Our Story

DERAC began from something simple and familiar.

The dera is a garment Somali women have worn at home for generations — not as fashion, but for comfort, modesty, and ease. It was something you put on without thinking, something that allowed you to move freely through your day.

As women's lives evolved, we noticed something. The dera was still loved, but home had changed. Hosting had changed. Public spaces had changed. The feeling women wanted from their clothes hadn't. DERAC was born from that observation.

We didn't want to redesign the dera or turn it into a trend. We wanted to respect it and allow it to evolve naturally — from home, to hosting, to stepping outside — without losing its softness, modesty, or purpose.

That's why DERAC is built on a small number of relaxed silhouettes. We don't chase seasons or trends. We work with fabric, texture, and context, allowing the same garment to exist across different moments of life.

DERAC began with our mother, who ran a small roadside shop in Nairobi. When she brought home a few silk deras and asked us to model them, the response was immediate.

From there, we moved production into our living room, bought our first sewing machine, and hired our first tailor. We taught ourselves the craft and now oversee quality and production from end to end.

Today, my sister and I work closely together to ensure every piece meets our standards — from fabric selection to final finishing. We model, pack, and ship each order ourselves from our workshop in Nairobi.

DERAC is what we wear. It's what we know.

We're building more than a brand. We're honouring a garment deeply rooted in Somali culture — elevated, intentional, and made to last.