Emirati Designer Sara Al Tamimi On Juggling Work, Motherhood and Everything In-Between
From early mornings to her full nighttime regime, she shares her daily routine here with Bazaar…
The 28-year-old designer and mother shares what her day in her life is like with Bazaar.
7:00AM: I usually wake up at 7:00AM – my two-year-old son is my trusty alarm clock. A lie in isn’t an option anymore with a toddler at home, not even on the weekends!
7:30AM: We get ready for the day and I usually have that morning dilemma of what to wear. Comfort comes first but if I’m going out, I might dress for the occasion and wear one of my favourite pieces from my collection; a tailored tweed suit – it’s a comfortable look and is flattering on any body shape. As overall inspiration, I love my mother’s vintage looks – the cuts, the colours and the shapes are beautiful, and it ends up inspiring me when I design my own collection. I usually end up wearing workout clothes or comfy sweats to get me through an active day at home and the office. I find that if I’m wearing activewear I might feel motivated to do reformer Pilates after my son sleeps.
8:00AM I have my coffee the old-school way while reading the news on Business of Fashion so I can keep up to date with news and trends in the industry. Like any coffee addict, the excitement is real for my first cup of the day. I’ll eat gluten-free toast with avocado, lime and coriander.
8:30AM: I start working, following up on emails and tasks and taking the occasional meeting. It’s never easy dividing up my day but I try to be as organised as possible and always plan ahead with meetings. I dedicate some time for answering emails, being in the studio, and also designing. My studio is at home, which gives me the perfect opportunity to be a mum and run my own business. In our studio in Abu Dhabi we are only two people so we jump on Zoom with the rest of the team who are in different countries. This ensures there is constant communication, which is key in such a fast-paced industry so we don’t suffer from any misunderstanding. I try to be a team player, and it’s important to me that the team feels comfortable to talk about anything with me. There are no judgements or blaming any employee if there’s a problem – we work as a team.
12:30PM: is my son’s nap time, so we spend some quality time together reading books before he falls asleep. I couldn’t get through the day without hugs and kisses from him. It gets so busy during the day that I’ll snack here and there on something sweet – usually dates – and drink a cup of coffee. Then I’ll eat my main meal in the evening.
2:00PM: I get back to work, where I might have fittings or some atelier-related tasks. We usually travel to Paris, Italy and Ukraine on a seasonal basis to choose fabric and shoot the look book – hopefully we will travel soon for fashion weeks.
5:00PM: I take my son for a swim and then get him ready for bed – it’s my favourite time of day when we get our time alone bonding together. Sometimes I might continue to work later in the evening and hop on a Zoom call with LA. If I go out in the evening it’s usually for an intimate dinner date with my husband Salah, or friends, or my sisters and mum – and there’s usually a lot of laughter. We like trying out new spots in Abu Dhabi. Otherwise staying at home with my hubby having a late-night dinner while watching a good show – currently New Amsterdam – is my favourite way to spend the evening.
10:00PM: I can’t go to bed without spending at least 30 minutes doing my skincare and dental routine. I love using Biologique Recherche Lait U Face Cleanser, which is a game-changer for my skin, I’ll follow with Biologique Recherche P50W Lotion and Biologique Recherche Complex Iribiol Serum for acne. I tend to go to the salon for a personalised Biologique Recherche facial on a monthly basis. I love that it’s unique and customised for me, so I get better – and instant – results.
10:30PM: Some days I need 10 hours sleep, but other days only six is fine. On my bedside table at the moment is a parenting book called The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read by Philippa Perry. I also have my Qura’an next to my candles, a lamp and some A4 sheets of paper and HB pencils because I get all my great ideas in the evening. It feels like all my creativity creeps in as I try to wind down and sleep, it’s like a rush of excitement. Different clothing styles and fabrics come to me the moment I shut my eyes. It’s really during this time that I design most of my pieces.
As told to Jade Chilton. From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2021 issue