Para atelier — designers working with fabric

Our Story

Rooted in Craft, Dressed for Legacy

Para was born from a belief that South Asian fashion deserves a space where heritage and modernity meet without compromise.

Artisan hands embroidering zardozi gold thread

Where Para Began

Para began in a small atelier in Lahore, where our founders Robbie Javid and Mahpara Javid watched her grandmother embroider zardozi patterns by lamplight. Each stitch was a conversation — between past and present, between the hands that made and the body that wore.

When Mahpara moved to the USA in 2026, she carried those conversations with her. She found a diaspora hungry for clothing that honored their roots without feeling like costume — pieces that could move between a wedding and a gallery opening.

Para opened its doors in 2026. The name means 'fragment' in Urdu — a nod to the idea that every garment is a fragment of a larger story, one that stretches across continents and generations.

Our Principles

What We Stand For

Artisan Partnership

Every piece is made in collaboration with master karigars — artisans who have inherited their craft across generations. We pay fair wages and credit their work by name.

Slow Fashion

We produce in small batches, never chasing trends. Each collection is designed to be worn for decades, not seasons.

Living Textiles

We source only natural fibres — silk, cotton, linen, and wool — that age beautifully and return to the earth.

Bespoke by Default

Every garment can be made to measure. We believe clothing should fit the person, not the other way around.

The Making

From Sketch to Stitch

Design

Each collection begins with archival research — miniature paintings, museum textiles, family photographs. Our designers translate these references into contemporary silhouettes.

Fabric

We travel to Pakistan and India to source our textiles directly from weavers. Every fabric is chosen by hand, tested for weight and drape.

Embroidery

Embroidery is executed by our partner karigars in Pakistan and India. A single lehenga can take up to 400 hours of hand embroidery.

Finishing

Final construction and quality control happens in our United States Store. Every garment is inspected, pressed, and wrapped by hand before it reaches you.

Ready to Find Your Piece?

Explore the collections or reach out to book a private consultation.