Rubana Ahmad: Ethika

Ethika is a fair trade fashion label selling classic women’s fashion, including tailored suits, dresses and chic kaftans made from community trade silk, chiffon and brocade.

Find out how Rubana Ahmad set up a business that operates as a social enterprise.

The company is the brainchild of Birmingham-based Rubana Ahmad and operates as a social enterprise providing aid for orphans and trade for the poor in Pakistan.

Rubana, a mother-of-two with a textile design degree, previously sold embroidery designs internationally and had run an informal fair trading venture for over two years.

She now hopes to become a successful businesswoman while supporting the causes she believes in.


Training to help set up the business

The West Midlands Women's Business Centre provided Rubana with training to study from home as well as all-women workshop events to help build her confidence.

Rubana said: "I want to get out there and make a difference. All my clients know that Ethika is a worthwhile genuine company. Fashion can also be a giving industry too that cares about the disadvantaged people in today’s society.

"WBDA were instrumental in gathering information for my business plan. As an Asian Muslim woman who generally feels more comfortable in the company of women, it was absolutely wonderful and vital to have accessed this support.

"Women face many, many challenges and WBDA certainly provided motivation and inspiration to go on."

Jane at WBDA, said: "Setting up a business can be a very daunting process, especially for woman who have no support networks around them.

"Therefore we would encourage more women to get in touch, especially those who are currently thinking of starting a business or for those with businesses less than 12 months old.

"Rubana has done extremely well and her confidence has increased so much that she recently spoke at an event in front of 150 people. Ethika is a great business idea and taps into the current popularity of fair trade products – take a look at her fantastic range of designs at www.ethikaboutique.com"