Keeping Faith

How would you describe your personal sense of style?
It’s very bold, very eclectic, and really experimental. I love picking out different pieces in my wardrobe and trying to see what I can come up with. So I usually take a swath of fabric or a scarf and turn it into a new top or a skirt or whatever strikes my imagination. I don’t usually go for bold patterns—I stick to bright colours. Accessorising is also key for me—we underestimate how accessories can elevate your overall outfit.

In your opinion, what’s a common fashion faux pas people tend to commit?
Not being aware of your style and your body shape. Chasing trends isn’t necessarily a bad thing but sometimes the way we follow trends tends to be impulsive rather than experimental. It’s important to explore so that you know what works well for you, so that you don’t hop on every new trend that arises.

Is there something that people are often surprised to learn about you?
Yes—that I’m Buddhist! I converted to this religion from Islam, so people tend to be taken aback to learn about this; it can often be a conversation breaker. It was hard to be accepted, especially by my family and friends, since changing a religion can still be a taboo topic in society. I admit that it does get lonely sometimes but despite the loneliness, I’d still do it again. I’m grateful that I made the choice to walk down this path of faith. At the end of the day, we all have our own beliefs and I’m grateful to have found the religion and community that I connected with.

What’s one habit that you wish more people in society would practice?
Being kinder to people by truly listening to them. We’re all so focused on ourselves that we forget to take the time out to listen to others. It’s also a cycle that we get trapped in—we end up feeling neglected because no one really seems to listen to us, which is why we end up not listening to others. We are all living in a temporary world: to be accepted in society can change one’s life and create a better, loving and happy life.

Something you’d like to achieve by the end of this year is:
It’d be to really make a difference in somebody’s life by adding value to them in one way or another. I’d like to inspire them to follow their heart and encourage them to walk down their own path. A professional goal I’m hoping to achieve is to take  my personal styling service, “Curates With Zara”, from the sidelines and make it one of my main jobs.