand to diversify its marketing strategy in order to grow. However, as Stööki has yet to establish itself as an international brand name on the roster, Bosola worries about the future of funding schemes. “There’s a lot of fear – because we’re part of one of those programmes – that funding is going to go,” she says woefully. With potential cuts in funding, the brand may cease to grow.

However, it’s not only the market aspect of the UK’s creative industry that will have to adapt to a potentially weaker economy as an outcome of Brexit; London, as a hub for fashion education with thousands of U.K and international students flocking to its many universities, may also have to reconfigure itself. However, every cloud has a silver lining. Perhaps if the pound fell in value, studying fashion in the UK may become more affordable.

What Brexit could also mean is that “the UK has a chance to celebrate local artisans and revive hubs and factories that may have previously shut down when

industry rise or fall when Britain leaves manufacturing shifted overseas,” says the EU? Grace Manning, 23, who studied fashion buying in Manchester. Having just finished an internship in the fashion industry, and considering the findings of her case study on the impact of a Brexit trade deal that could impose tariffs on EU suppliers now matching foreign suppliers, Grace looks to the future with optimism.

“I think fashion buying overall will change hugely with Brexit. We’ll likely see a move of manufacturing from low-cost countries like China back into the UK like it used to be,” she says. This outcome would inevitably lead to more job opportunities within the fashion industry. However, with the pound at an all-time low, brands may have to increase their prices to match the increase in costs demanded by more expensive suppliers.

Despite the uncertainty, Grace is now looking to get into fashion buying professionally.

As Eve Lewis put it, “nobody really knows because we just haven’t got a clue as to what it’s going to involve”. As long as it remains a matter of speculation whether the UK’s economy will be better or worse off, the future of the fashion industry is unclear.

We only know for certain that things will change. But will these changes see the

Read more from Helen at https://helenngozin.wixsite.com/helen-ngozi Images via Pixabay

THE MUSLIM LIFESTYLE SHOW HOSTED A MODEST FASHION CATWALK FULL OF GORGEOUS FABRICS AND SLEEK STYLES FOR MODERN MUSLIMS Photographs via Muslim Lifestyle Show

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AMAD MALIK INTERVIEW

As the organiser of Fashion Collective, Amad Malik knows a thing or two about running fashion events. Candice Wu caught up with him at the workshop.

Could you introduce yourself to our readers?

So, my name is Amad Malik, and I'm the founder of Fashion Collective. Fashion Collective is not a charity but an organisation that works with charities and works within fashion. We are not a business. We are a nonprofit organisation, and the purpose is to, first, raise money for children's charities. BBC Children in Need is one of the charities that we support, and the second is to provide a platform for designers and creatives to come together. We provide them facilities where they’re introduced to the right people, for example, business consultants because a lot of fashion people... they are creative and artistic, but they don't have any fashion acumen. We can help them with that; building their products, expanding their brand, et cetera. That's what we do. By profession, I am an IT consultant, so that has really nothing to do with fashion but that's what I do.

"CREATIVITY, BEING CREATIVE, OR APPRECIATING CREATIVITY IS A HUMAN NATURE." How did you get into running these events, and what was the inspiration behind it?

It started as just a hobby as a fashion photographer and, also, my nephew, who is a teenager who lost his ability to walk. That's how the charity element came in. My sister is a fashion designer and I do fashion photography as a hobby, so I thought that's perfect. I can help my sister and my nephew and sort of like kill two birds with one stone. I got into fashion photography just because I come from a family of artists. My father was a painter.

My sister was a painter, an artist, a sculptor, and a fashion designer, and she's like extremely creative. I always thought I was the geek with no fashion or creative side to me at all and then I picked up the camera

and really loved it. I loved the creative side, so that's sort of how I got into it. I started photography maybe 2-3 years ago and have already been published in a few magazines. I maybe shoot like once a few months, but it's something.

What does fashion mean to you?

Creativity, being creative, or appreciating creativity is a human nature. It's a human desire. I think it's very sad if you can't, but I assume most people can. That's what fashion represents to me. Fashion is not just all about buying clothes and wearing clothes. It's not. For me, you have these designers and embroideries. It's all very creative and artistic. Not just making the clothes. The process of conceptualities in the idea behind it and also presentation. It can be from very baroque to very glamourous to very minimalistic to very embroidered and embellished, and all that sort of stuff. It's such a huge thing that people don't even really realise until you really get into it and appreciate the artistic side and I think that's what it all means to me.

What are your plans, going forward?

We aim to do at least one event a month and hopefully continue with that. We will continue to help and raise money for different charities. Obviously, my present empathy is for children's charities because of my nephew, but I think we'll just continue working with other charities as well. If we can keep on raising money for now, we have a target for September. A Just Giving page was set up which will goÂ

directly to BBC Children in Need, and we are collecting money and posting on it and sharing it. With our people doing some fundraising, we can continue to help other creatives, connecting and providing them a platform where people can come together, have fun, and progress, you know. Meet the right people and get pushed to success.

Find Fashion Collective online: https://f-c.london/ Just Giving Fundraising Page: https://www.justgiving.com/fund raising/fashion-collectivelondon Images by Ian Clark

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Hats By Maria has launched a new SS18 signature collection titled Frida. Tying with both the V&A tribute to Frida Kahlo and the upcoming Royal Ascot event, the collection draws inspiration from the Mexican artist. She famously said, “I paint flowers so they do not die”, and the flowers in this new collection certainly won't: they are crafted from recycled thermoplastics.

Raising awareness of ethical and sustainable design techniques, the collection is aimed at the more conscientious luxury consumer. Dahlias, succulents, and water lilies adorn boaters and pillboxes in wearable pieces of hand-made art.

“I hope each hat will speak to you with the vibrancy of colour combinations of Mexico - the jungle, the ocean, the mixture of lime and hot chillis and the idea of being closer to nature via a more sustainable way of living,” said Hats By Maria milliner and founder, Maria Zherebtsova.

The five new hats and headpieces are available at the ‘Design Spring’ Pop Up Shop.

23rd – 27th April KIMA Architects, 18 Cleveland St, London W1T 4HZ www.hatsbymaria.com

HATS BY MARIA: NEW COLLECTION

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THIERRY BAYLE INTERVIEW

As the speaker at the Fashion Collective event, Thierry has a lot of great advice to give to budding fashion designers. Candice Wu picked his mind.

What do you do?

So, my name is Thierry Bayle, and I'm the founder of Global Fashion Management. I'm here to help fashion brands and retailers have a more profitable business, so I focus on the business side of fashion, bringing 25 years of international experience for them to be able to understand how as a designer you need to become today, a business designer.

How did you get into fashion management?

Well, a French company decided one day that they needed a general manager for their UK operation and because I was speaking English and was educated partly in the US when I was young and then I lived in Singapore and travelled Southeast Asia, so all my education, as well as my living experience after graduating from my business school, was in English. So, I started here 5 years, turned around the operation, and then they told me, “Okay Thierry, it's time for you to go and open a US office.” So, I went to the US to open a US office in New York, and that was many years ago. In the meantime, basically, it was really working with brands and retailers from young designers to establish brands because I was fortunate to work with people like Calvin Klein, DVF, Moschino, Versace, and many others.

"IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE, HAVE A MEASURABLE GOAL EVERY TIME" What was your inspiration to get into fashion specifically?

I think what’s really exciting in the world of fashion is the fact that every six months you have to reinvent yourself. Except, that now that H&M, Zara, and some others have decided to speed up and the time to market has actually become very short today, it's more like 4-6

times a year that you have to reinvent yourself, so the key challenge is creating, setting up, and managing a fashion brand. It takes a lot of time, a lot of money, and the challenge today is since nobody knows, since the day the fashion industry has become much more complex and unpredictable, who is going to be helping you to act as a kind of sounding board. The critical thinking that you need to revisit the way you think and work, that's my job, and today, I will open more questions in your business than your staff or yourself will. That, I guarantee.

What's the biggest misconception or mistake you see in young fashion businesses?

150 people I had in collective seminars in one to ones. 0%. 0% of those people were able to tell me how much money they were giving away in discounts. It takes one minute to calculate. I'm going to ask you two numbers, and I'll be able to tell you how much they are giving away in discounts. Somebody had 20 stores and she couldn't tell me. Just to show you that we lack proper training in the fashion industry and at retail even more. That's why we need you to work on the creative side and somebody to work on the business side. They're going to be lucky one month. They're going to be lucky one year, but long-term, it's not going to be sustainable.

How do you see things differently to designers?

What you read is not what I'm going to see. You're going to see a red flag, and I'm going to see a green flag. You're going to see a green flag, and I'm going to see a red flag. An example. We will give you a space in our showroom. I said to the designer, “Are you happy with that?” “Yep, that's exactly what I want,” she said. “Did you give them a brief?” “No.” You need a brief. If you don't give them a brief, it means that what you want is exactly the proposal. It's impossible. It's impossible. They say they're going to give you a space in their showroom, and you're happy with that. Is that correct? Can you improve that sentence? “No, that's exactly what I want.” Does she tell you how much square metres she is going to give you? “No.” “Does she tell you in which area of the showroom you will be?” “No.” “Did she tell you that if another designer gives her $10,000 whether or not you will have less space in the showroom? Can you confirm that with me? “No.” That's what's going to happen to a lot of those designers. Today it's too complicated. People don't know how to spot the good advice from the bad, but that's my job. People don't know what they want. If you want to improve, have a measurable goal every time.

Should CEOs be business-minded or fashion-minded?

We have to get people to open up and make sure that, yes, it's a creative world and yes, you should maybe fire the CEO if he doesn't know the difference between burgundy and red and he shouldn't be the one making that choice either, (it's the designer). But at the same time, we’re in it to make money or else there's no sustainability.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future in the next 3 years... I'm looking to connect with 10,000 young designers and provide them with the business side of fashion.

So, my next step is building an online fashion academy. Why? Because I'm always sad to be able to see so many young designers who are borrowing money from family and friends, sometimes mortgaging their place and losing it all. It's 6, 12, or 24 months, and sometimes, it’s not because of their fault but just because not everybody is going to be honest with them. You've got to make sure that you're well surrounded, and you know the big challenge is... I love some of the quotes that Tom Ford gives. He said, “Remember, your customers do not need your clothes, so you've got to give them a reason why they need to buy you.” He also said, you know, you'll have to find a business partner and make sure that you stick with them, and together, you will grow because you need the business side, absolutely.

Today, just having a creative product, it can be 15% of success. The rest is going to be your processes, your quality and time of delivery. It can be your ability to invoice and to collect money. Today, the digital side of the business today is going to be about retail. There's a real lot of challenges about retail.

Find Thierry online: http://www.globalfashionmanag ement.com/en/ Images by Ian Clark

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WALLED GARDEN Photography - Rhiannon D'Averc Models - Jay Tarone & Molly-Kate Sharples Styling - Monica Pereira Hair and Make-up - Ana Lazovski Designer - Morena Cutello Desginer's Assistant - Ilaria Ricci Shoes - Models' own Headpiece - Stylist's own

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STATE OF FASHION: BUSINESS TRENDS Taking inspiration from the industry leaders at Fashion Collective London’s Fashion Business Workshop, Rachel Parker looks at the key business trends experts have identified in the industry for 2018, and considers what the future holds for the fashion economy.

While global economic uncertainties have caused disruption for many industries in the past few years, it seems that the future looks positive for fashion businesses. The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company report on ‘The State of Fashion 2018’ predicts that industry sales will grow by 3.5 to 4.5 percent this year, especially in the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America. The main trends that will define the fashion industry this year have been initiated by the development of digital technology. The report indicated that the unstoppable growth of digital innovation is set to continue, radically changing the way we produce, buy and sell clothes.

When this crucial element of technological development is considered, it’s no surprise that Asian markets are set to overtake Western businesses in the coming years. Asia is home

to two- thirds of the world’s fastest growing ecommerce start-ups as well as many technology innovations, and its markets account for over half of global online retail sales.

Another development for fashion retailers is the increasing importance of smartphone shopping. The convenience of mobile browsing and e-wallets means that consumers are now looking to their phones to buy clothes. When it comes to online shopping, mobile traffic has overtaken desktop, with customers spending an average of six hours per week looking at fashion items on their phones. Consumers expect fashion companies to ensure that their mobile platforms are as strong as their online portals, and that mobile transactions are as seamless as possible.

A major theme for fashion businesses is the rise of personalisation and curation, with customers now focused on seeking individuality and authenticity from the brands they buy. Digital data trails are facilitating this growth, allowing companies to gain insight into what shoppers want and to tailor what they market directly to each customer.

This means more customised items, personalised recommendations and individualised marketing strategies.

Meanwhile, Business of Fashion predicts that 2018 will be the year that fashion brands seriously begin to build relationships with online shopping platforms such as Amazon, where 55 percent of customers begin their product searches. These platforms present a wider range of items and allow easy comparison, as well as offering high levels of customer service and convenience. With Amazon set to become the largest apparel retailer in the US this year, it’s no wonder clothing brands are considering how best to collaborate with online platforms and grab their share of the market.

Another key development in fashion’s relationship to the digital world is the emerging emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). The possibilities of AI to reduce costs and increase speed and flexibility have endless repercussions for the way that clothes are designed, produced and marketed.

According to the Business of Fashion report, 75 percent of fashion retailers intend to make investments in artificial intelligence during 2018 and 2019. Many companies have

BUSINESS TRENDS integrated chat-bot functions onto their websites, which allow customers to access 24-hour support and advice. Meanwhile, clothing stores are using sensors, digital mirrors and customer identification software to create a more stimulating experience for shoppers.

With the constant development of technology such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and mobile platforms, the way we shop is about to radically change. In the emerging digital landscape, it seems that the companies who can adapt to new technologies and use data insights to deliver shopping experiences adjusted to each customer will be the ones to thrive

All statistics via ‘The State of Fashion 2018’ The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company.

You can find Rachel on social media with @rachelfrances_

All images via Pexels

RAHAB INGHALWA INTERVIEW

Candice Wu caught up with Rahab Inghalwa, a model who moved to London to pursue her dreams, to get her story.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Rahab Inghalwa, and I'm a professional model. So, I do fashion photoshoots and commercial adverts as well as runways.

How did you get into modelling?

So, basically, I started in Namibia, which is my home country, and I really wanted to become a professional model. So, that's when I moved to the UK just like 2 years ago and it's really going good.

Why the UK Specifically?

I felt like the UK has more opportunities. There's more diversity, and I just felt like, yeah, it's something that...

I'll make it here.

What are some shows or events that you have been a part of so far?

I was in Milan Fashion Week last year, and this year, I worked with Showbiz with Ms. Olga and I just did Top Model last weekend and yesterday, I did a fashion show with Fase di Moda, so it's really nice. It's going good.

"EVEN IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BY LANGUAGE, FASHION WILL MAKE YOU CONNECT" What does fashion mean to you?

For me, fashion means self-exploration, so it's more what you feel and what you think you can do to people because I believe fashion can talk to so many people from different worldwide. Even if you don't understand each other by language, fashion will make you connect.

It's a universal thing.

What keeps you going? Although modelling seems to be really glamorised with the nice clothing, elaborate afterparties, and so on, it is a hard profession.

So, basically, there are so many challenges especially when I started here the first time. I remember one time when I really want to just go back home, and one of my friends, he was like, “Do you really want to stop this when you already started it?”

And, every time when I want to give up, I just like hear that word, and I'm like, “No, I'm not going to give up.” And, I should say it has been amazing.

would like also to go into business, and I'm definitely planning on going into doing more fashion stuff, like maybe designing. But most importantly, I would like to work with an NGO mostly on gender biased balance or child abuse.

Do you have anything coming up soon or next?

I'll be shooting a commercial with MC London and after that, I'll see what the future holds for me.

It’s a good thing that you didn’t give up! Is your aim to be in all the top magazines?

Oh yeah! That's my aim! I really really want to be in Vogue someday. I would like to continue with my modelling career. I

Find Rahab online: https://www.instagram.com/rahab_the_diva Images by Ian Clark and via Instagram/Rahab

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A/W 18

Front cover: Morena Cutello Back cover:Â Muslim Lifestyle Show