Today we’d like to introduce you to MD Ekramul Islam.
Hi MD Ekramul, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Before entrepreneurship, my career journey was diverse and gave me valuable real-world experience. In England, I worked full-time in South Asian restaurants, completed a banking internship, and worked part-time at KFC while studying full-time for my Business Administration degree at university.
Working in South Asian restaurants taught me the importance of small businesses within local communities. I built relationships with returning customers who valued our service, food, and hospitality. It showed me how much consistency matters in running a successful business. Through food and service, we were able to provide customers with a taste of home, and seeing them leave happy and satisfied was always rewarding.
During my banking internship, I gained valuable insight into the financial side of running a business. I learned how important proper financing, budgeting, and financial planning are for small business success.
Working at KFC gave me a different perspective—it showed me how even the world’s biggest brands start from humble beginnings. Seeing the systems, structure, and scalability of a global franchise taught me that with the right vision, discipline, and consistency, a business can grow from a simple idea into something much bigger.
These diverse early experiences taught me discipline, customer service, teamwork, adaptability, and resilience.
After moving to the United States, I continued building my professional experience by working in different roles, including as a Safety Officer at NYU Langone in New York. My experience across two countries, multiple industries, and various job roles gave me a strong foundation to adapt, solve problems, and stay focused during challenging times.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, my wife and I both lost our jobs, which was one of the most uncertain and difficult periods of our lives. Like many families, we had to quickly rethink our future and find a new path forward. Instead of allowing that setback to define us, I decided to turn adversity into opportunity.
With my background in Business Administration and years of work experience in both the UK and the USA, I started exploring business ideas that connected with my roots and market demand. I noticed a growing need for unique Desi clothing and modest fashion, particularly high-quality Abayas, hijabs, and traditional wear sourced from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Dubai, and surrounding regions. That was the moment the idea for my business was born. I decided to name my business Assaabireen which means the “patient or steadfast one” in Arabic. I knew from the start that starting a small business was not a walk in the park. Many challenges and obstacles were lying ahead of me.
I launched the business online, starting with my own website and gradually expanding across multiple e-commerce platforms including Etsy, eBay, Facebook, and TikTok. After successfully operating online from 2020 to 2025, we were finally able to take the next major step and open our physical store in Morrisville, North Carolina. Opening our storefront was a proud milestone because it represented years of hard work, sacrifice, patience, and persistence.
Today, our business is more than just a clothing store—it is a reflection of resilience, cultural identity, and the belief that difficult times can lead to meaningful new beginnings. What started during one of the hardest moments in our lives has grown into a business we are proud to serve our community with.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all—it has definitely not been a smooth road. Like many small business owners, our journey came with a lot of challenges, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty.
One of the biggest struggles was dealing with negativity from people around us. Many people doubted our idea from the beginning and often tried to discourage us, questioning whether an online Desi and Abaya clothing business could really succeed. Instead of support, we often faced criticism and demotivation, which was mentally challenging, especially in the early stages when we were already taking a big financial and personal risk.
Financial limitations were another major obstacle. Starting a business after losing both of our jobs during COVID meant we had to be very careful with every dollar. Managing inventory, website costs, marketing expenses, shipping, and day-to-day living expenses all at the same time was not easy.
Space was also a constant issue. In the beginning, we operated from home, which meant managing inventory, packaging orders, and handling business operations in a very limited space. We used to stock our inventory in our bedroom, hallway, garage, any inch of space we had in home. As the business grew, storage and organization became increasingly difficult before we were finally able to open our physical store.
Another major challenge was finding reliable and trustworthy suppliers. Since product quality is extremely important in our business, it took a lot of time, research, and trial and error to build relationships with suppliers we could trust. We wanted to make sure our customers received authentic, high-quality Desi clothing and Abayas, which meant we had to be very selective.
At the same time, affordability was always one of our top priorities. We wanted to offer stylish, modest, and culturally authentic clothing at prices that everyday families could afford. Balancing quality, shipping costs, supplier pricing, and competitive retail pricing was a constant challenge.
Building the business from scratch was far from easy. There were many ups and downs, financial pressures, steep learning curves, and countless long hours behind the scenes. Despite all these struggles, every obstacle taught us something valuable. Those difficult experiences made us more resilient, more strategic, and more determined to build something meaningful. Looking back, the journey was tough, but those challenges are also what shaped our business into what it is today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our business specializes in modest fashion and culturally inspired clothing, with a strong focus on premium Abayas, hijabs, and Desi wear from regions like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Dubai, and other parts of South Asia and the Middle East. We created this business with the vision of making stylish, high-quality modest clothing more accessible and affordable for customers in the United States.
We started as an online business, serving customers nationwide through our website as well as platforms like Etsy, eBay, Facebook, and TikTok. Over time, as our customer base grew and demand increased, we expanded into a physical retail store in Morrisville, North Carolina, allowing customers to experience our collections in person. Morrisville became the perfect hub for launching our first store. Morrisville has a rapidly growing South Asian population which gave us the perfect opportunity to provide our customers with what they needed. Being able to hold on to their identities through their clothing right in their own backyard of America. We were able to input our colors into the American canvas of diverse cultures. Our store not only serves Eastern cultures, but we have customers from various ethnicities walk in to the store interested in purchasing ethnic clothing for the first time. Sometimes they are attending a cultural event or traveling and they want to purchase the right outfits. Having the store at the heart of North Carolina, gives us this incredible opportunity to share the beauty and comfort of our clothing. It brings people together.
What sets us apart is our combination of authenticity, affordability, and personalization. We carefully select unique pieces that are not always easy to find in the local U.S. market, especially for customers looking for fashionable modest wear, occasion outfits, and culturally authentic clothing. Our collections include everyday essentials as well as elegant pieces for holidays, weddings, parties, and special events.
We are especially known for offering a curated selection of Abayas and modest wear that combine modern trends with traditional elegance. Many of our customers appreciate that we focus on both quality and affordability, making it possible to access premium-looking fashion without extremely high prices.
One thing we are most proud of is building this brand completely from the ground up as a family business. What began as an idea during one of the most difficult periods in our lives has grown into a brand and storefront that now serves a diverse customer community. Every step—from sourcing products, building our online presence, packing orders, managing customer service, and eventually opening our physical store—has been hands-on and deeply personal. Me and my spouse are present at all times at the store. This store is our passion and we take it seriously to provide our customers with the best customer expereince. We are here to answer their questions on sizes, where we source our materials, and recommendations on what outfit is best for them.
Our brand is more than just clothing. It represents culture, confidence, modesty, and inclusivity. We want our customers to feel represented, valued, and beautiful while shopping with us. Whether someone is looking for a simple everyday Abaya, a statement outfit for a celebration, or culturally meaningful clothing that reminds them of home, we aim to be a trusted destination.
Above all, we want readers to know that our business was built on resilience, hard work, and community. We are committed to continuing to grow while staying true to our values of quality, affordability, authenticity, and excellent customer service.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Absolutely—no business journey is truly built alone, and our success would not have been possible without the support of a few very important people.
First and foremost, my wife deserves enormous credit for everything we have built. From the very beginning, she stood by me during one of the most difficult times in our lives when we both lost our jobs during COVID. While balancing her own full-time job, she has continued to contribute to the business in ways that are impossible to fully measure. She helps with choosing our design styles and fabrics, customer support, organization, and day-to-day responsibilities whenever needed. More importantly, she has been a constant source of emotional strength, motivation, and belief during both the good times and the difficult moments.
My brother in Bangladesh has also played a major role in our journey. Since sourcing quality products is one of the most important parts of our business, his support has been incredibly valuable. He has helped with product sourcing, supplier communication, quality checks, market insights, and practical advice from back home. Having someone trustworthy on the ground has made a huge difference in helping us find reliable products and make better sourcing decisions.
Beyond the operational support, both my wife and brother have also been my biggest cheerleaders. Entrepreneurship can feel very lonely and stressful, especially when facing setbacks, financial pressure, and uncertainty. Their moral support, encouragement, and honest advice helped me stay focused and keep moving forward even when things felt overwhelming.
Of course, our customers also deserve a lot of credit. Every person who trusted a small business like ours, placed an order, visited our store, recommended us to friends, or left positive feedback contributed to our growth. Their support gave us confidence that we were building something meaningful and valuable for the community.
At the end of the day, while this business started with my vision, it has truly been a family effort supported by trust, teamwork, sacrifice, and shared belief in what we are building.
Pricing:
- Abaya Pricing From $25- $85
- South Asian Clothing Pricing From $22- $180
- Mens Thobes & Kurtas From $25- $45
- Maxi Dresses $25- $36
- Co-ord Sets $20- $49
Contact Info:
- Website: https://assaabireenclothing.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/assaabireen.clothing
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/assaabireenclothing
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@assaabireenclothing
- Tiktok: @assaabireen_clothing_llc
