Page 22 - #200 June/July 2025

INTERVIEW

Success isn’t just about
sales. It’s about how
we make people feel —
internally and externally.

Nadine Merabi

Nadine Merabi, South Molton Street, London, UK
Empowering and

Celebrating Women

Beginning life on a kitchen table in
Manchester, to dressing the world’s most
confident women, Nadine Merabi has
emerged as one of the fashion industry’s most
compelling figures. Her eponymous brand
has become synonymous with empowerment,
meticulous craftsmanship and unapologetic glamour. In this
exclusive interview, Merabi shares her journey from self-taught
designer to global fashion force.

erabi’s foray into fashion was were not without their challenges.
Manything but conventional. A None more striking than the global
former international hockey player pandemic, which essentially wiped
turned events entrepreneur, she out occasionwear demand across the
initially taught herself to sew out of world overnight. Rather than pivot to
necessity, as she wanted a dress that loungewear like many of her contem-
was neither prohibitively expensive poraries, Merabi remained true to her
nor indistinguishable from high street brand’s DNA. She used the downtime
options. That simple desire sparked a to innovate within her category, intro-
journey that would evolve into a label ducing partywear, statement tailoring
now recognised for bold designs and and her now-iconic feathered silk
luxurious finishes. pyjamas that have gone on to became
“I wasn’t planning on building a fash - unexpected bestsellers and remain a
ion empire,” Merabi reflects. “I just solid performer years later.
wanted to create something that made “COVID was our make-or-break
me feel good and when others started moment,” she admits. “But instead of
asking where my dresses were from, panicking, we leaned into creativity
I realised I could make other women and stayed disciplined. That period
feel just as confident. Ten years on and taught me the power of conviction.”
this sole purpose remains the same, to Creativity, Merabi says, is instinc-
celebrate and empower women.” tive. She eschews formal training,
The evolution from passionate choosing instead to develop garments
hobbyist to businesswoman was directly on mannequins rather than
accelerated by pivotal moments that sketches. This hands-on approach

22 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL JUNE/JULY 2025