Today we’d like to introduce you to Naima Bashir.
Hi Naima, I am so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story? How did you get to where you are today?
Thank you so much for this opportunity. My name is Naima, and I am the founder & owner of Zolasina, a Minnesota-based fashion brand that is built on purpose. At Zolasina, we’re not just about creating stylish clothing – we’re on a mission to empower women, celebrate diversity, and redefine the fashion industry. Our brand is rooted in inclusivity, sustainability, and self-expression, and we’re dedicated to making a positive impact in the world through our clothing and actions.
Since childhood, I’ve been captivated by the creative arts, finding solace in sketching, drawing, and painting vibrant artwork. Creativity has always been my sanctuary, offering me peace and tranquility. As I grew older, my passion for fashion blossomed, drawing inspiration from bustling malls and experimenting with different styles. Despite my love for fashion, the lack of representation in the industry, especially for Muslim women like myself, made me hesitant to pursue it as a career. I longed to see individuals who resembled me represented in magazines and fashion. After many years of dreaming and envisioning, I took a leap of faith in 2022 to transform my vision into reality. Zolasina is more than just clothing; it’s a movement towards inclusivity, sustainability, and self-expression. Zolasina is a unique intermingling of two connected words that hold deep significance to my journey. “Zola” is a Zulu name meaning “of the earth,” while “Sina” is a Middle Eastern root word for “treasure”. Together, the brand name signifies our commitment to strive for a better world by treasuring our earth and nature. It encapsulates our values of sustainability, environmental consciousness, and appreciation for the beauty of our planet. At Zolasina, we believe in cherishing and protecting our earth while creating stylish and empowering fashion.
Through Zolasina, I aspire to redefine the fashion industry by offering timeless, stylish, and versatile apparel and accessories that resonate with women from all walks of life. This journey has been one of courage, perseverance, and passion, and I’m excited to witness where it leads to next. The inspiration for Zolasina comes from a deep-seated need for modest and stylish clothing that honors our identities and values. Zolasina isn’t just a brand, it’s a vibrant community that welcomes women with open arms, ensuring they feel acknowledged, understood, and celebrated. I believe that it’s time for every woman to feel seen, heard, and celebrated in fashion, and Zolasina is here to make that happen. I am determined to transform frustration into solutions and tangible change by recognizing the importance of offering more options for women who dress modestly. Because of lived experiences, I understand the challenges of finding clothing that aligns with your values and preferences, so I am committed to providing stylish, versatile, and empowering options for every woman. Through Zolasina, we’re not just offering clothing – we’re offering a solution to the frustrations that many women face when shopping for modest attire. It’s time to break barriers and empower women to dress confidently and authentically, and Zolasina is working towards a more inclusive and diverse fashion landscape.
As a mother of four children, three of them are girls, I am driven by a deep desire to show my kids that pursuing your dreams at any age is possible. I want to be a living example of resilience and determination for young women, demonstrating that anything is achievable with hard work and perseverance. I understand the significance of representation for women of color and immigrant women, as I am one myself. Individuals from immigrant communities must see themselves represented in all spaces and have access to opportunities that allow them to be present at the table as they pursue their goals. Through Zolasina, we are taking action in creating our own platform that celebrates diversity and highlights the achievements and aspirations of women from diverse backgrounds. We celebrate stories of resilience and success, and we aim to inspire women from all backgrounds to break through barriers, overcome obstacles, and strive for greatness. We believe in a future where every woman feels empowered to reach for the stars regardless of her background.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey in creating an apparel brand with a purpose has been challenging, but I thrive on a good challenge. Balancing my dream with the responsibilities of raising a young family and working has been one of the most challenging struggles. Pursuing your dreams and making them a reality is never easy; it requires sacrifice and perseverance, qualities I am constantly honing. Time has been a constant challenge, as it’s a finite and limited resource. I’ve realized that trying to do everything is not sustainable and can lead to burn out. Learning to pace myself, prioritizing, and managing my time wisely has been a crucial lesson. It hasn’t been a smooth road, but that’s life – full of challenges that help us learn and grow. I’m learning to be grateful for my journey, drawing inspiration from positivity, and surrounding myself with positive energy. Additionally, I’m working on being more mindful about what I can accomplish at any given time. While I believe you can have it all, I’ve learned that having everything at once is not always possible; staying grounded and celebrating my wins, whether big or small, is important to me. It’s essential to me that I continue to acknowledge how far I’ve come with my business in a short period and appreciate my progress.
As you know, we’re big fans of Zolasina. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Zolasina is a women’s ready to wear brand that is based in New Hope, Minnesota. We’re creating high quality, versatile, timeless and chic clothing – and we are on a mission to empower women, celebrate diversity, and redefine the fashion industry. Our commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and real impact through fashion is what sets us apart. Since our launch in March 2023, we’re incredibly proud to have launched our website (www.zolasina.com), released two collections, and garnered support from our local Twin cities community. Women from diverse backgrounds have embraced our brand, appreciating our focus on high quality, well-made, inclusive fashion that resonates with their values. We are also incredibly proud of our #BeExtraordinary platform, which seeks to uplift and inspire women and create a positive impact through connection and sisterhood. As part of this platform, we host women gatherings and networking events throughout the Twin cities. We recently hosted a successful women’s gathering that included our first fashion show. The #BeExtraordinary platform is a message that deeply resonates with women, and we’re honored to have engaged many women through our brand in a short period of time. Our message of empowerment and actions have created a supportive community that continues to drive us forward, and we’re excited to see the positive impact we are making together. We’re thrilled to host another social gathering for women on February 24 to continue the journey of empowerment and impact at Zolasina. If you are in the twin cities area, we would love to see you there! Please sign up on event brite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/be-extraordinary-shaah-and-shop-event-by-zolasina-brand-tickets-825749638397
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was the type of child who was a deep thinker, visionary, and imaginative. As the 5th born out of 9 children, I was naturally very independent. I picked up art independently and nurtured this skill without specific training because it came naturally to me and I enjoyed it. Creativity has always been my sanctuary, and I find peace and tranquility in imagination and inspiring visuals. I remember even as a child, I was goal oriented, determined and self-driven. Personality-wise, I was somewhat reserved, mellow and a little shy, but I also had a fiery spirit and stood up for myself if anything or anyone bothered me. I preferred to move under the radar without causing too much fuss, yet I always held high expectations of myself and aspired to achieve. I have been interested in making a difference in the world from a young age and saw myself in careers and spaces that are uplifting and inspiring. Coming to the United States at a young age with my family seemed to present a set of challenges as we were all adjusting to a new country and environment. However, I had a close knit, supportive family and was a resilient child. Overall, I would say I had a relatively normal upbringing despite the transitions and initial adjustments of being a new immigrant in the United States.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zolasina.com
- Instagram: @zolasina
- Facebook: @zolasina
Image Credits
images by @creatorMN
