Who is ZAKAA?

By Michelle Baker
Photos by Joanne Maisano

Her creations are artistic masterpieces of intricate embroidery, sparkling crystals, polished pearls, silk organza, and love.

Designer Asma Zaka, founder of ZAKAA in Ashburn, is part-artist and part-fairy godmother to brides-to-be. She takes brides’ hopes and dreams and crafts a stunning gown to represent the most important day of their lives.

Based in the United States, the designer has lived in South Asia and Western Europe. Her varied background brings a unique flavor to her sophisticated designs. Her romantic creations are designed with individual brides in mind, and make them feel like princesses. In fact, most of her gowns are named after princesses and queens. The ZAKAA concept is to accessorize the bride – not to cover up – but to add to her natural beauty.

Getting to work with the actual designer on your wedding dress is a unique opportunity. Upon entering the ZAKAA flagship salon at One Loudoun, a visitor immediately feels a quiet elegance and dreamy vibe as they are enveloped in the white surroundings. Directly in front of them is a wall of white roses, while to the right is a wall of gorgeous wedding gowns, fit for any princess. Every detail, from the rose covered wall, to the box of chocolates on the table, has been meticulously chosen to set the tone.

“We made this really beautiful wall here, because we tried to provide some nice privacy. We want to make this a very exclusive experience,” said Asma. She and her staff are ready to listen, learn and turn the bride-to-be’s dream into reality. The goal: make the modern bride feel magical.

“Searching for your bridal gown is such a special moment,” explains Asma. And to the wedding dress designer and manufacturer, it is as much about the process as the experience. “When choosing a wedding dress, it’s an intimate process for a woman – reflecting her personality, character, and style. With ZAKAA Couture, it’s not just about fitting into your dress, but it’s a process and most importantly, memories in the making.”

The ZAKAA Couture collection is timeless, elegant and beautiful. In addition to the high-quality couture craftsmanship of the wedding dresses, the clutches and accessories are exquisite. The fitting room wall holds a multitude of pieces to add special bling to a dress.

Born an artist, the petite business woman knew as a child that she wanted to create. She fashioned her own attire growing up, and over time her talent matured into an artistry that is today distinctive and enchanting. “My background is art and visual technology,” she said. A skill that transfers into her work and even the digitized sketches each customer receives.

“I launched in New York,” said Asma, who is from Reston and now lives in Lansdowne. “I wanted the flagship to start where I started.” She graduated from Centreville High School, attended Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) before getting her degree from George Mason University. Prior to launching four and a half years ago and growing into the powerhouse designer she is today, Asma learned the ropes in the corporate world at Hecht’s and Macy’s. The new bridal store is the only wedding couture salon in the Washington, D.C region. The next closest is in New York.

ZAKAA offers a truly unique bridal gown shopping experience for this area. “[I am] super excited to come to One Loudoun,” said the designer, who has dressed brides for weddings across the region, including several at the Goodstone Inn in Middleburg.

Looking to create something new and unusual for your wedding? This is the place to visit. At the initial appointment, brides discuss their ideas with Asma or her staff. They listen, take notes, and then create a mood board. Whether brides come in with a budget of $1,300 or several thousand, there are gowns to fit all price ranges. Gowns can be customized for the occasion, the theme, and dream. This designer has a way of weaving unique, classy and modern into one-of-a-kind beautifully crafted, often versatile gowns.

Her meticulous attention to detail shines through her collection of gowns and accessories, each carefully crafted by hand using the couture technique.

Buying a wedding dress is an emotional experience. There are certain times in life when one needs a fairy godmother: Someone to remind us things will be alright. More importantly, someone to assure us we will find the right dress. Even if they can’t explain it in words, they will know it when they see it and feel it. The fairy godmother’s part of the job is helping every woman find “that” look. “There are certain silhouettes that won’t look right for body types. I have to be respectful for what she wants,” explains the patient designer. “I have to guide her.”

What the bride may have thought she wanted, might not be the best choice for her body type. “Nine out if 10 times, (they) come in with a vision, but go out with a different one,” said Asma. “I pull the ones she wants, I pull the ones I think are her body type. Then she can compare.”

Newly engaged Devon Gardner holds a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising from the Art Institute of Pittsburg and knew she wanted a unique gown to fit her style. The Pennsylvania native who grew up on a horse farm is the head stylist and store manager for Scout & Molly’s Boutique in One Loudoun. She agreed to model for the Middleburg Life photo shoot.

“Devon’s dress is pretty unique because she wanted something specific,” said Asma. “We created something that was more her personality, very dreamy, very whimsical.” “That is why she is so good,” said Gardner.
The shopping experience is very personalized, something you won’t find at a big box bridal store. “You want to have that special treatment shopping for that special day,” she added.

From capelets, clutches, sashes to capes, these couture gowns sparkle and are a labor of love. “That is the beauty behind what we do here,” said Asma. Customization is the key to happiness for many brides who want a specific look. “Capes are very big…this is the trend,” the designer explained. They can be paired with one of the princess inspired gowns. From simple designs to the most lavish and royal dresses, the possibilities are endless.

With classic silhouettes, The Labor of Love collection is made for brides who like several different looks for their special day, explained the designer. The bride can opt to add extra pieces to change the look during festivities. It also gives them the option of wearing the gown later. Bridal separates create the illusion of a full gown, but can be accessorized and personalized if she wants to bling it up. “If she wants to wear it after her wedding, all bling is detachable,” explains the designer in her soft voice.

Noted by many as one of the Top 10 wedding designers in the United States, the owner of ZAKAA offers a bridal collection is characterized by glamour, elegance and femininity. The extra touches at this salon include low cost alterations. Brides can choose a style and make changes to fit their idea, or have her create a new design just for them. In some stores, alterations or changes to a gown’s style could add significantly to the final total.

“If you don’t want the lace, there is only a minimum charge, not thousands,” she said. “If you want a blue lining for your wedding dress, they can do that.” The bride can look at a swatch book and choose from a rainbow of colors. Here, people get excited because it is a happy place.

The tiny designer dresses in comfortable clothes, so she can bend and pin. She loves bling and feels it is the perfect accompaniment to go with the ring. Sparkles of feminine hand embellished embroidery and beautiful lace are visible throughout ZAKAA’s bridal gowns and bridal accessories. The dresses are so detailed and visually delicate. The beautiful collection is often updated, which means the variety of gown styles, available customization, and accessories to choose from are unparalleled. If the budget allows for matching accessories, the salon carries plenty of choices. The clutches are so beautiful they could become an heirloom to hand down to a daughter.

Bridal parties can get everything they need from one place, even down to their shoes. Bridesmaids dresses can also be customized based on the wedding theme. The meticulous attention to detail shines through in a selective collection of couture bridal gowns and hand-embellished bridal accessories.

Dresses go up to Size 32 for US markets. This young designer is a rising star with her creations sold in boutiques around the world. From the East Coast to the West Coast, Miami to Seattle, ZAKAA gowns can be found in 15 states. ZAKAA gowns are in Anthropologie’s BHLDN (pronounced beholden), and one-stop shop bridal stores.

If you are looking for a unique and high-quality material wedding gown, this is the place to purchase your dream gown! The USA flagship boutique is located at One Loudoun, an urban inspired mixed-use community, located in the heart of Loudoun County at Rt. 7 and the Loudoun

County Parkway.
ZAKAA Couture
zakaacouture.com
20356 Exchange Street
Ashburn, VA
(703) 858-4393