Anaqaa Apparel is a women’s modest clothing brand that designs, makes and sells its own original items.
Majida founded the charity Jannaty Women’s Social Society in 2010 with a vision to empower women and girls from disadvantaged ethnic minorities so that they can improve the quality of their lives and those around them. Anaqaa Apparel origins can be found in Jannaty’s community sewing group, which has helped hundreds of women since 2010. It has given employment to some of the women in the sewing group and provides additional income for the charity’s services.
“I don’t know how I will manage myself when [the consultant] leaves me… she challenged me to think long term.”
Majida and her Chief Operations Officer, Salma, applied to the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Programme aiming to use the designs and sample garments they had already made and turning them into a full product line to sell. The grant allowed them to make their vision a reality as they were able to afford essentials like fabric and social media advertisements and hold a launch event for their first range in March 2022 at their workspace in FC Designer Collective, an affordable workspace with a fashion focus run by Islington Council.
The consultancy support was key in making things run smoothly as their knowledge in all aspects of business improved, as well as being challenged in their way of thinking and how they did things by the consultants.
Sales increased drastically after their first event since joining the programme which allowed them to create their first range of clothing and employ two members of staff. They have since launched their second line and the business is thriving.