Bismillah.
Allow me to introduce myself—I'm Ayesha, one of the co-founders of RĀHA Collection. In this first blog post I'm thrilled to share with you our journey, one that resonates with the spirit of new beginnings, tawakkul, and belief in the goodness of Allah.
The idea behind RĀHA emerged unexpectedly during a visit to Istanbul, Turkey. It was a last-minute spontaneous trip that my husband and I booked during a difficult time in my life. While being in a Muslim country and surrounded by the breath-taking mosques, I found something uniquely comforting about the experience. Sitting there, amidst all of Istanbul’s beauty, I found myself praying for better days ahead.
And so, one of the days, while shopping for hijabs, I stumbled upon a variety of beautiful hijabs. They had many distinct fabrics of luxury and premium quality, that I found to be absent or rare in the UK market. Sharing my discovery with my husband is what actually sparked the idea of introducing new materials and hijabs to the UK market. In that very moment, almost unaware, marked the beginning of RĀHA.
P.s. just like any hijabi completely taken by the gorgeous finds, I returned with a surplus of hijabs in all sorts of shades (not that I needed any more)!
When we returned to the UK, our journey took off, driven by a passion for unique and quality fabrics. I began researching the origin of beautiful fabrics such as bamboo, silk chiffon and georgette crepe as well as many others. We brainstormed ways to innovate—exploring new materials and enhancing everyday hijab materials like chiffon and modal by adding matching under caps or package deals. We explored how fabrics are made and then sourced materials from different corners of the world. Choosing fabrics and envisioning collections ignited both excitement and a touch of nervousness as we delved into branding strategies.
With every step, we sought guidance through prayer, and involved our nearest and dearest throughout the journey. From sampling materials with our mothers and sisters to deliberating brand names alongside my sister and brother-in-law, the name and brand, RĀHA emerged. RĀHA translates to "serenity" or "comfort," a suggestion that immediately resonated with us, encapsulating our brand essence. Our families have truly been at the heart of the planning and selecting process.
So, dear friends, join us as we dig deeper into our story—sharing our inspirations, the hurdles we've faced, the triumphs we've celebrated, and the sheer beauty that unfolds when we embrace both the uncertainty of new beginnings and the comforting assurance of Allah’s divine plan.
Thank you for stepping into our world at RĀHA Collection. I'm eager to share more of our story with you.