Hailing from India, the land of grandeur, exotic culture and intricate detailing, Sha Ali Ahmad – fondly known as Sha – is as flamboyant as they come. While most designers choose to network with the glitterati to gain a reputation, Sha chose to take the hard road instead. He chose to let his designs dazzle and grab eyeballs. The approach has paid off for the maverick couturier as he has made a name for himself in the international circuit with collections after collections of evening gowns and cocktail dresses which are hand embroidered in finest silk fabrics and expressed in dreamy drapes. The poetry in drapes he fashions is tastefully embellished with exquisite beads, crystals, rhinestones, sequins, silk threads, lurex and glass stones giving them a distinctive signature the fashion world has grown to associate with AhmadCouture, his label.
He exhibits his work by conducting various international fashion events including Star Gala Night in Miami, Fashion Week West Palm Beach (Miami), and last years’ 2017 Kauai Fashion Weekend Charity Event where he presented his latest Couture Collection inspired by the beauty of the Garden Isle, Birds of Paradise. He has showcased his collection in three different fashion events in Miami, FL hosted by Ms. Irene Korge & co-hosted by Elysze Held. Nationally, he showcased Madame Style Week (India) which was a runaway success. Since his first visit to Hawaii years ago, he has designed for local events and pageantries such as Miss Hawaii Filipina, Miss Island Mokihana, and Miss Hawaii (Miss Congeniality) including donating custom designed dresses for local charities & events. Expanding beyond, his couture work also includes designs for top models of the world, representing USA & Cuba, along with Miss International, all winning the evening gown competitions.
Sha’s ever-growing reputation has had a domino effect on the celebrities like Kelsea Nicole Ballerini, an American pop songstress and songwriter wore one as she performed at the Radio Disney Award function in 2016 and Cassidy Black, wife of Dierks Bentley the country singer wore his dress at the CMT Awards also Bollywood actress, Deepshikha Nagpal. Sha also designs suits for Kauai’s political dignitaries such as Senate President Ron Kouchi, Hawaii State Representative James Tokioka, Councilmembers Arryl Kaneshiro, Mel Rapozo, and Mayor Derek Kawakami, of the County of Kauai.
Sha has fashioned Hollywood to Bollywood celebrities including Shannon Hori (CBS4 Miami News Anchor), Lynn Martinez (DECO Drive Anchor), Somy Ali (Former Bollywood Actress), and Kavvy Sonhos (IFFB Pro Winner and Celebrity Fitness Trainer) and for the reality TV show Real Housewife of Orange County in the USA which aired on 8th June 2015. He also designed fine women’s clothing for Adriana Papell, Niteline, Scala USA, Ashro Lifestyles sold in Macy’s, Dillards, Nordstrom, David’s Bridal, Bloomingdales, Saks 5th Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and Neiman Marcus to name a few.
Along with being the Co-founder of Kauai Fashion Weekend, Sha does his fair share of philanthropy in Miami and Kauai, the place he calls his home away from home. His love for the island, its community and advocacy for community service, is the driving force behind Kauai Fashion Weekend which was held on June of 2017 at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club. He has been actively involved in the training of more than 80 models in Kauai to date and has launched some talented designers from Kauai, Miami and LA as part of his giving back to the community initiative.
Sha has recently designed a gown for a 6-year-old Internet sensation, Audre Nethery, diagnosed with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a bone marrow disorder when she was only 2 months old. Such is her zest for life that a severe condition like that doesn’t stop her from dancing and singing her heart out.
With time and persistence, Sha’s creations have become synonymous with professionalism, perfection, elegance and grandeur and the media has sat up and taken notice of the phenomenal talent that he possesses by featuring his designs on the front cover of Design District 2016 (Miami), Design District 2017 (Miami), SELECTA 2017 (Miami and North America), PUMP 2017 (Los Angeles) and GEV Magazine (Los Angeles) with front pages sporting Meghan King Edmonds from the TV show The Real Housewives of Orange County wearing his dress and a ten page interview of Sha giving a great insight into his design process in both magazines. Meghan King Edmonds and Maytee Zaray Martinez, a Cuban-American model, designer and TV personality who was a finalist for America’s Next Top Model admires Sha’s work so much that they have made it a point to be show stoppers in Kauai Fashion Weekend since 2016.
He will be showcasing his latest couture at the Kauai Marriott, the home of Kauai Fashion Weekend. Alber Elbaz, the celebrated Moroccan-Israeli fashion designer had once said, “Pure, intense emotions. It’s not about design. It’s about feelings.” Sha Ali Ahmad’s designs evoke the feeling of pure bohemian romance.
