March is Women’s History Month, and NBC 5 is highlighting a Chicago designer that is living proof that women can do it all!
Azeeza Khan remembers a time when a retail store on Michigan Avenue was just a dream.
“The first week I started at DePaul, I took the Red Line and I got off at the Chicago stop,” Khan said. “And I walked down Michigan Avenue for the first time as an adult. It’s surreal to be honest, to have a piece of real estate on the Mag Mile.”
The Chicago native is the daughter of immigrant parents. She’s a product of Chicago Public Schools and a graduate of DePaul University.
She didn’t start her business through connections or a bank account full of money, but she said she started by believing in herself.
“This was back in mid 2000s when creative jobs and entrepreneurship wasn’t what it is today,” she said. “So it was a huge risk and chasing my passion.”
She traded corporate work for creating ultra feminine clothing. She’s proved that risk was worth the reward. Khan has designed dresses for some of the biggest celebrities, including Barbara Streisand and Lizzo.
“We designed this for her, it’s actually named the Barbara and she approved that,” Khan said. “So this was an iconic moment for myself, personally, and the brand.”
She recently opened her flagship store on Michigan Avenue and at the same time, is focused on being a mother to two children and a wife to her husband. She’s here to show women across the world, you can, in fact, have it all.
“I work extremely hard, but I balance it. So, I do have to be a great mother, a great wife, a great entrepreneur and a great creative person.”