'I was like stop, we need to go in there': Woman's designs 'like big brands' turn heads on Lodge Lane

A Liverpool woman opened her own shop because people thought the clothes she made were from "a big brand."

Saima Sherif moved to Liverpool in 2021 after living in London, where she met her husband, for 18 years. Originally from Pakistan, Saima came to the UK in 2003 and she recently opened Rang Daye, her own clothing shop.

After making her own dresses in Pakistan and gaining attention she began to make them for other women, who often asked about them. She continued to make them for herself while in the UK and now for other women via Rang Daye, in Lodge Lane, Toxteth.

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Saima told the ECHO: "I’ve been interested in making clothes for a long time. When in Pakistan me and my sisters would make our own dresses. Everyone used to think I was wearing a big brand, but I would say, no this is my brand.

"Due to the amount of women asking about the dresses me and my sisters were wearing, we decided to start making them for other people. We would have fashion shows to show off our dresses, which I would like to do in future and get involved with other Liverpool designers."

Saima is also a make-up artist. After coming to the UK in 2003, she worked hard doing three jobs at one point.

She would start at 9pm in a bakery till 6am, return home and sleep for two hours. Then Saima would go and do make-up at a beauty boutique and at 3pm she would go to another boutique.

Saima said: "My sisters continued to make dresses. I stopped once I came to the UK, as I was not in a position to continue making them for others, but I would buy material and still made my own.

"When I moved to Liverpool I did not have much to do, so I decided I would make women’s clothes. I have very good ideas and I’m interested in working with designers to display Pakistani, Arabic, English clothes and also from the east and west of Africa.

“It’s not only Pakistani people who buy my clothes. I have customers from different backgrounds. They love my designs, which are made for everyone who enjoys them".

The business advisor at Lodge Lane-based Granby Toxteth Development Trust based helped Saima complete her business plan to open Rang Daye. After over a year looking for premises, she opened in a container on Lodge Lane on March 1.

80% of the dresses are designed by Saima and her two sisters in Pakistan assisted by her brother, an artist and painter. The clothes are made in Pakistan and sent to Saima, after they have discussed and agreed on the designs.

Customer Sahera Rahman said: "It was the night before Eid, the last day of Ramadan. I was driving down Lodge Lane and I said to my sis, I've got nothing to wear tomorrow.

"Believe it or not, I looked over to the right and I saw Asian clothes. I was like stop, we need to go in there.

"What attracted me was, just like, unique designs. You would never find a shop like that in Liverpool, is what I’m trying to say.

"Me and my sister, we were speaking to Saima for ages. She is such a nice person, her and her husband and really helpful to find something straight away, and we bought two outfits".

Sahera added: "Me and my family have to leave Liverpool to go to Manchester, which is the nearest place to buy Asian clothes. Go in and see Saima, you don’t need to go to Manchester, you don't have to leave Liverpool."

Saima said: "If things go well, I plan to open a bigger shop. I will make children's clothes, for boys and girls, and also men’s clothes too".

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