EP 30: How Rastah Built a Global Luxury Brand from Pakistan | Mubariz ft. Zain Ahmad

What does it take to build a global fashion brand from Pakistan? In this episode, Zain Ahmad (Co-Founder and CEO of Rastah) reveals how he turned a small streetwear idea into an internationally recognized brand worn by celebrities, without following the traditional fashion playbook. From building a cult-like community to rejecting conventional HR, obsessing over storytelling, and learning expensive lessons along the way, this is a masterclass in modern brand building. If you’re building anything, a brand, a startup, or a career, this conversation will change how you think. In this episode: Mubariz Siddiqui - Founder, Carbon Law LinkedIn:   / mubarizsiddiqui   Twitter: https://x.com/mubarizsiddiqui?lang=en Zain Ahmad - CEO, Rastah Instagram:   / zainoo_95   Website: https://pk.rastah.co Chapters: 0:00:00 — Intro 00:01:08 — Rastah’s Evolution 00:08:44 — Zain’s Growth 00:11:46 — Rethinking HR Culture 00:19:55 — Measuring Success 00:23:18 — Brand vs Movement 00:29:25 — Then vs Now Customers 00:32:38 — The Rastah Community 00:45:34 — Costly Lessons 00:54:51 — How Rastah Works 00:59:02 — Customer Journey 01:06:42 — Storytelling & Merch 01:14:44 — Starting a Brand 01:19:17 — Global Brand Insights 01:23:38 — Retail Experience 01:26:08 — Key Metrics 01:31:48 — Working at Rastah 01:36:09 — Skills to Build 01:38:00 — Rastah & AI This episode is brought to you by Qist Bazaar (https://www.qistbazaar.pk/).