Nadine Merabi is a competitive hockey player turned fashion creative director. Her early career as a sportsperson may not have been the obvious place for a fashion founder to start out, but Merabi had always been surrounded by creativity and had always appreciated the impact of colour, design and style.
Her inspiration came from her stylish Lebanese father and, from him, she learned about the power of a good outfit. So, in 2015, she set to work on her £250 sewing machine to create clothing that made women feel their absolute best.
Merabi began producing carefully crafted, one-off pieces of occasionwear for women, and it wasn’t long before she caught the attention of Selfridges, who asked her to create a full range. The brand took off from there and has gone on to dress some of the most high-profile women in the fields of entertainment, fashion and, of course, sport.
But the brand isn’t just about dressing celebrities. Merabi has always been committed to creating the best quality clothing she can at an accessible price point. Today, the brand’s range takes in occasion dresses, bridal wear, jumpsuits and new line of denim. While Merabi herself no longer makes the clothes, she does design them and is heavily involved in production.
While the business is headquartered in Manchester, the brand has a store on London’s South Molton Street and is available globally via its website. She talks us through her unexpected career path and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Have you always had an interest in fashion? Why does it appeal to you and why did you want to work within it?
I’ve always been drawn to fashion because of how it makes people feel. For me, clothing has never just been about what you wear, it’s about confidence, self-expression and celebrating life’s moments.
Growing up, I was surrounded by creativity. My father had a great eye for style, and watching him sparked my own love of colour, texture and design from a young age. That curiosity eventually became a passion, and I realised I wanted to create pieces that made women feel their absolute best.
Fashion gave me the opportunity to combine creativity with purpose. Every MERABI piece is designed to empower women to celebrate themselves, whether that’s for a wedding, a milestone or simply a moment where they want to feel incredible.
Tell us about your first job in fashion. What drew you to the role? What this experience was like?
My first job in fashion was starting NADINE MERABI.
Before that, I was a competitive hockey player, so fashion wasn’t the obvious career path for me. But I’d always had a creative side and a fascination with how clothing could transform the way women felt. I recognised a gap in the market for modern, statement occasionwear that combined glamour with confidence, and I decided to take the leap and create it myself.
In the early days, I was doing everything, from sketching designs and sourcing fabrics to packing orders and speaking directly to customers. There wasn’t a roadmap; I learned every aspect of the business by doing it.
Looking back, it was both exciting and incredibly challenging. Those early years taught me resilience, adaptability and the importance of believing in your vision, even before anyone else does.
What were the most valuable skills or lessons you gained from that first experience?
One of the biggest lessons I learned was that success comes from understanding every part of the business, not just the creative side.
I also realised the importance of listening. Whether that’s listening to your customers, your team or your suppliers, some of the best decisions come from staying curious and being open to learning.
I’ve carried that mindset throughout my career. Even today, we’re constantly speaking to our community and evolving the brand based on their feedback.
Tell us about your current role. How did you get here and what do you most enjoy about it?
As the Founder and Creative Director of NADINE MERABI, my role is incredibly varied, and that’s one of the things I love most.
Creatively, I work closely with our design team to shape every collection, ensuring each piece reflects the confidence, craftsmanship and timeless glamour that define MERABI. Alongside the creative direction, I’m also deeply involved in the wider business, from long-term strategy and product development to mentoring our team and staying closely connected to our community.
Over the past decade, the brand has evolved significantly, but our purpose has remained the same: to create beautiful pieces that empower women to feel their most confident.
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing women wearing MERABI during some of the biggest moments of their lives. Whether it’s a wedding, a milestone celebration or simply a day where they want to feel their absolute best, knowing we’ve played a small part in those memories is incredibly special.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice at the very start of your career, what would it be – and why?
Trust yourself sooner.
When you’re starting out, it’s easy to compare yourself to others or feel like you need all the answers before taking the next step. The reality is that building a business is a constant learning process.
Some of our biggest lessons have come from the moments that didn’t go to plan. Every challenge has helped shape the business we are today.
You don’t need perfect timing or permission. You just need the courage to start.
What does the next chapter of your own career look like and how are you hoping to grow from here?
The next chapter is about continuing to evolve MERABI while staying true to the values we’ve built the brand on.
We’re expanding into more versatile day-to-night dressing, growing internationally and continuing to invest in our community by listening even more closely to what women want from us.
Personally, I want to keep growing as a leader. Building a business teaches you something new every day, and I’m passionate about creating a culture where creativity, collaboration and ambition can thrive.
Has there been a person in fashion that you have always admired and why?
I’ve always been inspired by people who have the courage to create something from nothing and stay true to their vision.
Closer to home, one of my biggest inspirations has always been my father. He had an incredible sense of style and an appreciation for quality and craftsmanship, and I think that’s where my love of fashion first began. Watching how he expressed himself through what he wore taught me that clothing can be a form of confidence and individuality, and that has stayed with me ever since.
Beyond that, I’m inspired by entrepreneurs and founders who lead with authenticity, resilience and purpose. Building a business is never a straight line, and I have huge respect for people who continue to evolve while staying true to who they are. That’s something I’ve always tried to bring to MERABI as we’ve grown.