The UK’s leading modest clothing brand is targeting boutique stores in every major global fashion destination as part of an aggressive expansion plan over the next few years.
Aab has set its sights on a global growth strategy following a strong demand for its products both domestically and internationally.
The fashion boutique launches its second UK store of 2015 this weekend in the £260 million Westfield Bradford to become the first independent fashion label in its sector to open a store in a mainstream shopping centre.
Since its launch in 2007 through its online store www.aabcollection.com, Aab has quickly gained global recognition as the leading modest fashion brand with a client list across the world. Modest fashion is widely viewed as one of the hottest sectors around with a number of designer brands entering the market valued in the billions.
“Bringing Aab to Westfield is an indicator of how rapidly we are expanding as a fashion brand and business,” said Nazmin Alim, Creative Director of Aab.
“We believe that over the years we have changed perceptions of modest fashion with the creativity and imagination we bring to our collections and are seen as pioneers in this sector.
“Following the huge success of our London store, the aim is to continue this expansion globally in our target markets with new boutique stores across the major cities in the UK with further stores planned in London and Birmingham including a presence in department stores. Dubai, Malaysia and Turkey will also be our first international stores very soon.”
The Westfield Bradford store will be a 2,500 sq ft retail store which will be fronted by an eight metre wide double height frameless glass featuring contemporary interior design, bespoke fixtures and subtle hints of the brands heritage inspired by the geometric designs of the Alhambra Palace in Granada.
The shop opened with a launch party featuring some of the biggest names and bloggers in modest fashion including Ruba Zai, Nabila Bee and LookaMillion who have over a million followers on social media between them. The event will also include the release of a new collection including an exclusive range of winter coats.
Aab, founded in 2007, is based in London and is currently one of the world’s leading online retailers in the contemporary modest fashion clothing sector. It opened its first store in the East Shopping Centre in London in March this year selling out its entire new Spring/Summer collection on the same day.
The fashion house has become synonymous for creating original design pieces using its own in-house designers taking inspiration from global fashion trends. Aab places a strong emphasis on creating products using premium quality material and tailoring.
Its full collection of products include everything from modest clothing, abayas, hijabs and accessories with a customer base that now extends to the US, Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East.
Modest fashion is now one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry with some estimates valuing the UK market at around £100 million annually.
H&M recently launched its first advert showing a Muslim model in a hijab while British high-street department store House of Fraser started stocking ‘sporty hijabs’ in June this year.
In recent years, designers such as Hermes, Aramis, and Estée Lauder have targeted this sector with exclusive collections inspired by the Middle East.
The Broadway shopping centre in Bradford is the largest in the country to open this year with units taken up by flagship retailers such Marks & Spencer and Debenhams.
Other tenants include Superdry, H&M, Next, Topshop, Topman, New Look, Schuh, The Entertainer, Paperchase and River Island.
