Modest fashion ‘needs to be more empowering, supportive, inclusive’ : Q&A with Franka Soeria

Franka Soeria is a fashion consultant who works chiefly in modest fashion. Franka and business partner Ozlem Sahin are the duo behind Think Fashion, that has been organising pioneering modest fashion weeks in key cities including Istanbul, London, Dubai, and Jakarta. Franka is also behind #Markamarie, a company that provides services to modest fashion businesses especially in her native Indonesia. In February, Franka and #Markamarie announced a new ‘Fund the Founders’ incubator programme in Kuala Lumpur to help modest fashion brands compete on the global stage.

This Q&A with Franka is part of Salaam Gateway’s International Women's Day 2020 series that is co-designed and curated by Nyra Mahmood, MD of UK-based Simply Sharia Human Capital (SSHC LTD), the publishers of the 2016 report "Women in Islamic Finance & Islamic Economy”. Franka’s responses have been edited for language.

Salaam Gateway: You recently announced a new incubator for modest fashion entrepreneurs and businesses in Kuala Lumpur, similar to the one you and #Markamarie started in Indonesia. From your work on the ground in Indonesia, and with Think Fashion in key Islamic countries organising modest fashion weeks, how big a role do women play in modest fashion?