Sara Elgendy: The Fearless and Unapologetic Creative Powerhouse of ONTHA
Fashion designer Sara Elgendy is not just building a brand. She is building a legacy. Growing up between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Sara was constantly caught between two cultures, different expectations, and a mix of identities. Instead of choosing one, she decided to shape her own path. That moment of self-liberation gave birth to ONTHA.
ONTHA became more than a brand. It turned into her voice. A reflection of her struggle to belong in a world that didn’t always make room for difference. Her designs speak for women who often feel invisible, unheard, or judged for being unique.
Fashion as a Language of Survival and Self Expression
To me, fashion was never just clothing Sara says. It was safety, rebellion, and identity. Every ONTHA piece carries emotion. Her designs are like stories wrapped in fabric bold, unconventional, and deeply personal.
Her fashion journey is not about trends. It is about truth. Her clothes echo the voices of women who feel like outsiders. ONTHA gives them a place to feel seen and understood.
The Breakthrough Moment National Recognition on TV
In 2019, Sara appeared on TV with the well known host Radwa El Sherbiny. At that time, ONTHA was still a small brand. But something about Sara’s vision stood out. It wasn’t just her designs. It was her honesty, her story, and her refusal to conform.
That moment reminded me that authenticity always echoes louder than numbers she says. Being on national TV wasn’t just about exposure. It was a turning point a moment when she finally saw herself clearly.
Strength in Setbacks How Pain Became Power
Sara’s journey hasn’t been easy. Behind the beauty of her designs are moments of pain heartbreak, betrayal, exhaustion, and the illness of her father. After surviving cancer, her father was diagnosed with a rare condition that doctors barely understood. Later, she experienced the unimaginable loss when her father passed away.
Most people would have asked, Why me But Sara chose a different perspective. It was a divine message she reflects. A reminder that just like my father’s rare illness, my story is rare too. And that’s not a curse. It’s my calling.
Every challenge became part of the fabric she works with. The pain didn’t break her. It became her power.
Rebuilding the Self Inside and Out
As Sara battled emotional lows, she found healing in an unexpected place the gym. Committing to her physical health gave her a sense of control when everything else felt overwhelming.
Seeing my body respond to discipline reminded me I’m not powerless she says. I’m always evolving. That strength became her foundation physically and emotionally.
She also learned to stop judging people by what’s visible. So many carry invisible victories she explains. Chronic illness, rare diseases, special needs, war these people are quiet warriors. Especially in Gaza. Their strength inspires me.
ONTHA Today A Brand Rooted in Purpose Not Trends
Today, ONTHA is in a phase of rebuilding. Despite her father’s critical health and her own emotional fatigue, Sara continues to create even in silence. She is not chasing quick sales or popularity. She is planting seeds for something timeless.
My goal isn’t mass appeal she says. It’s lasting impact. She treasures the followers who still ask about ONTHA. Loyalty is my income now. It’s what heals my heart.
A Designer With a Mission Not Just a Product
Sara wants ONTHA to be remembered as more than fashion. She dreams of it becoming a safe space for women who feel too different for the mainstream.
I want to leave behind healing, not just clothing she says. Her designs are quiet messages to the women who wear them. They say, You are seen.
She doesn’t chase trends. She follows her heart. And in doing so, she is creating a legacy that’s unforgettable to a few, rather than forgettable to many.
Honoring the Pauses A Lesson in Sacred Stillness
One of the most powerful lessons Sara has learned is this timing doesn’t define your worth. There have been pauses in her journey, but she no longer sees them as failures.
Stillness is sacred she says. It’s where real transformation happens. She has learned to work with intention, not urgency. She’s not focused on being seen, but on being felt.
A Father’s Legacy: More Than Memory
Sara’s journey hasn’t just been shaped by ambition, but also by deep personal loss. Her father, who stood as her silent strength, passed away on the 28th of June 2025 after a long and painful battle with cancer and a rare, complex illness.
“My father didn’t just raise me—he sculpted the woman I’m becoming,” Sara shares. After his diagnosis, she could have fallen into bitterness. But instead, she found meaning. “His illness wasn’t a punishment—it was a reflection of the rare, layered story I’m meant to live. Just like my designs, just like my soul—nothing about us is ordinary.”
When he passed, a piece of her heart broke. But his voice remained. “His values are stitched into everything I do,” she says. “His presence is still here—in the way I show kindness, in the way I carry myself when no one’s watching.”
She recalls how he taught her to respond to pain with grace. “He used to tell me, when people treat you badly, don’t fight fire with fire. Confuse them with softness. Not because you’re weak, but because your peace matters more than proving a point.” Without ever saying the word, he taught her emotional intelligence, quiet dignity, and strength that does not need to shout.
Even now, she holds on to his words when the grief feels unbearable. “Right now, my heart is shattering every second. I live with a kind of ache that feels too heavy at times. But I try to stay standing—for him, for myself, and for everything he believed in.”
Sara finds her anchor in God and continues to walk through this chapter with courage. Her father’s goodness, his values, his way of making people feel—live on through her. Through ONTHA. Through every design that whispers of softness, resilience, and truth.
Words to Her Younger Self and to All Dreamers
Sara has a heartfelt message for her younger self, and for anyone walking an uncertain path.
Don’t let the silence scare you. You’re not falling behind. You’re being refined. Your pain is not a weakness. It’s your signature.
It’s a message that resonates with anyone who feels like they don’t fit in. Her story proves that you don’t need to be like the rest to succeed. You just need to stay real.
Final Thought ONTHA Is More Than Fashion It’s a Movement
Sara Elgendy’s journey is not about quick wins. It’s about deep growth, silent victories, and honest creativity. ONTHA is her life in wearable form imperfect, emotional, raw, but strong.
She reminds us that being different is not a disadvantage. It’s a gift. And even if your path is quiet, it can still be powerful.
Do follow her on Instagram and @sarrealgendy
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