Fujairah boy Khan's Couture trail

When style-conscious Fujairah boy Sohail Khan moved to Mumbai, he had more than just academics on his mind. The enterprising engineering student teamed up with a friend to start his own menswear fashion blog, which also offers personal stylist & shopper services to the discerning fashionista, writes Lubna Abbas.

AN ENGINEERING STUDENT running a fashion blog seems like a very unlikely combination. It might even attract some criticism from conventionalists. But 18-year-old Sohail Khan, despite traversing a tried and tested academic route, wanted to show that doing what you really love, even on the side, is not a bad thing at all. Studying in Our Own English High School, Fujairah until middle school and then continuing with his studies in Mumbai, Sohail always had a keen interest in fashion and recently decided to take a brave step forward to start his menswear fashion blog, Khan's Couture, with best friend Zaid Khan.
Sohail told City Times that his interest in fashion dates back to childhood. "Ever since I was a child I've always liked to wear good clothes and dress really well. I believe fashion is the only way I can change the world and I want to inspire people to dress better. I have always tried to improve my dressing sense, and take inspiration from fashion icons from all around the world."
Elaborating on how the idea for a fashion blog took shape, Sohail says, "Somewhere around the end of last December me and my best friend, Zaid, were planning to do something new and different. Because honestly, engineering wasn't our cup of tea. So after a lot of brainstorming and sleepless nights, we finally decided to do something we do best and both were interested in, and that's how the idea of a menswear fashion blog was cultivated. Eight months later (yes, we faced a lot of difficulties) here we are."
He went on to describe what Khan's Couture consists of.
"Khan's Couture is basically an online menswear fashion blog that has one main objective - to make the world more fashionable. It's a platform for us to showcase our fashion sense to the world and hopefully inspire others along the way. We have several different sections on the blog, the first being fashion which is subdivided further into 'What to wear', 'How to Wear' and 'What We Wear' which is the highlight of our site and our look-book. A part from that, we have a 'Style Glossary' because let's admit it, most of us still don't know the difference between a cardigan and a pullover. So we've taken the effort to make a dictionary with all the words related to men's fashion - so make sure to check that out if you have any doubts. Also, we have a personal stylist section where we offer personal stylist and personal shopper services to people who need that extra help. And finally there is the celebrity section where we mention male fashion icons and explain their impact on fashion."
'CLOTHES ENHANCE YOUR PERSONALITY'
Sohail strongly believes that fashion portrays personality. "Fashion is a way of showing who you are without speaking. I personally believe the clothes that you wear define you and good clothes enhance your personality. Clothes are not just pieces of fabric used to cover our body, they are a part of your personality. One's way of dressing speaks a lot about a person, you can tell a lot about someone's character from the way they dress. I believe a person who is sharply dressed has the upper hand in all sorts of situations."
An engineering student in Mumbai, Sohail says balancing studies and work is tough. "Trust me it's very difficult. Even with a team of seven and a bunch of extra writers it is very difficult. Being an engineering student, time is a luxury we don't really have, college hours are as long as office hours (9-5) and there are also the added assignments, projects, and exams. Our social lives have experienced a major setback as our entire weekend goes in shoots and writing blogs."
"We have something really big coming after we get our engineering degrees which we love from the bottom of our hearts (my mum is reading this)," says Sohail. "The plan is to come back to UAE and start a business together. So yeah, I don't want to spoil the surprise, and all I can say is that the blog is the first step towards a much bigger goal."
According to him, the pros far outweigh the cons of his chosen path.
"Since the blog has started the number of people asking for fashion advice has increased. It's great to make others look fashionable and be appreciated for the same. We've got a few celebrities now who we are going to work with soon so let's see how that goes. We are also open to styling requests from the UAE. We are waiting for our work to spread out a little more."
SOME STYLE ADVICE FROM SOHAIL:
"It's not about the brands that you wear, it's about how you wear your clothes. Also, the quality of your clothes matter, never compromise on this. Nobody can teach you style, it's something you have in you. If you're struggling to find your style, start following the fashion trends on social media and try to follow their style. Be confident in what you wear, confidence is a part of your outfit. Don't be afraid of experimenting with new styles. Wear clothes that you're comfortable in. Comfortable doesn't always mean boring. And now you know we're always out there to help you in all your fashion needs!"
Follow Sohail and Zaid on Instagram: @khanscouture