Hijabs & Co

{ Interview: Muna Abusulayman }

Muna AbuSulayman is a leading Saudi media personality in the Middle East.

She is Secretary General and Executive Director of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal's Kingdom Holding Company

As a founding co-host of one of MBC TV’s most popular social programs, Kalam Nawaem, she has become an easily recognizable celebrity in the Middle East and abroad. 

As a public and media personality, major organizations and companies often ask her to speak on issues relating to Arab society, media, and building bridges of understanding between the East and West.

How did the Muna Abusulayman collection business come about?

My collection came out of a dire need to have clothes that look great on me while also offering Hishma.
I have had to spend too much time searching for scarves, and looking for undergarment so that I can
still be elegent and muhajaba...I finally decided that if i am suffering so much, there must be a way to help
women like me

Muna Abusulayman, Prince al Waleed and her wife Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel

How do your fashion define you?

Fashion does not define me. I define fashion. 

I use it, utilize it to suit me and not the other way around,

but, i can not deny that it was my fashion sense that first attracted viewers to my show.

 

Have you encountered any challenges in running Muna Abusulayman collection?

There are many challenges as i did not have a business or fashion design degree or background. 

The most i did was have a tailor sew things for me before I started. 

I hired a very competent team, but still becuase of the specifity of
my requirement, we encountered a lot stumbling blocks, but they were mostly learning curves.

This style has been well accepted?

I think Hishma is making a comeback, people are in a cycle where they are covering up. I mean just look at the recent Met Gala, half the dresses have sleeves. 

I know it is just a fashion trend, but it makes me happy to have more resoruces
for women who want to be modest.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspriation from my life. 

I want comfortable beautiful modesty clothes to be accessible to everyone
and for them to love what they are wearing..
I created a whole scarf line from woven special bamboo material, becuse it was just soooo soft to the touch and I fell in love with it.

I Actually almost always wearing one of those scarves. They are addictive.

Your quite the busy entrepreneur, how many hours a day would you spend working?

I work about 10 hours a day....I have a full time job at the Alwaleed Foundation, and then spend a couple of hours on my bet projects.  

But I love what I do and I don't see it as work, but as productivity.  

The only time I am not working is from 6 to 9 when I am with my children.

What's next for muna? Can you tell us a little about your upcoming projects?

I am working on a lecture series regarding motherhood, I am also working a media projects, as well as of course Spring 2012 collection.

    Is there anything you want to say to Hijabs & Co's Readers, and your Middle East fans?  

I would love to get feedback from people who have worn my hijab collection to make sure that I incorporate their points of view and fuilfill their fashion desires.

www.Munaabusulayman.com

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