Zahia Khondoker Aroni is opening a new kind of clothing store that mixes a calm shopping space and a café with smart online tools to help customers find the right styles, and the plan is already drawing customers who want fresh, well-made clothes in a pleasant setting. She learned the trade as a child in a family garment business where she watched how fabrics, fit and quality mattered, and her later study in London showed her how retail can feel modern and friendly. Returning home, she noticed local shoppers wanted styles like those they saw online but often found the same tired choices on local shelves, and that gap pushed her to start Strides Co to bring global ideas to local buyers. Her brand focuses on fit and comfort with a simple online policy that sends three sizes to a buyer so they can try items at home and return what does not fit, and the range includes sizes from extra small to triple XL so more people can find a comfortable fit. Aroni uses a digital image tool that helps shoppers find local items similar to looks they admire online, which links global fashion trends with what is actually available in the market. Sustainability guides choices at Strides Co: the brand picks long-lasting fabrics, seeks to cut single-use plastics and plans steady improvements in packaging and waste reduction. She says sustainability is a journey and wants small, steady steps rather than sudden change. To shape the customer experience she began online to learn demand and then chose a physical store to give people a calmer, more social place to shop. The new store will pair a small café with a relaxed retail area so trying clothes feels less rushed and more friendly, and good lighting, clear spaces and seating aim to make visits pleasant. Aroni plans to support young designers by hosting pop-up spots and showing student work in the store, and she believes fresh talent will bring new ideas and lift the whole retail scene. Her advice for new entrepreneurs is to start small, learn quickly and keep quality high. The main customers are young adults and busy professionals who want neat service, fair returns and honest prices, and if the first store works she will expand the model, hire local staff, run workshops and back more designers so fashion retail grows with more jobs, better service and clearer links between makers and buyers. The store will open next month and include trained staff who can advise on size and garment care, and the team will offer simple sewing repairs and small tailoring services to improve fit for customers.
