Bambah’s Founder On Her Early Morning Routine, Favourite Designers and How She Unwinds At The End Of The Day

Maha Abdul Rasheed reveals how she typically spends 24 hours with Bazaar

From early mornings to working the studio to visiting Bambah’s new boutique, the founder of the vintage-inspired brand talks us through her typical day…

5:30 AM I’m an early riser and love waking up in my bright and airy bedroom which is filled with plants and has big windows that are mostly always open. I wear soft cotton pyjamas to bed and sleep in Malaika bedsheets from Egypt.

I brush my teeth, tone with natural rose water and apply a vitamin C serum and massage it into my face for a few minutes. After that, I apply a Sisley moisturiser and eye cream, and some La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF50. 

Botanical Eye and Lip Contour Balm, Dhs495, Sisley

If I’m wearing make-up,  it will be Lancôme’s Skin Feels Good tinted moisturiser, but I don’t normally wear make-up during the week as I love the feeling of being able to splash water on my face whenever I want to freshen up during the day.

6:30 AM I get dressed and head out with my dog Ares for our daily morning walk of about 45 minutes. 

7:00AM We head back home and I give Ares and my cats Asal and Tahina their breakfast.

8:00AM I have have a light breakfast of dates, fruit and a cup of hot water at around. I’m pretty low maintenance when getting ready for work and like to keep things natural. Right now I’m using Aveda’s Botanical Repair shampoo and conditioner and apply their Damage Remedy to my wet hair to leave in – I find that it makes my hair soft and controls the frizz. I moisturise with a rose oil and apply two drops of a natural musk scent. It takes me about 10 minutes to decide what to wear.

Bag, Dhs9,525, Gucci

My style is a mixture of comfort and elegance and I love wearing oversized earrings and crystal necklaces. I adore wearing vintage and have been collecting pieces for 15 years. I always look for ways to mix and match different shapes, styles and textures and I tend to shy away from utter perfection – I’m more about standing out rather than blending in. I have a soft spot for ruffles, bows and polka dots. When it comes to designers, I love the femininity and vintage appeal of Miu Miu, I like that Isabel Marant is quirky but also masculine and feminine at the same time, and Loewe pieces are like works of art. At work, I’m after comfort because my studio is big and I need to go up and down stairs a lot.

Jumpsuit, Dhs3,655, Isabel Marant

I am usually in loose jeans and a T-shirt with trainers or socks and loafers and I’m never without a scarf in my bag for the cooler corners of the office. I usually carry the same bag to work – something that’s big enough to fit everything. Right now I’m wearing the Gucci 1955 Horsebit Messenger bag.

9:00AM I’m usually in the office – which is 15 minutes away from home by car. My work space is always cluttered – there’s so much going on between fabric rolls, pattern papers and different coloured markers – but I like it like that, it’s part of my creative process. I start the day with a casual team chat to catch up on how things are going and then I sit with my studio manager and production manager to address any of their issues or concerns and set the agenda for the day. I’m a very impatient boss that has a million ideas running through my mind at the same time. I feel like I’m always on a deadline and I like things to get done quickly so we can move onto the next task. I’ll spend the next two hours on my laptop checking and answering emails, and I grab a kale salad with cashew dressing or halloumi sandwich with grilled vegetables for lunch at my desk.

2:00PM I’ll head to the Bambah boutique in City Walk to spend a few hours there checking on the sales and social media team and get their feedback on how things are moving. I also like to spend some time merchandising the store and making sure everything is always well-displayed.

Floral Leila Kaftan, Dhs2,000, Bambah

This month, we’ve created a collection that will be sold exclusively in-store at Harvey Nichols-Dubai. There’s lots of embroidery and pretty details on soft and textured fabrics, you’ll also find ankle-length hems so women can show off their fabulous shoes. The kaftans have gold and metallic accents and bell sleeves for a loose, comfy fit. My favourite piece from the collection is the Pink Tulip Isabella kaftan. 

Tulip Isabella Kaftan, Dhs2,200, Bamba

4:00 PM I’ll do a workout, which is either Pilates, TRX, a run on the beach or a game of tennis. Sometimes I might do sunset yoga by the beach.

5:00PM I’ll leave work by then. Later on at night, I love to cook and my favourite chefs are Ottolenghi and Nigella Lawson. I live in Al Barsha South with my mum, dad and grandma. 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, Dhs112

10PM  I usually like to sleep early. Normally, I would brush my teeth, cleanse my face and moisturise with a natural oil. I’ll spritz some lavender mist, read a bit of the Quran and go to sleep. I’m also reading Pachinko by author Min Jin Lee and Educated by Tara Westover is next on my list.

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s May 2021 Issue