Raishma Ready To Wear

Raishma had spent several months seeking growth finance via traditional brokers and direct lenders, without success. 

Despite strong brand credentials and a proven business model, the unique structure of the business – including long production lead times and artisan manufacturing – fell outside the standard risk appetite of many lenders.

The client needed funding to:

• Scale inventory of best-selling collections
• Expand artisan production partnerships
• Support marketing and growth into new markets

We secured a £150,000 funding facility via First Enterprise, a CDFI that supports businesses unable to access traditional finance. The offer was tailored to reflect the business’s seasonality and purpose-led model. An initial drawdown of £75,000 was made to support immediate growth activity.

The Outcome

✅ £150,000 facility secured
✅ £75,000 drawdown used to increase stock levels and scale supply chain
✅ Increased capacity to fulfil demand and invest in growth
✅ Strengthened position to expand into new retail channels

Raishma is more than a fashion brand – it’s a business committed to ethical trading, heritage preservation, and sustainable production. This funding has allowed the founder to continue growing a brand that uplifts artisan communities and redefines what luxury means in today’s market.

In the Founder’s Words

"After months of hitting brick walls with lenders, Roxanne finally understood the full picture of what I was trying to build. She didn’t just help me secure funding and allowed me tell my story in a way that funders could get behind."
— Raishma Islam, Founder & Creative Director

From Female Founder Finance

"I’d followed Raishma online for ages before she reached out for support. She is a female founder who epitomises everything we talk about at Female Founder Finance – a purpose-led business, created because the business provides a solution to a challenge or gap in the market that relates to the founder. I’m so pleased we were able to work with Raishma on funding her business. Her range is beautiful and seeing her launch into Harrods and also in Dubai is so inspiring."