Salma Mehjabeen

Salma Mehjabeen
BA (Hons) Fashion (2014)
Fashion Designer in Dubai

While the fashion industry offers a diverse variety of career opportunities - from designers, buyers and stylists to merchandisers and marketeers – few roles offer the satisfaction of input from concept to catwalk to collections. Heriot-Watt alumna, Salma Mehjabeen, however, is fashioning a rewarding career doing just that.

“For last two years,” she says, “I have been working as a Fashion Designer for a brand based in Dubai. I am responsible for designing and managing the production of three clothing lines for the brand and we produce eight successful collections a year. I enjoy being involved in every step - from design to production - and seeing the end product gives me a sense of fulfilment.”

It has taken hard work and dedication to reach her current position. “I had very little experience of fashion when I started my degree,” says Salma, “I didn’t know much about design or manufacture. But I feel that the Heriot Watt fashion degree is a complete package which helped me understand every aspect of the fashion industry and develop the skills I required to be successful in this industry. I really enjoyed studying at Heriot Watt in Dubai, the environment is great for developing your creativity and the professors and teachers are really supportive.”

Graduating with a BA (Hons) Fashion in 2014, Salma singles out one course, in particular, which has proved invaluable for her work: “The computer-aided design (CAD) course I studied has been very useful as it helps me communicate design ideas to the production team very efficiently - especially if you have a production team abroad.”

Creative, critical and communication skills are encouraged and developed on the Heriot–Watt fashion degree. Designed to prepare students for a career in the multi-faceted, multi-million pound industry, students are taught about the primary needs of the client, the focal point of the design and its appeal to customers, along with marketing skills and trends analysis to support the product.

Beginning her career as an eyewear and print designer, Salma’s current role with a luxury womenswear brand based in Dubai is varied and interesting: “Most of my time is spent on design, planning and developing the collection and ensuring quality control of the finished products. I often travel to source fabrics and materials which gives me the opportunity to explore interesting places and meet new people.”

Salma – who has lived most of her life in Dubai but whose family are originally from South India - advises new students to gain a wide-ranging education of the industry at University: “Be an all-rounder and learn everything while you still have opportunity to learn and to make mistakes.

“The fashion industry is broad and you never know where you will end up - maybe a designer, buyer or pattern drafter - so make the most out of all your courses have to offer. You really have to work extra hard at University to learn and to prove you’ve got what it takes.”

28 March 2017