A new South Asian bridal fashion label Kynah based out of Los Angeles is gaining attention for its contemporary bridal lehngas. Founded by Aisha Rawji, Kynah’s aim is to create heirloom pieces that are made by artisans in India earning fair wages and with a goal of fostering sustainability.
The founder is no stranger to fashion as it was her mother who owned the Raaz store in Artesia, CA in the 1990’s and Aisha thoughtfully named her collection Kynah, which means female leader. It was here that a young Aisha found her passion for fashion. Beyond bridal, Kynah also offers saris, resortwear and some really eye-catching dresses. Kynah also offers a line of fun face masks and accessories. ShopKynah.com
How did your experience at your mother’s store Raaz influence your career path? From a young age, I fell in love with the glitz and glamour of my mom’s store Raaz. She always had the store fully stocked with stunning bridal lehngas, saris, and more, and I loved watching how all the women would pick the colors and customize their looks. As I got older, I realized that fashion was much more than glamour, it was a deep form of artistic expression which made me fall in love with fashion and the industry even more as I learned to utilize it for myself.
What is your educational background? I have had no formal training in fashion. I attended Boston University and studied business. I had 8 internships, but all of them were in technology, never in fashion. When I decided that I wanted to start really considering a career in fashion, I took a fashion entrepreneurship night course at the New School in New York. I worked briefly at a fashion technology company, but was still on the business side of things, never on the creative side.
Who are you inspired by? I’m very inspired by Aurora James, founder of Brother Vellies. She has seamlessly created a high-end brand with the purpose and mission of preserving traditional African design practices, something that I hope to do with Indian artisanship.
Tell us about your sustainability practices? Something that is important to me is creating pieces that will last a lifetime and be passed on through generations versus a one–time use. We create 90% of our items on a made-to-order basis, which can be customized to the customer’s liking to reduce waste and ensure they are used and kept longer. As sustainability becomes increasingly important in India, we hope to push our partners toward more sustainable materials and dyes as well.
What fabrics and fabric work are a centerpiece in your collections? In our Spring Summer 2019 collection, we launched the gold chiffon foil Sabrina Kaftan which instantly became our best-seller and set us apart from other companies. Since then, we’ve introduced the kaftan in many different styles, colors, and cuts which have continued to be the centerpiece of Kynah.
Who have you dressed? Who would be your dream client? For the Grammys this year we dressed Yasmine and Jahan of Krewella, who I have been a huge fan of for many years. My dream client would be Frieda Pinto, hands down. I absolutely love her style.
