Today we’d like to introduce you to Sohaib Iqbal.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always been involved in fashion ever since I was a little kid. My father was in the textile industry when we were living in Pakistan. So, when I was growing up here, my dad used to make me dress up for school at an early age. At first, fashion was a form of discipline. As I grew older, it became more as a form of expression. In high school senior year, I won an award for “Best Dressed” in my class and it was confirmation of what I believed to be true within. I realized that I have this innate ability to really understand how colors, patterns and textures work together and that style came easy to me.
In late college, I started designing clothing for myself. This included simple piece garments like trousers, waistcoats, or blazers. Soon after, I moved up to designing suits for myself. I began sharing my creations with the world and a lot of the feedback I received was very positive, encouraging and supportive. They truly loved what I was doing. People started asking me where they could get this kind of stuff. I had the realization to eventually start producing for other people, rather than just for myself.
In late 2015, after months of working with a few teammates, we launched ChiraghApparel.com, a small-scale online store, which featured men’s blazers and waistcoats. Through the many months, we did a lot of promotions, advertising, model shoots, trade shows, fashion shows, door-to-door marketing and pop-up shops. After a few years of grinding, in 2019, we started producing for a menswear store at The Shoppes at Buckhead. This was a big breakthrough for us because it allowed us to expand our business as well. In addition, we started growing our own operation, scaling production, expanding our online presence, and serving more customers.
Our goals for the upcoming year are to serve more clients, become a household name in formal menswear and produce for other boutiques/designers.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I believe starting any business is not a smooth road. A lot of mistakes have been made along the way, but also a lot of lessons have been learned. I think that it is important to make mistakes because once you make a mistake, you learn not to make it again. It takes dedication, discipline, persistence, hard work and not giving up.
The most important thing I would like the readers to know is that they should find something that they really love and are willing to work for until the day they die. That is what leads to true success. Having a purpose to devote your life to.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Chiragh – what should we know?
Chiragh is a team of visionary innovators that have revolutionized the fashion industry. Each member of our company is a renaissance man, with exceptional talent in his or her field of work. Our extraordinary designs are uncommon and incomparable; every garment offers unprecedented quality with unparalleled craftsmanship. All of our items are crafted by gifted tailors, each with over 20 years of experience. At the moment, we offer a wide selection of ready-to-wear men’s waistcoats, trousers, neckties and blazers.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The entire team at Chiragh deserves credit. Every individual plays a specific role and without any of the team members, Chiragh would not be the same. I’d like to thank our master tailors who do an impeccable job creating our garments, our production manager who oversees all the work, photographers, marketers, and salespeople. Lastly, I would like to thank all of our customers and clients for their business and loyalty to our vision. Their support does not go unnoticed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chiraghapparel.com/
- Email: chiraghapparel@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiraghapparel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chiraghapparel/
- Other: https://www.ebay.com/str/Chiragh-Apparel
Image Credit:
Photographers: Sarah Iqbal & Derek Oladokun
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