Since opening in 2021, Rashida’s Fashion Boutique has offered a unique and breathtakingly

beautiful collection of African, Middle Eastern and Western dresses and other apparel (men’s,
too), plus footwear, headwear, perfume and accessories.

Located at 1122 W. Holmes Road #23 (517-980-0580 on Whatsapp), Rashida’s Fashion is a
beacon of light, color and beauty at the edge of the Logan Square shopping center at Lansing’s
south side.

In nearly three years, the store – owned and created by Adam and Rashida Bairo –
has blossomed into a special destination for those not just in Lansing and the surrounding
communities, but all of Michigan.

And while Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr festival celebration that follows are still weeks away,
Adam says Rashida’s is already well-stocked with gorgeous dresses, hijabs and other fashions
for those who hope to worship and celebrate Eid in style.

Those who want a preview of what they can find in the store can go to
https://www.rashidasfashion.com/ and view 100s of photos of dresses and gowns; heels and
other footwear; perfumes, fragrances, musks and colognes; modern hijabs, abayas and jilbabs;
purses, scarves, jewelry and home decorations, and much more.

But Rashida’s is not just for the Islamic community.

“The clothing we sell now, a lot of Westerners like the styles very much; we have very attractive
wedding dresses, Indian dresses and much more,” says Adam. “Whether you are American, from
Africa or from Asia, we have something for everyone.”

Adam never imagined when he was at a friend’s wedding in Iowa several years ago, that he
would meet his future wife or that he would own and help manage a clothing store and business.
Originally from Cameroon and having come to the U.S. in 2010, he earned his Bachelor’s at the
University of the District of Columbia, and was living and working for the State of Maryland in
Washington, D.C., when he met Rashida.

Rashida was in nursing school at Waterloo, Iowa, when she would meet her husband-to-be. She
came to Lansing as a refugee from the Central African Republic in 2011 after having first
relocated to Chad.

“Rashida started making clothing when she was 16 years old, and she had a passion for tailoring,
so she started to learn more about that,” says Adam.

“She started doing that for her sisters and the family, and got pretty good at making dresses and fixing them."

“People started calling her Rashida Fashion,” he added, “because she used to sell dresses to the
neighborhood and to friends, and then online.”

Adam says that the dresses and other items at Rashida’s are a mix of clothing Rashida herself
makes by hand, as well as that imported from other countries. “We have three different types of
clothing,” he explains. “Most of the Middle Eastern dresses we buy from Dubai and Turkey, then
all of the African-style ones she makes herself. And the Western clothing, we buy most of it.
About 50 percent of what we sell are things she makes.”

Since launching their business, Adam says they have forged a strong connection with the
mosques in East Lansing and Lansing.

But the appeal of the business goes far beyond the Islamic community.

“The lines of clothing we have a very unique, very traditional, and something Americans have
liked and are getting into a lot. We get quality clothing and the most recent fashion. We always
know what’s in fashion and keep those in stock.”

In many U.S. communities, especially beyond the largest cities, those who want African fashions
think they have to travel there or order online to get them. “We want people to know that they
can have all of those things just around the corner in Lansing,” says Adam.

Rashida is now in medical school at the University of Michigan, but she and Adam are very
excited about 2024 and the future, planning to “keep doing what we’re doing,” as well as
growing their online presence and developing more international shipping. But first and
foremost, the young couple will continue to offer Lansing and Michigan something special and
unique.

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