Made to Fit: Shaheen and Samina’s Stories
Growing up in 1970s Bradford, Shaheen and Samina reflect on how making their own clothes helped them express their evolving identities.
This film takes you on a journey into Shaheen and Samina’s life as they grow up in Bradford during the 1970s. As first-generation Pakistani women, they share a love of making clothes, reflecting on how sewing and fashion helped them navigate two cultures and express their evolving identities.
Credits and Links
Running time: 4:29 minute
Filmmaker: Michael McCabe
This film is part of Making Bradford Home: short films sharing stories of migration, memory and family photographs
Commissioned by Impressions Gallery for Bradford Family Album digital archive, celebrating people who have made Bradford their home.
Special thanks to Samina Ashraf and Shaheen Hafeez for generously sharing your treasured photographs and the stories.
We would like to thank Javed Ashraf and Jamshad Sehgal from the Khidmat Centre for their continued support of the Bradford Family Album project and introducing us to Samina and Shaheen.
Bradford Family Album archive was originally commissioned as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
© Impressions Gallery 2026
Explore stories through film
Making Bradford Home: short films sharing stories of migration, memory and family photographs.
Delve deeper into the stories behind the photographs, watch this series of four short films by Bradford-based filmmaker Michael McCabe, and explore stories of migration and belonging from Bradford’s Latvian, South Asian, Bangladeshi, Afro-Caribbean and Irish Catholic communities.
Made to Fit: Shaheen and Samina’s Stories
Growing up in 1970s Bradford, Shaheen and Samina reflect on how making their own clothes helped them express their evolving identities.
Never Far from Home: Stories from The Bradford Latvian Club
Three Latvian families the Harrissons, Berzins and Dzerins share stories of making Bradford home and keeping Latvian culture alive at The Bradford Latvian Club.
Planting Roots: Sandra’s Story
From Kingston to Bradford, Sandra Brown shares her journey of finding community, connection and a new home in Bradford’s Afro-Caribbean community.
Two Worlds One Street: Rachel and Luna’s Story
A film celebrating Rachel and Luna’s lifelong friendship, which began growing up side by side on Mavis Street in Bradford.
About the archive
Find out more about the making of the archive and the people who made it possible.
Find out more