Clothing retailer String & Thread is expanding its operations by creating a centralized hub for viewing and ordering imported Pakistani clothing from its Houston store. The expansion aims to mitigate new challenges faced by companies that import goods internationally, such as uncertain supply chains and tariffs.
Founded by Pakistani American Taha Ahmed, String & Thread’s catalog specializes in formal wear from retailers based in Pakistan that are otherwise unavailable in the United States.
String & Thread primarily caters to the city’s 27,000-strong Pakistani diaspora, which initially grew in the mid-20th century from a small core of students and doctors drawn to the city’s robust healthcare industry. It has since developed into a tight-knit community of small business owners and entrepreneurs, represented by the Pakistan Association of Greater Houston. As a result, Texas, alongside New York, is one of only two states that recognize Pakistan Day: a tribute to the accomplishments of the local diaspora.
String & Thread is already well-established in the Houston fashion scene, which serves as a hub for designers from across the southern United States. Most recently, it made its catwalk debut at Jeeto Houston, a South Asian New Year’s Eve showcase named after the Pakistani game show Jeeto Pakistan
