Sarah Karim: Making Bridal Wear and Dreams come together!

After even a brisk scan of the fashion horizon of the country, there is one name that you just
cannot miss out: Sarah Karim. From intricately put together bridal wear to evening wear with
praiseworthy modernist flair, with the line of creation she now stands for, Sarah visibly straddles
the fence between tradition and modernity. The designer recently spoke with Persa Sanjana
Hussain discussing her bridal couture and her amazing journey to the top of the fashion world.

Sarah Karim’s bridal couture has already occupied a special niche in the thriving fashion
industry in Dhaka. She is a fan favorite amongst countless fashion enthusiasts and it is of no
surprise that her brand initially gained popularity over the years mostly through word-of-mouth.
The journey dates back to the time when the designer took over her grandmother-in-law’s
charity which worked closely with skilled artisans and provided them with gainful employment.
“When she became too ill to continue, I basically took over her workers as I couldn’t just let them
go. That’s when I gave up my teaching career at the university to concentrate on designing. We
modernized our cuts and styles to include not just saris but jackets, kameez, tunics, and more
recently bridal wear,” remembered Sarah Karim. She started by taking some time off her
teaching career and used this period to design her first 12 outfits. “Those pieces were such a
success that I never looked back,” she said.

With a noticeable excitement in her voice she shared that she is really looking forward to her
bridal collection this winter which we know will be nothing short of spectacular. The designer
shared a beautiful perspective about the differences between the local and international fashion
scene emphasizing on how they are both dissimilar yet interdependent. “As the world is
shrinking with the use of internet and technology, there is a fusion in the fashion world too. What
we tend to borrow from the West is essentially their cuts and they are using a lot of our detailing
and embroidery.” She added that eastern designs rely more heavily on detailing and
craftsmanship which is not easily accomplished.

Her innumerable achievements so far as a designer cannot be overemphasized. However, she
says that the accolade and appreciation are only bonuses earned as she started with the
essential aim of giving enough work to the artisans so their craft would not die out. “Along the
way we’ve had some amazing successes, we’ve done shows at home and abroad. We have
dressed international stars like Malaika Arora and Lisa Ray. I remember Tina Ambani loving my
design and coming up to me to order one for herself!” During the conversation, when she began
to delve deep into the subject matter, Sarah revealed that the most special part about her work
is definitely the “happiness” that she sees in the faces of the brides when she succeeds in
making them feel like a princess on their special day. It is always the brides. “They come back
with pictures and wedding sweets and so much gratitude. It’s very heartwarming,” she said.
As an ardent designer she never believed in taking shortcuts. On the contrary, she harbored this
indomitable desire to stay sincere and dedicated to one’s passion which is an essential
ingredient to success . She confessed to having spent hours on an outfit and then putting it
aside if it did not turn out perfectly.

Speaking about her struggle to attain perfection, she said, “Challenges mostly arise from putting
down your vision of an outfit on paper, but when you physically create the garment, sometimes
it doesn’t look like what you’d imagined. Then you have to go back to the drawing board all over
again!”

If ever faced with a creative block Sarah imagines herself in her ancestral haveli where she
spent numerous holidays at a young age. “Every element has inspiration to offer there. I
recently posted a picture of an antique silver chair that belonged to my great grandfather — this
very piece ended up being the inspiration for an entire bridal collection, “she relates, adding that
she often relies on striking the right balance between work and leisure to stay motivated. To her,
leisure translates to spending quality time with the family, especially with her three children.
Her work life is truly a reflection of her personal life when it comes to staying focused and
knowing what she wants. “You may think otherwise if you see my social media pages, but I am
actually a very private person,” claims Sarah. She hastens to add, “I would much rather curl up
in my pajamas with a good book in my hand than be at a party! But if I have to be at a social
event I make sure that I enjoy it.”

Being the mother of three and still showing unrestrained dedication towards her work, here is a
piece of advice that the power figure offered to the working mothers out there: “Make sure that
the time that you spend with your children counts for something; quality of the time trumps the
quantity of time spent. Also, never overcompensate children to make yourself feel less guilty.
Children should learn to appreciate the hard work that their parents put in because at the end of
the day this would help them to be independent themselves.”

To round it off, we asked the ace designer to spare a few tips for the ladies tying the knot this
winter and this is what she said : “For your wedding wear, you could opt for pastels. I would also
recommend warm colors like beige and greys which we are working with a lot this season.
Besides, there is nothing like rich velvet to make your outfit look even more luxurious. And if you
are talking about life tips, I’d say finding your own way to compromise is the key. An outfit is
definitely important but try not to end up looking like ‘bridezilla’!! – remember to let your
mother-in-law have a little say. It’s ok to be sensitive to your fiancé’s budget concerns. And even
if your sister-in-law wants a similar color it really isn’t the end of the world!” she says with a
charming laugh.