Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Zuberi.
Hi Sarah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Zuberi Studios was born from a lifelong connection to fashion, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Growing up, I spent countless hours watching my grandmother, mother, and aunt sew. Seeing them create garments with their own hands sparked my curiosity at a young age and gave me an appreciation for the care, skill, and creativity that goes into making something from scratch.
As I got older, that curiosity turned into a passion. I taught myself how to sew through experimentation, practice, and persistence, learning by making mistakes and continuously refining my craft. What started as a personal creative outlet gradually evolved into a deeper desire to design pieces that felt meaningful and unique.
My Indian heritage has played a significant role in shaping my perspective as a designer. I draw inspiration from the rich colors, textiles, craftsmanship, and traditions that have surrounded me throughout my life. Rather than recreating traditional garments, I enjoy finding modern ways to incorporate elements of that heritage into my work whether through color palettes, storytelling, details, or the overall spirit of a collection.
With Zuberi Studios, I wanted to create more than just products. I wanted to build a brand that reflects identity, culture, and self-expression. Every piece is designed with intention, blending contemporary design with personal storytelling and cultural influence. Being involved in every stage of the process: from concept development and design to sewing and production, allows me to stay connected to the values that inspired the brand in the first place.
Today, Zuberi Studios continues to grow as a creative space where fashion, culture, and storytelling intersect. What began with watching the women in my family create by hand has evolved into a brand dedicated to thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and creating pieces that help people express themselves. As the brand grows, I remain committed to honoring those roots while continuing to explore new ways to tell stories through design.
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?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. While I had spent years teaching myself how to sew and develop my skills as a designer, building a business required an entirely different set of skills that I didn’t have experience with at the beginning. I had to learn everything from branding and marketing to pricing, production, logistics, and customer service through trial and error.
As a self-taught designer and entrepreneur, a lot of the journey has been figuring things out as I go. There wasn’t a blueprint to follow, so many of my biggest lessons came from making mistakes, adapting, and continuing to move forward.
One of the most difficult challenges has been navigating manufacturing. Like many small business owners, I’ve had experiences where manufacturers failed to meet expectations, delivered poor-quality work, or did not follow through on what was promised. Those situations were frustrating and costly, but they taught me the importance of thoroughly vetting partners, protecting my business, and staying involved in every stage of the production process.
At times, balancing creativity with the realities of running a business has been challenging as well. As a designer, you want to focus on creating, but as a business owner, you’re responsible for every aspect of the brand. Learning how to manage both sides has been one of the biggest growth experiences for me.
Despite the setbacks, every challenge has helped shape Zuberi Studios into what it is today. The obstacles have made me more resourceful, resilient, and intentional about how I build the brand. Looking back, those experiences have been just as important as the successes because they’ve taught me lessons that continue to guide me as Zuberi Studios grows.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
About Zuberi Studios
I’m an Indian American designer originally from Sacramento, California, and now based in New York. I founded Zuberi Studios in 2021 as a slow fashion brand inspired by my South Asian roots, modesty, and my interest in challenging traditional ideas around clothing.
I design pieces that can be worn in multiple ways and dressed up or down, while playing with both masculine and feminine elements. My Indian heritage is also a big part of my design process, and I like finding ways to bring those influences into my work without making the pieces feel overly traditional.
I’m also really intentional about how Zuberi Studios is produced. Everything is sourced, designed, cut, and sewn by me. All of my pieces are handmade, custom, and “one of none,” meaning there is only one of each size in each fabrication. This helps me reduce waste while also making each piece feel more personal and unique.
I think what sets Zuberi Studios apart is that there’s a lot of me in every part of the brand. I’m not just designing the clothes, I’m sourcing the materials, making the patterns, sewing the pieces, and figuring out how everything comes together. I’m most proud of being able to build the brand myself and create clothing that reflects my background while still feeling modern, versatile, and different.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
A lot of my inspiration comes from my surroundings and the people I’m around. Growing up in Sacramento and later living in San Francisco, the different communities, styles, artists, and cultures around me had a big influence on how I see fashion and creativity. Now that I’m based in New York, I find myself drawing inspiration from my surroundings here too.
I use Pinterest a lot for design inspiration, styling, and discovering other designers and creatives. I’ve also been getting more into Substack, especially for personal perspectives, creative writing, and conversations around culture, fashion, and life. Procreate has also become a big part of my creative process. I use it to sketch ideas, experiment with designs, and work through concepts before bringing them to life physically.
Since I’m self-taught, YouTube has also been a big resource for me, especially when I’m learning a new sewing technique, figuring out pattern making, or trying to understand another part of running a fashion business. A lot of my learning really comes from being curious, researching when I need to, and learning through doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zuberistudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zuberistudios?igsi=MXBxZmRpMzBncHF2Mw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zuberi-studios/
