The Modest Atelier Podcast

If you’re someone that finds themselves trying to juggle many projects or passions at once, this episode is the one for you. In this week’s episode, we speak with London based creative, Hanan Abdel-Khalek (@hananithink).

We discuss the importance of focus in your work and passions and why it’s important to cut out the noise.

We also explore Hanan’s many roles as a multi-faceted creative - being a journalist, jewelry designer, podcaster, ethical/sustainable solution consultant and more.

We also discuss Hanan’s accessories brand that she, among many things, utilizes to explore her creative side and showcase her Egyptian roots. The brand @youngnevertiti (young·never·ti·ti) is an Egyptian meets Western Pop art accessories brand, which apart from offering amazing jewelry pieces, acts as a creative outlet for Hanan

A really authentic conversation around ethical & sustainable consumption in regards to fashion and the modest fashion industry.

We touch on fast fashion and its impact on the environment, how we can be more conscious in our purchases

Her podcast and why she set it up as a means to connect and discuss real issues with creatives and interesting personalities

The importance of knowing who you are as a Muslim woman and not wavering from who you are despite the successes that may come your way

“The reason I’ve been able to grow this far is because I’m a listener”

Joining us in this weeks episode, is the young and inspiring fashion entrepreneur, Co-Founder of the iconic Modest Fashion Weeks, Franka Soeria, who sits down with us to chat about her journey setting up Think Fashion & Modest Fashion Weeks with her co-founder Ozlem Sahin, the lessons she’s learnt through some of her most difficult struggles & failures, and her key advice and insights for aspiring female entrepreneurs. 

Apart from being a successful Founder, Franka is also a global fashion consultant, adviser to several government bodies, and writer.

For those that may not know, Modest Fashion Week is regarded as the global event of modest fashion, having launched 5 international Modest Fashion Weeks, across Istanbul, London, Jakarta, and Dubai, with a 6th instalment set for December 2019 in Amsterdam.

From a young age where Franka’s father began instilling a sense of discipline and hard work, Franka began writing scripts and screen plays as early as 9 years old. Later on, following a lost 500-page screen play, Franka shifted to journalism in the fashion & modest fashion industry, which allowed her to build her network and connections within the industry. After working in a range of areas from styling, the brand constant, to event manager, Franka set up her start-up Alahijab. Despite the start-up failing, Franka was able to further build her connections within the modest fashion industry, which formed the foundations for setting up Modest Fashion Week. After moving to Turkey, Franka noticed the large modest fashion seen, but was baffled by the lack of connection between Turkey, and her home land of Indonesia, (two of the largest markets for modest fashion), which inspired her to get together with her co-founder and connect the global modest fashion industry, through her agency Think Fashion, #MARKAMARIE, Modest Fashion Week worldwide

To skip straight to Franka’s advice for female entrepreneurs and how she has stayed motivated & persistent in her work whilst building her amazing companies, please skip to 25:00.

To register and attend Amsterdam Modest Fashion Week 2019, visit the link - https://www.modestfashionweeks.com/en/register/