Dear Reader,

Having been asked many times over the years to create an off-the-peg range to complement our bespoke gowns, I have finally put pen-to-paper and designed an affordable and versatile diffusion range for British Asian women. I just know you’ll love our designs and our prices!

Get a great 35% discount today!

To help you make your mind up, there’s even a 35% discount until April 30th 2012 if you sign up to become a Raishma Customer.

Like Us on Facebook!

Oh yes, don’t forget, we’d really appreciate you ‘liking’ our new range on Facebook and sharing it with all your friends. How? Simply go to our new-range webpage here and click on the ‘like’ button!

Raishma, International Fashion Designer, London

35% Discount! – Ends April 30th 2012!

The styles are available in three standard sizes, and from between £65 and £199. At these prices there are simply no excuses not to pop in and see the full range. And to help you make up your mind, we have an amazing 35% discount which ends on 30th April 2012. So hurry to register yourself as a Raishma Ready To Wear Customer today!

I’ve created a stunning capsule collection for Spring 2012 – in keeping with the ‘fusion’ style that the Raishma brand is synonymous with. This new range of trouser suits, churidar suits and dresses can be worn as outfits or separates, and be worn as Asian outfits or styled as separates. The kameezes/tunics can be worn with jeans, or worn as dresses to create a more mainstream look. All these new styles are very adaptable; perfect for day or evening wear and can be worn time and time again.

Even though we have only just introduced the range in store in the last month, all the pieces are selling out incredibly fast! Our most popular styles include velvet high neck kameezes; with net sleeves and beading at the hem and on the front placket, and a beautiful black georgette outfit with stunning embroidery in light gold on the hemline.

Our maxi dresses have been covered editorially in Asiana Magazine and are perfect for summer weddings, proms and cocktail parties. At £199.00 they are great contenders for this season’s wardrobe, beautiful chiffon Grecian style gowns available in a pastel colour palette.

Oh yes, don’t forget, we’d really appreciate you ‘liking’ our new range on Facebook. Simply go to our new-range webpage here and click the ‘like’ button!

Outfits worn by both female and male actors in Bollywood films have an impact on the Indian fashion industry. Some classic outfits worn in these films are imitated to please a wide range of customers. Whether it be the classic purple sari Madhuri Dixit wore in Hum aapke hain kaun or the short collared kurta shirts Rani Mukherji wore in Bunty aur Babli.

Karan Johar’s film “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham” had a huge impact on traditional menswear. This film made highly embroided kurtas, sherwanis and dupattas very popular amongst the male masses.

Raishma has similar kurtas and sherwanis in store. Below is a light cream raw silk sherwani. It has velvet appliqué work with stones and delicate embroidery on top of the velvet.

Fashion in the Indian film industry has really flourished over the past decade. Female actors such as Sonam Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, and Katrina Kaif are known as fashionistas in the industry – just to name a few! Fans of these ladies follow their style avidly, whether it be in their films, or the events they attend.

Below is a photo of Katrina Kaif at the 2011 Filmfare awards. She wore a gorgeous long maxi styled light pink gown with a white skirt. The exquisite embroidery really sets of the outfit.

At Raishma, we have a gorgeous silk silver white gown with swarovski stones. This dress is very versatile as it can be worn as it is for a formal look. Or this dress can be custom made in a richer colour, such as red, to give the dress a more bridal look.

I was really pleased to be invited to Holby City star, Rebecca Grant’s art exhibition in the Philippine Embassy a few weeks back. I dressed Rebecca and Phoebe Thomas from the hit BBC drama series Holby City. In addition, I dressed model and TV presenter Chelsea Baker.

Rebecca wore a Grecian styled olive green georgette dress with hand embroidery and draping. Phoebe Thomas wore a gorgeous nude short cap sleeved dress, with contrast black georgette neckline and sleeves. This style very much complimented Phoebe’s red hair and fair skin. Chelsea Baker wore a one shouldered bias cut floor length dress with beautiful delicate embroidery. All three ladies looked fabulous and the paparazzi couldn’t stop snapping away!

This exhibition was a collection of portraits of her fellow actors. The night was a real success with many celebrity stars and friends there to support Rebecca. Other celebrities at the event included Holby stars Hari Dhillon and Paul Bradley. Some of the cast of Bombay dreams and “Cuckoo’s nest” were also present.

To make the event even more exciting, Rebecca sang with the Jive Aces band! Her voice was beautiful and amazed all of us! She was definitely the star of the evening

I had a fantastic evening and enjoyed meeting all of her friends – the event was a huge success. It was my pleasure to help out and support my friend Rebecca. We, creative people have to stick together!

One of the prominent trends of 2011 has been lace. It has recently been incorporated in casual wear; party wear, and has always been popular in bridal wear
White lace signifies a traditional English wedding. It’s feminine, romantic, elegant and chic. Nowadays, girls like to wear something their mothers would have worn at their wedding. This is because the whole vintage vibe is becoming very popular.

Lace had been quite popular before the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. This is because lace is commonly known as a bridal fabric. However, Kate’s dress was bound to have an impact on the bridal fashion industry. Her wedding gown by Sarah Burton, of Alexander McQueen had gorgeous ivory lace embellishment which made the 50s style gown more intricate and delicate. Her dress has already been copied by fashion designers all over the world. Raishma will also be doing her own take of this iconic dress in the future…!

The lace dress above is designed by Raishma. It is a beautiful silver grey colour which gives it a vintage 1920s feel. The angel sleeves compliment the look. This gown will be featured in the September 2011 issue of “You and Your Wedding”.

Lace is detailed enough, and looks amazing when worn in a minimalist, simple way.
On trend for 2011/2012, lace continues to be part of the working woman’s wardrobe and for nights out. Cream or coloured lace in tones of pinks and reds work well for simple blouses for day wear, whilst shift lace dresses and more flowy feminine styles work well for the evening with nipped in jackets or twinset cardigans.

Look out for lace influences in Raishma’s 2012 bridal collection – watch this space…

The first question that pops into my head when I receive an Asian wedding invite is…what should I wear?? One of my favourite aspects of an Asian wedding!
Others may be confused as to what to wear as they do not know where to start.
So here’s my guide on what you should think about when deciding on your outfit for an Asian wedding…

1. Theme: First find out if there is a dress code theme, for example, colours or styles.

2. Shop in Asian areas: The best places to hit the shops are Asian areas such as Green Street. Shops in these areas provide customers with traditional Asian clothing, including some pieces being flown over from Asian countries, allowing you to achieve an authentic look!

3. Focus on loud, rich colours and items of clothing with exquisite bead or stone work. Contrary to most traditional English weddings, here it’s all about extravagance, therefore heavy detail and embroidery goes down well.

4. Accessorize! Accessories must compliment the outfit. So, for a traditional look, opt for matching Asian shoes and beautifully matched bangles. Here at Raishma, we love the fusion look and like to mix Asian and western styles. Shoes by Jimmy Choos or Gina shoes would look great with an Asian outfit, along with Swarovski and crystal jewellery from Kyles Jewellery.

5. Make-up and Hair: Finally your hair and makeup must live up to the outfit. Volumised hair, coloured eye shadow, black liner and lashes help to set off the overall look.

Going to an Asian wedding does not mean having to dress up like a Christmas tree! But you can get away with a lot more accessories and loud colours – so don’t be afraid! I enjoy dressing up to Asian weddings as you can experiment with colours and makeup as there is little scope of going wrong. So, go hit the shops, remember my advice, and your outfit will be a winner

The long kameez has been around for years. If I asked you for your thoughts on the long kameez only five years ago, you would have probably related the style to something worn by your mum, or the older generation. Then, why is it that the long kameez has become SO popular in the span of two years? Especially when most regarded it unfashionable not so long ago…

Why does this trend work? Answer: Its’ universal appeal. This style suits women of every age group and body shape. Most designers have incorporated this trend into their casual, formal and bridal ranges.

I’m a big fan of this trend. I loved the fact it was different from the hundreds of short kameez suits I had! In my opinion the style is sophisticated, elegant and easy to wear. At first, some people believed the style sounded like a recipe for disaster – long on long? Yet it works effortlessly…more is more! I can’t imagine wearing a short kameez in the near future – or is this just me being blinded by the latest fashion trend which is so popular?

So, is the long kameez craze a fad? Or has this trend come back for good? Well I sure hope it is…!

I was asked by ITV’s ‘London Tonight’ programme to make a complementary bespoke outfit for Shozna, to wear to the Royal Wedding on the 29th April 2011. Shozna is a lovely person, and has had a very difficult past, so I thought it would be a nice gesture to do this for her. Prince William personally invited her to the wedding; I wish I could have sneaked into her handbag and have gone with her!

I sketched out several designs for Shozna before the filming by looking at her picture, and working out what would suit her in terms of cut and colours.

I decided to go for a 50s style prom dress in a block colour scheme of papaya orange and red to give the look a modern take for 2011. I designed an embroidered border with delicate silk roses and hand beading to be positioned on her neckline.

The time line was so tight, but the dress was completed in 2 weeks from sketch to final fitting.

I then started worrying about the complete look, so I ended up organizing shoes from Jimmy Choo, who very kindly donated them.

Shozna was a lucky girl! We managed to secure Warren Holmes, at Nicky Clarke’s’ Salon to do her hair on the day, as well as the celebrity make up artist Armand Beasley to make her look fabulous!

Irresistible Headdresses made Shozna a beautiful fascinator, to my requirements in silk red roses, whilst Kyles Collection kindly made her Swaroski drop siam and topaz coloured  stone earrings and bracelet, and a ring  to co-ordinate with the dress.

I styled Shozna from head to toe for the Big Day, and I couldn’t wait to see her final look on the day of the Royal Wedding. I dressed her at Nicky Clark’s salon bright and early that day; we all arrived at 6am, as her car was to pick her up for the abbey at 8.30am.

Her extensions were put in, Armand did a fantastic job of her makeup, and then we helped her put on the dress, and all the accessories. London Tonight filmed the entire process, as well as Grazia magazine, and the Daily Mail, photographing her throughout. She was treated like a real celebrity, and she loved the whole experience.

I was already booked in on BBC 5Live to commentate on Princess Kate’s dress on the day of the Royal Wedding, but I also ended up on BBC London Radio and BBC Asian Network too!

The press coverage was fantastic, and it was great experience for Shozna and I, one we will both ever forget

A lot of the bridal magazines always ask me to put in my best pieces in the magazines, but how can I when I constantly get copied by other retailers! The main problem for me is that I am a designer, 99% of other retailers are just that; retailers and not designers. They lack inspiration  and are influenced heavily by what true designers create. I design the majority of pieces in my store, and it takes a lot of hardwork, planning and time as you can imagine.

It is one thing being influenced; another being ripped off, and it very upsetting after putting so much hard work in to each couture design, when you see it being copied. It has been happening for years, and it affects many small businesses like me.  Plenty of manufacturers from India have set up stores here, and  they can undercut other retailers with watered down cheaper copies, as their production is on a larger scale. 

A recent offender copied my bridal design which was featured on the front page Viya 2009 and did his own version of my gown for the new Asiana Wedding magazine, for his main ad campaign.  I have since then emailed him. Take a look at the images below to see what I mean. I feel it is best I do not mention his name.

               Raishma Original                      Raishma Copy                       

I know copying is supposed to be a sign of flattery, but for a small business like mine it does have a knock on effect.  However the copies will always be second best in quality, design and finish compared to the originals. So my advice is always go to the original designer as they will be able to provide you with that special something that cannot be replicated.

Raishma x

On Friday 4th Febuary, Sharon and I took a break from our hectic shop refurbishment to take a trip east  to Brick Lane. We met up with Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati who we were dressing for an important photo shoot. Shobna was asked by Comic Relief to promote Gorden Ramsay’s new curry sauces, with all the proceeds going to the famous BBC charity. Shobna really wanted to be dressed in red, in a very Bollywood style. To fit the occasion, it needed to be glamorous and chic. We certainly didn’t disappoint her…

Shobna was dressed in a boned bodice, with a silk dupion skirt, with delicate stonework and a slight train. This is one of our pieces from our new collection, and she loved it.

Shobna wore her red nose with pride,which obviously matched the dress, and she did a fantastic job! It was great fun to meet Gorden and spend time with Shobna again, who I hadn’t seen for ages.

The Comic Relief charity is much loved by celebrities such as Shobna Gulati. As part of the event on Brick Lane, she helped Michelin Star Chef Gordon Ramsey serve curry from a stall. According to The Mirror, one customer commented, “…his curry was fantastic”.

It was lovely to get away from the dust and chaos of our shop refurbishment. Make sure you check back regularly to our website as we’ll be posting pictures when our shop reopens. Our new collection will certainly be shown in the best possible light with our exciting premises relaunch.

Following our photo shoot with Shobna, she was featured in the Mirror on the 5th Febuary:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2011/02/05/gordon-ramsay-and-shobna-gulati-serve-up-curry-from-a-market-stall-for-comic-relief-115875-22899731/

Raishma x

Young men are notoriously vague about weddings. So many times I’ve heard the words “Whatever you want” spoken to an increasingly frustrated fiance when asked anything whatsoever about wedding arrangements. Whilst it’s probably to good idea to get your wedding planner to take charge of most of your arrangements, something she can’t do is take your fiance by the scruff of the neck and march him into the bridal store. That’s your job…

The groom needs to look as good on the wedding as the bride. He will need an outfit that extenuates his youthfulness and physicality. He should look well-groomed and handsome. The correct outfit goes a long way in achieving these goals, however dishevelled he may sometimes look!

A groom’s outfit needs to display a sense of opulence and extravagance; it needs to say “I am successful and a man of taste and honour”. Since groom’s wear is by its very nature more subdued than that of his bride, there is usually no danger of going overboard.

High quality fabric is always important, usually sewn with a recurring motif design. Like bridal gowns, a groom’s outfit should be bespoke. This does mean, however, that you’ll need to get your fiance organised enough well in advance to choose a design, be measured, and attend fittings. It may be something that involves other male members of the family and friends, perhaps treated as a pre-wedding warm-up with the promise of a meal afterwards.

The most important thing when organising your groom’s wear is to plan well in advance. There are too many stories of preoccupied men leaving this responsibility to the last minute. You may be accused of being a nag, but at least you’ll rest easy knowing you and your fiance will enjoy a stress-free wedding day.