About Me
Hi there! I’m Saima Nishat, a fashion design graduate from WSA.
Saima Nishat is a British Bangladeshi designer who takes inspiration from architecture, menswear silhouettes and her Bengali heritage to create contemporary fashion that is rich in colour and pattern.
The idea of home is both simple and complex to me, as I’ve always felt as though I don’t belong anywhere due to my Bengali heritage and western upbringing. If I go to Bangladesh, I’m seen as too western, and in England, I’m a foreigner. Through creating my collection, “When are you coming home?” I have learnt to accept this feeling as I’m a blend of both.
INSPIRATION
Rewinding Time
Initially I looked through old family photos of my childhood which helped me create my colour story. Subsequently, I directed my cousin in Bangladesh to take pictures of places that brought back fond memories which initiated the development of my prints.
A lot of the women in my family wear sarees which is something I have always found fascinating. Especially how a single piece of cloth can be draped in many ways, depending on region creating an entirely different look. The pleating in my collection plays a heavy emphasis on my Bengali heritage as it is done by hand to mimic the pleating on sarees, with a modern twist. Another constant source of inspiration is my father’s wardrobe which always seeps into my designs.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
When Are You Coming Home?
Moodboard
Colour Story
Development
Mini Me
DETAIL
Taking A Closer Look
Throughout my collection I have used binding as a detail to bring all the looks together. The binding was a great way to reduce waste, alongside this I sourced fabric from scrap stores. Another key feature in my collection was the use of original prints which I have created from the window grills on my childhood home. I have used dye sublimation printing and Contrado to bring my prints to life. The collection as whole is a celebration of a mixed upbringing and diversity which is expressed through all the intricate details within each look.
“It's really sad to me that we even have to talk about diversity in the fashion world today. That I would love to change. Diversity should be normal.” Olivier Rousteing
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