Beautifully modest

In an 820-square-foot space in West Dearborn, Mich., amid a jeweler, a shoe repair and a spa, Samaher Mohammad walks among garments of silk and organza, chiffon and crinoline.
She touches the tulle of a kimono-inspired abaya, an everyday Islamic dress, and the embroidery of a thoub, a formal Islamic dress.
Over days and weeks and months, the 27-year-old designed these gowns, dresses of lace and beading and Swarovski crystals - Arab in their array of color, Islamic in their modesty and American in their silhouette.
They exude fun and creativity yet mesh with the conservative standards sought by many Arab-American Muslims like her. (She veers away, for instance, from hemlines that rise too high or necklines that plunge too far.)
Her repository consists of about 30 gowns, made with fabric from Jordan to Kashmir, which she used to launch the grand opening of her store in August.
With each stitch, Mohammad has woven in a part of herself. The magenta and turquoise and fuchsia reflect the colorful Mediterranean culture of her family's heritage. The embroidered patterns hint at distinct Arabic geometry and calligraphy.
"My culture," she says, "is embedded in my designs. I get inspired by who I am."
Zaynini, the store's name, means "make me beautiful" in Arabic, which is exactly how Mohammad wants women to feel when they slip on her gowns.
Mohammad knows that, given the state of the local economy, it's not the most auspicious time to launch a new business, but she speaks with a friendly, direct confidence.