Welcome to Naila Ahmad LONDON! A boutique where I empower you with colours, designs and prints from my Pakistani culture and heritage. Colours tell a story and I want you all to tell a story in your homes and wardrobes.
I create bespoke, handcrafted comfort and luxury inspired by tradition, nature and design. Browse and shop premium homeware, apparel and self-care gifts.
Hi, I am the visionary designer behind Naila Ahmad London, running my small business from my London home since 2016. I create from my imagination, design from inspiration and innovate with revelation. Growing up amongst trailblazing women (my grandmother aka Apa Seemi and my mum) and studying Home Economics with Dr Rubina Dawud, I had a huge inclination towards DIY, designing and creativity.
As a young girl, my interest for stitching developed as I traced patterns on fabrics, worked with beads, made my dolls’ clothes and later my own as a teenager - I have been well acquainted and equipped with sewing machines.
Later on in my early 20s, I suffered from fibromyalgia and depression. It was my children’s laughter and the sound of the sewing machine that kept me going and helped me feel better. I found sewing/hobbies healing for my condition.
I started out this business to create beautiful cushions. I travelled from borough to borough and during the pandemic, I decided to increase my product range and to enter the slow fashion industry. From now on in my boutique, you can shop my uniquely handprinted scarves, apparel, tote bags, purses, self-care gifts, homewares & accessories.
When I am in a fabric shop, I am like a little girl in a candy shop. I thrive on colours, patterns, designs and textures. I love playing with different ideas and mixing and matching hues. There is something special about block printing that has stood the test of time. Block printing has given me the freedom to choose what I want to design such as florals, paisley designs, geometric and especially my London designs.
To me, it brings the fabric alive and this is exactly what it does for our homes.
When I am block printing, I am in my happiest state of mind. It takes me back to my grandmother’s village who I visited every year during the summer holidays in Pakistan. I remember haberdashery shops and the strong aroma of brewing tea and people dyeing their fabrics and making my memory got my grandmother’s village more colourful.
My work depicts my time spent in the Middle East, Pakistan, colours picked up from cultures, vivid imagination from reading books and watching period dramas! I am an old soul ;)
Working hard definitely pays off, as I often say I might not be a millionaire but I am successful. It feels very appreciative and encouraging to receive acknowledgement from business industry and renowned personalities such as Theo Paphitis’ #SBSAward and Baroness Karren Brady CBE #SFLAward. Also, I am a huge cheerleader for #JustACardCampaign.
At the British Library, I am a Waltham Forest small business advocate. The British Library provides a wealth of free resources and assistance to start-ups and small-to-medium-sized businesses. Please feel free to contact the British Library for even more information.
My heart beats for small businesses. I wanted to build a platform where artisans could come and present their products and art to the public in an inexpensive and pleasant setting.
The Creative Side of London was founded in 2019 and we now have a bustling market with a wide selection of vendors whenever we pop up at Leyton Host, Walthamstow Village Hall on Orford Rd.
Yes, everything is handmade by myself [Naila] I am the designer, the creative artist and the maker behind Naila Ahmad LONDON. I hand print using self-carved lino stamps and wooden blocks.
I am always on the lookout for pretty and vinatge fabrics and how I can utilise them.
I work with unbleached calico, pure cotton & natural linens, end of rolls, limited editions fabrics, Eco-friendly inks and paints all made in the UK.
I love working on commissions for example: Mother's day, Father's day, teacher's gift ideas, Eid, personalised gifts etc.
All of my fabrics are bought within UK, I sometimes use high street fabrics and designer fabrics and they all come from certified sources. I use all these fabrics to make soft furnishings, apparel and accessories.
I try my best to use recycleable packaging and every last piece of fabric to reduce waste.
