The Story Behind Shehar Zadi
'Shehar Zadi' is created by two sisters who grew up watching their father work hard in the family business, eventually owning a wholesale setup that processes and manufactures cloth for B2B sales in Azam Market, Lahore, BABA FABRICS (est. 1973), with the circle expanding to the textiles sectors of Peshawar, Mardan, Mangora, and several other cities.
Following a traditional business setup in the desi Pakistani society, it excluded the slightest possibility of females entering the field. Growing up, wishing to step up but constantly encountering a society that draws thin the opportunities for women, we decided to carve our own route and started our business under our father's supervision - whose forty years of business experience is our backbone.
Our journey started with a simple motive: to locally manufacture designs that incorporate and showcase cultural elements and craftsmanship in modern pieces for the young modern woman, while creating a label that speaks to the empowerment of women across different spheres of life.
From our own experiences as women in the city and our evolving relationship with the spaces around us - once we started stepping into spaces that once felt unsafe and unwelcoming - the name ‘Shehar Zadi’ (Daughter of the City/ شہر کی بیٹی) came naturally to us; its intent being, calling women to reclaim the social, economic, and business spaces they have long been excluded from.
The journey of building ‘Shehar Zadi’ itself was one of self-reliance, resilience, independence, exploration, reimagining, negotiating, reclaiming, and rewriting the stories we didn’t know we were part of. The best thing among them? Lahore. It’s warmth, love, and vast grounds of opportunities.
From ideation, unending on the ground market research, and material hunting to quality assurance, shoots, and hours spent on devising business and marketing strategies, every step mattered and made ‘Shehar Zadi’ a deeply personal and intentional venture.
This label is an ode to all the daughters who, for the longest time, have been excluded from the major social and professional spaces that shape our lives. It is an ode to women reclaiming their place, their voice, and their presence in a society that has long overlooked them. It is a small step towards rewriting what belonging looks like — one that carries the stories, resilience, and ambition of every شہر زادی who refuses to be left out.
More Highlights from Shehar Zadi
Display at PIFD Textiles Fair
Business Display at WEPX by WDD, Punjab
Shehar Zadi
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