From Souq Waqif’s fabric stores to the heart of sustainable fashion in Qatar, Claudia Restrepo’s journey is stitched with creativity, culture, and conscience. Her brand, Cló Sunlight Apparel, celebrates handmade design, sustainability, and the art of slow fashion.
Sara Naveed sat down with her to learn more about her story, inspiration, and what lies ahead for Cló.
QH: What inspired you to create Cló, and how did your journey in sustainable fashion begin?
Restrepo: Honestly, it all started with the fabrics. Around 13 years ago, I used to spend hours exploring the fabric shops in Souq Waqif. I was fascinated by all the textures, colours, and prints I found there. That’s when I started imagining pieces that could mix my Colombian heritage: vibrant, fun, and colourful, with the modest, elegant style I saw in the Arab culture. I wanted to create clothes that felt joyful and comfortable, but also respectful of local traditions. That mix is really how Cló was born.
QH: How does Cló merge traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design?
Restrepo: We keep things very local and personal. All our pieces are made in a small workshop here in Qatar, and we buy our fabrics directly from the souqs, just like many women here have done for generations. I love that connection to tradition. At the same time, our designs are modern and easy to wear. We focus on timeless pieces that don’t follow trends or seasons, something you can wear for years and still love.
QH: What are some of the biggest challenges and rewards of producing ethical, handmade fashion in Qatar?
Restrepo: The biggest challenge is probably changing people’s mindset. Nowadays, everyone’s used to fast fashion, cheap prices, quick turnover, so it’s not easy to explain the real value of a handmade piece that’s produced locally in small quantities. Running a small business in Qatar also isn’t easy or cheap.
But the rewards make everything worth it. When clients truly appreciate what we do, come back for more, and tell their friends about Cló, that’s the best feeling. Our growth has been very organic; it’s really thanks to the community we’ve built and all the word of mouth. That kind of support means everything.
QH: How do you ensure sustainability across your design and production processes?
Restrepo: Sustainability is something we think about in every step. We don’t produce big quantities, everything is made based on demand. We also make sure nothing goes to waste. Every single piece of fabric gets reused — we make bandanas for pets, scrunchies, bracelets, necklaces, even little pieces for the kids’ collection. Our packaging is made from leftover fabrics too. We’re always finding new ways to be creative and responsible at the same time.
QH: What future projects or collections can your customers look forward to from Cló?
Restrepo: Right now, my focus is finishing our e-commerce site so we can reach more people internationally. It’s already live, but I’m still working on improving it.
In terms of collections, we do things a little differently. We don’t follow seasons or trends; our pieces are a-temporal, meant to be worn anytime. We have a base collection with our best sellers that are always available, but we like to play with new fabrics and colours. From time to time, I design new pieces — if our clients love them, they become part of the base collection; if not, we make just a few and move on. That way, nothing goes to waste, and everything we create has meaning.
