Seeing possibility differently.

To me, fashion is an expression of identity, but it is also a way to create opportunity. An idea can become a design, a design can become something desirable, and something desirable can create value far beyond the product itself.

That thinking became the starting point for Stitches for Hope.

Through Stitches for Hope, I work with underprivileged women in Egypt to bring elements of my designs to life. Each piece incorporates details handcrafted by these women, allowing their skills and creativity to become part of what I create.

I wanted to create something that went beyond simply selling fashion. I wanted to give women a platform for their craftsmanship, a way to earn through their skills, and most importantly, a voice within the pieces they help create.

At 17, I am exploring the intersection of fashion, marketing, and business, while learning how a brand can be commercially successful and still create meaningful opportunities for others.

Salma saw extraordinary craft skills in women who may not have access to conventional ways of working outside the home.

Rather than seeing that as a limitation, she saw a different business model.

That last part mattered. Salma never wanted Stitches for Hope to be a brand people bought from because they felt they were doing something good.

It is a simple idea, but one that sits at the heart of Salma’s vision for Stitches for Hope: fashion and purpose do not need to compete. Done well, each can make the other stronger.