A FASHION designer’s new collection will be showcased – on the high streets of Dubai.

Saleha Bagas is leading the way in modest clothing wear for young Muslim women and has come a long way since graduating with a BA Hons in Fashion Design from the University of Central Lancashire just two years ago.

The 26-year-old, who grew up in Halliwell, launched her own website specialising in fashionable clothing for Muslim women last year and has been amazed by the response she has received.

She said: “I add new clothing to the website every two months but some of the new stuff is sold within an hour. The new Spring/Summer collection will come out at the end of May and is full of colours but still modest”

Saleha, who travels to Turkey twice a year to source her own fabrics, bemoans the lack of options on the high street for Muslim women who want to cover their skin and wants to take advantage of the gap in the market.

She added: “It’s hard to find modest clothing on the high street and not look weird. We have to buy something to put on top or underneath a top from Topshop or Zara to help cover up. My clothing is helping women keep modest whilst being comfortable and fashionable. ”

Her collection, designed during her studies at university, won the opportunity to be showcased at the 2013 Graduate Fashion Week and was featured online by Vogue, Phoenix Magazine and Catwalking, a British fashion photo agency.

On returning from university, Saleha says she was “daunted” by the prospect of starting her own fashion business, something none of her fellow graduates have managed to do. Determined to succeed, she gave up her job and started designing clothing at home whilst looking after her terminally ill mother.

“I started off at home by just selling to my friends and it just grew from there really,” says the former Smithills and Bolton Sixth Form pupil. She was inspired to take up designing clothing by her father, who brought his passion for tailoring over from India when he and his wife moved to the UK in the 1970s.

In addition to her modest wear collection which is made in the UK, she also sells a limited amount of modest bridal wear and even designed the dress for her own wedding earlier this year in February. She describes the seven-month process of designing and making a wedding dress as a “hobby” and only designs dresses for one or two brides a year.

As well as online, her collections can also be bought in Illusion Bespoke Fashion on Derby Street in Bolton and Abayas Boutique in Manchester. Saleha's new deal with Rana Zone, a shop in Dubai, is the first step in a plan to expand her brand across the Middle East. Although she has sold some clothing internationally online, she hopes that her 11,500-strong Instagram following will help her raise awareness of her brand globally.