Weekend with Zain Ahmad: ‘I don’t shop at all’
The Rastah fashion label founder on sleeping in on Saturday mornings, his cinematic design inspirations and how he only wears his own brand
Zain Ahmad, 29, is a fashion designer from Lahore, Pakistan. He is the founder and creative director of Rastah, a leading clothing label in contemporary South Asian design.
He studied political economy at the University of British Columbia before launching Rastah in 2018. In 2023, Rastah became the first Pakistani brand to be featured at London Fashion Week. It has been worn by A-list celebrities including Zayn Malik, Timothée Chalamet, Barry Keoghan, Justin Bieber and Anil Kapoor.
Ahmad is now working towards the opening of a private showroom in Lahore. He is also gearing up to open Rastah’s debut store in New York at the start of 2026.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What does your Saturday morning look like?
I like to sleep in and wake up between 11am and 1pm because I don’t sleep much during the week — there’s constantly something going on, whether it’s work, friends or family. I then begin working in the office in the afternoon doing the deep-work tasks, such as design, the sales side or just getting a pulse check and feedback from my colleagues.
What is your favourite thing to do on the weekend?
I’m a very boring person and I don’t really go out because I’m just working all the time. My safe space is the office, so I spend time there with my team and I love to design and create as much as possible. If I can, I also like to spend time with friends, family and loved ones. I really don’t get to do that very often.
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What’s your coffee order?
I have an iced Americano with three shots of espresso — no syrups. I hate sugars with my coffee. That will get topped up after a couple of hours.
So, you don’t have breakfast?
I’m just caffeinated for the first half of the day. My first meal would be around 3-4pm.
What’s on the late lunch menu?
If it’s a late day at the office, I’ll have some chicken biryani or I will probably just order in some Chinese takeout. If I’m in the mood for going and sitting somewhere, then I’ll pick sushi. I love Japanese food.
Where is your favourite place to eat in Lahore?
The best restaurant is Gaijin. I love yellowtail fish, and I enjoy the classic omakase-style nigiris.
If your fashion label were a restaurant, what would be on the menu?
Some sort of a contemporary take on biryani. Barbecued lamb chops with spinach on the side and mint relish, and raw ceviche using local fish from Karachi. Something that makes it South Asian with contemporary cooking.
Where do you get inspiration for your designs?
Mostly film and cinema. The medium I’m drawn to most is cinema and I want to eventually make movies. The collection we did at Rastah last September was inspired by the Hotel Metropole in Karachi, but the cinematic influence for that was The Great Gatsby. We took inspiration from Casino and Goodfellas, very outlandish and over-exposed environments.
What are you watching now?
I’ve just finished watching The Bear and now I’m bingeing The Studio with Seth Rogen. I think that is a cinematic masterpiece.
Which city has the best style?
I’m always going to say New York. New Yorkers are experimental, they’re not pretentious. They will get out in SoHo on a Sunday afternoon, walk into a random shop and buy something without looking at the price tag. They will thrift, go vintage.
What fashion trend do you secretly hate?
Skinny jeans. I absolutely hate very skinny tapered chinos, with a button-down that is tucked in with a big logo belt, paired with slim loafers. It’s a very Pakistani thing. Believe me, in Pakistan people still wear that.
What’s your vision for Rastah?
I see us with a store in Lahore, in New York, maybe even a store in London. I want us to do hospitality collaborations, a partnership with a big celebrity. I want to have our first sneaker come out and expand into leather accessories.
Where do you shop?
I don’t shop at all. I barely spend money on myself. I only wear Rastah.
