Salaams and Salations Beauties,
It is another installment of 'Beauty on the Outside'. Now we're featuring Najm Designs. I have LOVED Najm Designs for YEARS. For those who live in the Maryland and KNOW about the Sister's conference here, you've seen her prints and grafics. My girls and I have 3 of her bags. With out further typing... I present you with NAJM Designs.
BU: What's the philosophy behind NAJM*?(meaning star, also the 53rd Surah in Qur'an)
NJ: My slogan is "Design With Purpose". The concept here is even our dress is a form of worship and serves a purpose for us as women so it should mean something. I design practical, comfortable clothing. I also design a graphic line that expresses the pride and ideals of the muslimah ummah as a whole.
BU: Have you always had an eye for fashion?
ND:I have always been an artistic soul, mashaAllah. I was in the Arts Honors Society in HS and also performed my poetry at various events. I knew I wanted to have a creative career and use my talents. Allah blessed me to take my shahadah, and I learned about human images being haram. At the same time becoming a hijabi and did not like the products available in my local stores. I realized my purpose, and enrolled in college and majored in Fashion Design with a goal of bringing stylish islamic clothing to my sisters.
BU: What types of products to you provide for your line?
ND: I provide Modest clothing for women (jilbabs,dresses, skirts, tunics, skirts & wideleg pants). I also have a graphic line which consists of tees (mens,womens,childrens), bags(totes, messengers, bookbags), accessories (jewelry, key chains, mousepads, travel mugs) that have bold, yet fun islamic themed sayings on them. (ex. "Hijabi-Liberated & Educated", "America's Next Top Muslimah", "Pretty, Proud & Muslim", "Righteous Wife-I make you better"
BU: What drives you to bring modest affordable fashions to American sisters?
ND: My drive comes from only Allah(swt)! He's blessed me with the creative talent to come up with these ideas and put them out there. Also I feed off the energy of my muslimah sisters. We have all experienced the discrimination and stereotypes that are attached to muslimahs and hijabis. I wanted to develop a way to speak out against it without even opening your mouth. As one customer said "just talk to the bag!". Sisters have personally thanked me and told me my bags have "broke the ice" among non-muslim co-workers and family members, who just didn't know they felt so much passion about wearing hijab. They thought it was a forced decision and that there was no way they voluntarily enjoyed wearing hijab. 
BU: What is your definition of beauty?
ND: My definition of beauty is being pleasing in mind, body, and soul. To be truly beautiful all 3 must be in place. I also want to note that I meet beautiful sisters regularly that wear a variety of displeasing clothing(ie. too tight, wrinkled, stained or ripped). It is absolutely possible to obey Allah and be modest, as well as being conscience that our outer appearances are a dawah to other people. Be proud of who you are as a person, be proud of your commitment to Allah as a Hijabi, be proud to be a role model to your daughters and be proud of the status Allah have given you in our ummah! There is no excuse to have low self-esteem and walk around looking like a hot mess! You don't have to be the "designer diva" muslimah type,lol it's not about that. And if you need help finding your islamic fashion identity there are designers out there like me, who are passionate about what we do and have the expertise to help you look and feel beautiful.
You can also put my contact info: najmdesigns@gmail.com, coming soon:www.najmdesigns.com
JazakAllah khair for interviewing me and including me. Please let me know when it comes out. Great to see you as usual, talk to you soon, inshaAllah.
NAJMAH*
Beautiful Ummah thanks Sister Najmah for the interview. We also thank her for comming out to our 'Designer's Delight' in NYC a couple of weeks ago. Insha~allah we'll see her soon.
B Beautiful,
Umm Amirah
Friday, February 5, 2010
Beauty on the Outside: Najm Designs
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Beautiful Ummah is One Year Old!!
Salaams and Saluations,
Beautiful Ummah is ONE year old!! Can't believe it. Can't believe we've had some nice events, great subscribers and learned alot of the beauty blogging community.
Soooo in celebration of our 1st year...we are having a contest. It is open till the end of the month. The prices will be broken up into LOCAL winners (in the D/M/V) and Non LOCAL(mailing) winners. The rules are as followed: Create a beauty look. Take 3 pictures: before, during, after. Submit the pics a long with a little something about YOU to me (Umm Amirah) at ummamirah[at]beautifulummah[dot]com. Evening looks, everyday looks, whatever!!!
There will be 3 prize. Entries will be posted on this blog (just the last pic). Entries will be judged by all Beautiful Ummah contributors.
Don't forget about our Poetry Event at RJ Cafe in Maryland. If you live in between DC and Baltimore, we hope to see you there. Also there is that Artizara promo during this month...go go and enjoy.
Get to getting beauties!!
B Beautiful,
Umm Amirah
Monday, February 1, 2010
Beautiful Recessionista: Baking Soda
Salaams Beauties! Baking soda is one of the hardest working beauty essentials EVER! I love it as a facial exfoliant and I've also been using it as a pre tooth paste teeth cleanser. There are a million and 1 uses for baking soda and you can pick up a box for under a buck!
To quote the Domestic Diva Martha Stewart: Baking soda, it's a good thing.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
BEAUTIFUL UMMAH ANNIVERSARY!
Greetings Beauties!
Beautiful Ummah has been around for an entire year in February...Can you believe it! We are hosting a bunch of events for the occasion, the first is:
February 13, 2010
All are welcome, this is NOT just a Sisters event.
A purchase from R.J.'s is required.
Readings will start at 6pm-10pm.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
R.J. Cafe
12111 Indian Creek Court
Beltsville, Maryland 20705-4223
240-264-1990
As always, there will be prizes!!! If you have never been to R.J.'s you do not know what you are missing...check them out!!!
Come share, enjoy and B Beautiful!
Product Review- Artizara.com
Greetings Beauties!
I am doing a product review on a blouse I received from Artizara an Islamic fashion company. I just want to say I LOVE IT! As far as modesty is concerned, I think this is one of the best made garments I have worn from any of the Islamic clothing stores in a very long time. The material is high quality and it fits really nice. I waited until after I laundered the shirt to do the review. It washes well, and is easy to iron. I love the way the fabric falls. I found the shirt to be long enough for modesty, but not too long. The side slits open at the right length for me. I loved the sleeve length. Ladies, no one said you have to give up looking stylish and professional when you are dressed in modest, Islamicly appropriate clothing.
My only complaint is if you are a lady that is well endowed, you may not want to get a shirt that buttons from them. The cost was great. With shipping the total cost was less than $35.00. On the site there are things on there for every girl...as long as you are smaller than a size 20. I received plenty of complements on this top! My husband even liked it and he rarely admits he likes anything.
Check out the website, it is really user friendly! I love this shirt and look forward to ordering more things from them! They even have coordinating hijabs the items to help coordinate your hijab with your outfit. Now that is priceless beauties! http://www.artizara.com
Keep Being Beautiful!
Umm Aminah Honest
FCC Disclaimer: This item was sent from the company for product review. None of the Beautiful Ummah Bloggers are employed by Artizara and all opinions expressed are original.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Clothing review...by request
Salaams and Saluations all,
I'm blogging...even in CALI! Its all good.
Artizara approached the BU team for a review of their products. Welll....Umm Aminah Honest is going to do that. I'm just posting the steller discount code for you Beautiful Ummah readers. 
Yes Artizara is giving you all 20% off with the code BBEAUTIFUL (offer ends in June 2010). What a great way to kick off our 1st Bloggiversary!! Oh..know we have more up our sleeves!!
Look out for our review...shop their site...read more BEAUTIFUL UMMAH.
B Beautiful,
Umm Amirah
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
NYX is going Bananas
Salaams and Salutations Beauties!!
NYX is going banana's till the 25th of this month. That means SALE. Check it out.
Let us know what you scored. In December they had liquid foundation on sale for a $1 a bottle. A DOLLA!!! Can't beat that with a stick.
B Beautiful
Umm Amirah
