Naeem Khan ( hi, नाीईम ख़ान) (born May 21, 1958) is an

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

fashion design Fashion design is the Art (skill), art of applying design, aesthetics, clothing construction and natural beauty to clothing and its Fashion accessory, accessories. It is influenced by culture and different trends, and has varied over time and plac ...

er based in New York City known for his ornate and intricately detailed gowns, and for dressing First Lady

Michelle Obama Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. She is married t ...

, Queen

Noor of Jordan Noor Al-Hussein ( ar, نور الحسين; born Lisa Najeeb Halaby; August 23, 1951) is an American-born Jordanian philanthropist and activist who is the fourth wife and widow of King Hussein of Jordan. She was Queen of Jordan from their marriag ...

, and the

Princess of Wales Princess of Wales (Welsh: ''Tywysoges Cymru'') is a courtesy title used since the 14th century by the wife of the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. The current title-holder is Catherine (née Middleton). The title was firs ...

Early and personal life

He was born Naeemuddin Khan on May 21, 1958 in

Bareilly, India Bareilly () is a city in Bareilly district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is among the largest metropolises in Western Uttar Pradesh and is the centre of the Bareilly division as well as the historical region of Rohilkhand. The city ...

to Sharfuddin Khan and Razia Baig. His father and grandfather cultivated an early interest in

textile Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...

s, as they both designed intricate clothing worn by the royal families. Of his early passion for design, Khan has said, "It was built into my DNA. I watched my father design formal wear for India's most influential people, and I knew that I would want to pursue a similar path." In 1981, at the age of 23, he married model and jewellery designer Ranjana Kapadia, with whom he has two sons, Zaheen and Shariq. Khan lives in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, and

Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

Career

In 1978, Khan moved to the United States to apprentice for legendary American designer

Halston Roy Halston Frowick (April 23, 1932 – March 26, 1990), known mononymously as Halston, was an American fashion designer who rose to international fame in the 1970s. His minimalist, clean designs, often made of cashmere or ultrasuede, were ...

. During this time, he mastered the art of draping and garment construction, and worked with cultural icons such as

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, and

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. Of this period, Khan says, "My knowledge of fashion and lifestyle is much influenced by my time with Halston… as a designer you have to be aware of the various arts, travels, cinema, museums, culture and geography in order to be a world recognized brand." In 2019, he was interviewed for the documentary film ''

''. Khan spent several years after his apprenticeship continuing to work with Halston on a freelance basis, going on to launch fashion house Riazee in 1981, a clothing label named after his mother that was carried in prominent American retail stores for about a decade. In 2003, he launched his eponymous label and began selling at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. He also began showing his collections at New York Fashion Week with immediate reception by the world's top retailers and notable celebrities. Khan's gowns have been worn by

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...

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and

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, among others. First Lady Michelle Obama has worn the brand on over ten occasions, beginning in 2009 at her first state dinner. In April 2016, the then

Duchess of Cambridge Duke of Cambridge, one of several current royal dukedoms in the United Kingdom , is a hereditary title of specific rank of nobility in the British royal family. The title (named after the city of Cambridge in England) is heritable by male de ...

, wore a Naeem Khan dress on her visit to the

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...

with Prince William in Agra, India. In 2008, Khan was inducted as a member of the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America. Most recently, Khan launched his bridal collection in 2013.

References

Sources

Naeem Khan on Designing Michelle Obama’s “Priceless” First State Dinner Dress
# Bowers, Paige (2009). "Starlet, Star Bright", ''Palm Beach Illustrated'', January.
Reuters.com, April 13th, 2009.

First Lady Wears Naeem Khan Gown to State Dinner, ABC News, November 24, 2009.

http://www.gossipgirlfashion.net/ Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf, Retrieved May 21, 2012

External links

Official Website
*
Naeem Khan Collections featured on Style.com

Naeem Khan Designer Profile & Collections on NYMag.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Naeem 1958 births Living people Indian male fashion designers Businesspeople from Mumbai American Muslims Indian emigrants to the United States American fashion designers American people of Indian descent American businesspeople