Marabo Interview

UPDATE: VIDEO OF BROOKE SAMAD FROM YOUTUBE!
(SEE MY INTERVIEW WITH HER BELOW VIDEO)

My interview with designer and owner of Maraboonline.com, Brooke Samad...

ModestFlair: Assalamu alaykum and thank you for chatting with us! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Brooke Samad: Walaikum Asalaam! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk with you and the ModestFlair readers.

’I'm the owner and designer behind Marabo. I’ve been doing this for a little over two years now. I’m a convert to Islam, live in New Jersey with my husband and I have a degree in international politics from New York University and my Associates in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

MF: When did you decide to start Marabo, and why?

BS: Two years out of college, I was working in the corporate world, itching to do something creative. I decided to go back to design school and wanted to try designing with Muslim women in mind. I wasn’t sure if I would ultimately design a full fledged collection or just some items for myself, but I knew I was tired of the limited options available in mainstream stores.

MF: We love that you carry skirts and tops designed with fun, printed fabrics; Muslim clothing has often been very plain. Has it been a conscious choice to use printed fabrics?

BS: It’s funny, my personal taste tends to fall more in the plain, minimalist sphere. I’m always trying to push myself to wear colors other than the plain, white, gray and black. That said, I did want to experiment with more color for Muslim women. I tried some fun prints and found that the more daring the print or color, the better our customers actually respond. I think a lot of our customers are looking for modest items that are special and unique. A lot of times we have to settle for things that aren’t so interesting or fashion-forward because we can’t find anything else appropriate.

MF: What is the most popular design on your website right now?

BS: The Bow-Tie skirts have been very popular online this season. We also saw strong sales of the Havana Pants.

MF: How do you choose the chic accessories (jewelry and belts) offered on your site?

BS: When selecting the accessories, I look for fun and really unique pieces. I try to choose pieces that are a little bit ahead of the curve in terms of style and trendiness. I don’t want to offer my customers the same thing they can find in all the other stores.

MF: What is a Marabo “house party”(metioned on the website)?

BS: House parties are an option we provide for women who want to have a “shopping experience.” We invite women to host a house party for us, invite their circle of female friends and family, and we bring the whole line to the party so the guests can try on items and get a friend’s opinion. It’s a great way to shop in a comfortable and fun, all-female environment! Our gift to the hostess is that she gets to shop at a discount.

MF: What do you have planned for the upcoming fall & winter seasons?

BS: We have a beautiful and exciting fall collection on the way. You’ll be seeing a lot of plaid and herringbone as well as some other fun fabrics. Clean and tailored silhouettes are big this season. Inshallah our customers won’t be disappointed.

MF: We're looking forward to that. Thanks for your time!

BS: My pleasure! Keep up the great work with ModestFlair! May Allah bless your efforts.