The Nasaruddin sisters, Sumayyah (also fondly known as Sumi) and Asma' are on a mission to answer the needs of urban Muslim women everywhere, with their feminine, fashion-forward yet modest dresses for every woman's wardrobe through their brand Love to Dress.

Read on to find out more about how these talented sisters manage working together and bring their brand to life!

1. Tell us a bit about yourselves, and what it’s like working together.

Sumi:

I am Sumayyah, the second of 4 sisters. I’m a cheerful, dreamer and ambitious person. This makes me very curious about things and easily trust people. I like this about myself. Most of the time, I like to do things with my husband because he’s my best friend and he believes in me the most.

Asma’:

I always surprise people with my true self. I am very laid back, disorganised and a klutz mostly. I am without a doubt an introvert, and one that is highly receptive to visuals. I shut down at the sight of numbers, hence why I am the Creative Director not the finance director, lol.

Sumi:

Working together with Asma’ has been very challenging and I have yet to understand where the journey will lead us. She’s the most talented person I’ve ever met. She has the capacity to create a world that is visually enchanting and beautiful. I on the other hand fight to create a world where beauty lies from within. Together, we make a good match where in fact, both are equally important.

Asma’:

Working together has been both the most rewarding and challenging experience for me because both of us are such strong personalities. I have learnt so much from her and it has helped me grow.

We have many disagreements. And sometimes we have to agree to disagree. But at the end of the day, what matters is the bigger picture and we have the same vision which is to serve the Urban Muslim Women globally. That we are truly passionate about and on the same page.

2. Love to Dress is all about empowering women to achieve their dreams while maintaining their modesty. Can you tell us a bit about how the brand started?

Sumi:

No. Actually I am not modest at all bahahha. Love to Dress was founded because when I read the Quran, I felt very empowered. I dreamt about a world where Muslim women such as myself can achieve anything they want to, no matter how silly or insignificant it looked.

I had an NGO background that taught me a lot about building a community and working for a greater cause. But I picked business as a vehicle because there is a family member of mine who is in need of a lot of money.

3. What is the motivation behind your collections? Is there a particular design philosophy that you follow?

Asma:

With each collection, before I start creating the mood board, I always Immerse my thoughts with the fact that clothing was given to us as an honourable gift from God, first sent down to Adam (peace be upon him).

That fuels me every time. And then I go back to the core aesthetics of Love To Dress; sleek, tailored fit and timeless. I rarely look to what is trending, and more to the archives of great fashion houses.

Sumi:

Asma’ nailed it.

4. What’s your personal favourite piece from all the LtD collections so far?

Asma’:

I find this one of the hardest questions to answer because I have a favourite with every collection.

Sumi:

LtD lounge.

Asma’:

But if there’s one piece I can see myself wearing even ten years from now, it would be the Pleat dress from our Fall 2016 collection where we debut pieces for work. I love the black and brown colour equally.

The cutting is sleek and tailored fit, signature to LtDs aesthetic and the subtle pleat detail makes it a timeless piece.

5. Your travels always look so picture perfect on social media. What’s something that your followers might not know about you when you’re on the road?

Sumi:

Maybe she/he is talking about Asma’s Instagram account. Bahahahaha….

Asma’:

That with each travel, there will be one place that I don’t share on my Instagram feed because that moment was just for me and my travel memory bank. And that I always carry a pair of flats with me in my bag to switch with my heels. I enjoy walking and exploring a city by foot but I also know walking in heels for over an hour is just asking for trouble.

6. What are some of your essentials when travelling?

Asma:

My camera as I really enjoy vlogging and I see a place so much through my 50mm lens, a book I’m currently reading (I like bringing them along and reading it during my travel as it allows me to attach an added memory to it) and my lipbalm. Nobody wants dry lips.

Sumi:

Packing list, LtD Lounge, fleur snoods and my trench ☺.

7. The two of you are not only sisters and co-workers, you’re best friends! Tell us something most people don’t know about your sister.

Sumi:

Asma’ is not my best friend, although I wish she was. She has other people that she gets along well with. It’s a miracle that she wants to work with me. I am very, very, very grateful for this.

Asma’:

That we are very very different in so many ways; our personalities, the way we look at things and our style aesthetic for example. It’s hard to think of what people may not know about my sister because she is such an open book. If you follow her on her ig and insta stories you will see her brave honesty. Though perhaps one that can’t be seen is her generosity to her friends and family. So much of what I have is because of her.

Sumi:

What people may not know about Asma’, is that she is my mother’s 'machai'. No matter how inconvenient, demanding or complicated it gets, she always finds a way to be there for mum. She will bend and stretch herself to the maximum for people that she loves. I have, on more than one occasion, taken advantage of this. For example, when I first started LtD, there was an ‘epic’ dress called Vintage Jannah. It was far from what you see LtD is now, but because she wanted to help me, she OOTDed in it. She would do ugly for me. Now that’s love. Bahahahaha….

8. What are your favourite places to travel to and why?

Asma’:

New York still sits at my number one spot. It’s hard to explain, but there’s a distinctive vibe and energy about this city that can only be felt when you’re there. It gets you moving.

London because there’s something so cozy about it. Perhaps it is the charming neighbourhoods that are so inviting, ridiculously affordable cheese and comforting chai lattes that make me want to one day live there.

Australia because it feels like home. I grew up there (throughout high school up to uni) and my sister and her family live there so it really is somewhere I look forward to visiting every year. It is my home away from home.

Sumi:

Anywhere with Chia (husband). Cause he buys me a lot of bags, tells me I am a good person and makes me laugh like mad.

9. What’s the one thing that you must-do in any country that you travel to?

Asma’:

Go to a park. Ideally spend at least half a day there soaking in the fresh air.

Sumi:

Same like Asma’. Park!

10. If you could give any advice to young Muslim women who wish to walk down the entrepreneurial route, what would it be?

Sumi:

Believe in yourself no matter what.

Asma’:

I don’t regard myself as an entrepreneur but I can confidently say that knowing your strength and weakness can take you so much further to make your vision come to life. Find someone that compliments your strength and fill in the gaps of where your skills are limited. Be prepared to live your vision and stay very focused on it.

11. Can you give us any tips on how to take the perfect OOTD while travelling?

Sumi:

Bring Asma’ along. She can make anyone look good. Bahahaha…

Asma’:

Always shoot under natural light and it helps to snap a picture at a place you are actually inspired by or have enjoyed time at because your true feelings will show in your expression. A natural and genuine smile is the cherry on top of that travel ootd.

12. Fill in the blank: Our hope for the world is that _____

Asma’:

we realize that God has created us all with unique talents and capabilities, and that we should use it do something for another person other than ourselves.

Sumi:

we are happy.

Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to win yourself 4 x RM150 vouchers from Love to Dress! (Giveaway ends on 30th April, 2017 2359H GMT+8).

Sisters in Faith and Fashion - Meet Sumayyah and Asma' from Love to Dress