SABIRAH’s London Iftar Shows How One Brand is Redefining Modest Fashion
We catch up with SABIRAH’s Deborah Latouche to learn about her vibrant Iftar event in London, her design practice, and what modest fashion means in 2025.
SABIRAH’s London Iftar Shows How One Brand is Redefining Modest Fashion
SABIRAH’S Iftar at The Landmark London. Image: Josephine Berry via BFA.
In the Tower Suite of The Landmark London hotel, Deborah Latouche was trying her best to relax. Under the soft glow of chandeliers and the perfume of freshly cut blooms, a quietly groundbreaking interfaith Iftar was unfolding. Women of different faiths and backgrounds gathered to break bread and celebrate five years of SABIRAH, a brand that has redefined modesty on its own terms.
What is an Iftar?
Iftar is the meal that Muslims eat at sunset to break their fast during Ramadan. It marks the end of fasting from dawn to sunset.
Latouche, a stylist-turned-designer and Muslim revert of 18 years, understands the nuance of modesty far beyond the religious framework. “It’s never about covering for the sake of covering,” she says. “It’s about choice. It’s about style. It’s about the way a woman carries herself—strong, intentional, elegant.”
Latouche’s reversion to Islam presented a challenge and an opportunity: “I've always worked in fashion, I always loved fashion. But when I became a Muslim, it was like, ‘Well, what do I wear?’ I always found it difficult to find clothing that was both high fashion and met my modest requirements.”
Along with modest luxurious dressing, Latouche maintains the essence of her brand is community, and SABIRAH’s Iftar proved it—a luxurious, intimate celebration of inclusivity, where modest fashion’s rising influence was in full display.
A Global Guest List
In attendance? The coolest people you know. BAFTA-winning actress Rakie Ayola, presenter and artist Zainab Jiwa, Director Deborah Ababio, university lecturers, stylists, and many others. Guests gathered at the long table, dressed in SABIRAH’s signature structured silhouettes, sipping on zero-proof Wild Idol, and sharing laughter and wisdom between courses of Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine.
Immersed in an atmosphere of quiet grandeur, Blooming Haus, a B Corp-certified floral studio transformed the space into an ethereal garden floating above London, an aesthetic nod to the beauty of reverence— both spiritual and sartorial. The evening opened with a recitation of the Quran by multi-disciplinary artist Nusaiba Mohammad-Timol—an acknowledgment of the sacredness of the occasion, setting the tone for a night where faith was not a barrier but a bridge.
“I wanted people to leave feeling like they were part of something bigger than just a dinner,” she explains. “Ramadan is about community, about kindness, about reflection. I wanted to extend that to our SABIRAH family.”
SABIRAH’S Iftar at The Landmark London. Center: Deborah Latouche. Image: Josephine Berry via BFA.
With a menu that was as refined as the fashion on display, a guest list curated for meaningful conversation, and the unveiling of an archival photoshoot that celebrated five years of SABIRAH, the night was a masterclass in how luxury and faith can coexist seamlessly.
The archival photoshoot will continue to be unveiled across the coming month, highlighting half a decade of modest and empowered dressing.
Modest Fashion is Not a Compromise on Personal Style
The rise of modest fashion has, for years, been dismissed as a niche market, a religious obligation turned industry trend. But SABIRAH’s success tells a different story. This is not about faith alone—it is about the evolution of fashion itself, a movement toward clothing that speaks to confidence without the demand for exposure. Rich textures and exquisite draping define a SABIRAH piece. As a couture house, intimate collaboration with clients is essential.
SABIRAH designs. Image: Josephine Berry via BFA.
Latouche is careful to remind me that SABIRAH is not for Muslims alone. Women have been dressing modestly for centuries, regardless of religious affiliation. “Modesty varies from each person,” states Latouche. “Everybody is on their own journey with regards to how much they want cover up. it's not for me to judge anybody.”
“Women have always had preferences about what they show and what they don’t,” says Latouche. “That isn’t new. What’s new is that the industry is finally listening.”
A Growing Market
According to market research, the global modest fashion industry is valued at over $400 billion, with major luxury houses scrambling to cater to a consumer who demands both elegance and ethics.
Sustainability, craftsmanship, and inclusivity are no longer buzzwords; they are mandates. SABIRAH, with its commitment to using 90% end-of-life fabrics, is at the forefront of this shift. “Our fabrics are predominantly sourced from Italy, with the majority being natural fibers, silks, cottons, and wools.”
SABIRAH’S Iftar at The Landmark London. Center: Deborah Latouche. Image: Josephine Berry via BFA.
For Latouche, sustainability isn’t just about fabric choices—it’s about legacy. “As Muslims, we are custodians of the Earth,” she says. “That means being intentional with what we create, with what we leave behind.”
Even the gift bags at the Iftar spoke to this ethos: crafted from leftover SABIRAH fabric, filled with beauty treasures from brands like Lashify and Nailberry, they were more than parting gifts. They were reminders that luxury can be responsible and beauty can be thoughtful.
Gift bags at the SABIRAH iftar. Image: Josephine Berry via BFA.
