Designer Notes - Raishma Islam

Raishma London is one brand we are all pretty familiar with, thanks to the glossy features in all top Asian wedding magazines, and its helps when celebs and royalty are wearing your designs too. Here we get to know the lady behind this pioneering British brand a little better. 


I started designing because…. I loved clothes, I wanted to be a designer since the age of 10. I love the richness of ethnic fabrics and the vibrant colour palette, mixed with European tailoring and cutting.

I was attracted to designing bridal gowns because… I  like to design couture gowns;  once in a lifetime dresses which are perfect for the Big Day.

My style is…elegant, understated, chic and glamorous.

A perfect wedding gown should… be well cut, a perfect style to suit the brides’ body shape. Well made and beautifully embroidered, and no compromise on the quality of fabrics used.

Bride’s visiting my boutique will find…a vast variety of styles and cuts to suit all types of brides. We cater for traditional Asian weddings to mix marriage weddings, and traditional English weddings too! We also co-ordinate the groom, bridesmaids, and guests with a stunning collection of evening wear in store.

My biggest achievement to date is…dressing high profile individuals, these include; HRH Princess Eugenie and Beatrice, and some of the Royal Saudi family as well as a Spice girl Mel B, and a wife of the Beatles Ringo Star ; Barbara Bach. I have become a pioneer in the British Asian fashion industry, and I am proud of this fact because it has not always been easy.

In my dreams, I’d…be an interior designer and a painter too…

I am…still passionate about what I do, even though I have been retailing and designing for more than 15 years now!

You probably won’t know this but… if I hadn’t become a designer I think I would have liked to teach children at reception age; as they are just too cute! I adore babies!

My next challenge will be… To franchise the brand in the UK and abroad.

This year I predict  brides will be wearing…a variation of traditional outfits, and full gown looks, depending on the type of wedding the bride is having. Fusion gown styles are always popular at Raishma’s.







so there you have it, if your the bride looking for fusion you know where to go. who remembers when former spice girl mel b (scary spice) wore one of Raishma designs ?? me!

CNN.com