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Alia was born and reared in the United States and Canada, where she began her fashion career presenting exhibitions, events, and television programs with her own creations. This led to her establishing a media and marketing firm in Los Angeles, where she won high-profile clients and worldwide projects.
She moved to Dubai in 2005 and finally formed the IFDC in 2014. The IFDC was founded to promote the global growth of the Islamic fashion and design sector, with the goal of becoming the world’s premier fashion and design (art, architecture, interiors, etc.) organization representing the Islamic economy and its stakeholders.
Alia’s other area of interest is charity. Her organization offers ways to improve school systems and eliminate hunger through an effective feeding program. Alia is uncovering incredible artistic and design talent along the road, which she promotes and supports through IFDC.
The role of the IFDC is to support the industry who caters to the Modest Fashion market by providing education, business support, and industry guidelines to the fashion and retail sectors, (Pret-A-Cover™), by hosting events and conducting research, by managing a range of media platforms, and by facilitating training and development programs. “The IFDC does not promote a lifestyle, that is an individual choice and must come from a conviction. The IFDC supports the industry that caters to this lifestyle and market.”
According to Alia, The Zay Initiative is critical in preserving the ideals, culture, and lifestyle that Modest Fashion is built on. The IFDC’s success validates the significance of the work we perform at The Zay. “When something is built on a sound ideology it cannot be killed.”
According to Dr. Reem, the Gulf region’s culture of adapting traditional clothing to current times rather than relegating it to the costume cabinet or the museum promotes the work of the IFDC. “Women still want to dress modestly but they want to do it in a way that allows them to sit at the boardroom table.”
