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Naeem Khan Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth21 May 1958

Age67 Years

BirthplaceBareilly, Uttar Pradesh

ProfessionFashion Designer

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRanjana Khan

FamilySons: Shariq Khan and Zaheen Khan; Parents: Sharfuddin Khan and Razia Baig

Naeem Khan Biography

Naeem Khan is an Indian-American fashion designer known for ornate, couture-level eveningwear and a client list that includes first ladies, royalty, and A‑

Early life and background

Naeemuddin Khan, professionally known as Naeem Khan, was born on May 21, 1958, in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. He grew up in a family that worked with fabrics and hand embroidery; his father and grandfather operated a lehenga and saree shop in Colaba that made garments for discerning clients, including royal households. That family environment exposed him to textiles and ornamentation from a very young age and helped shape his aesthetic.

Khan completed his schooling at Cumbala Hill High School. At 19 he accompanied his father to New York as the family explored opportunities abroad. There he encountered the fashion world and began training with Roy Halston, spending three years under Halston’s mentorship and then freelancing for him for an additional five years. Those formative years gave Khan experience in American couture and introduced him to the social side of fashion in New York.

Career

Khan launched his first business, named Riazee after his mother, in 1983. That venture grew to a staff of around 150 people with distribution across the United States. In 2003 he formally launched the Naeem Khan label and showed his first collection at Olympus Fashion Week. From that starting point he built an international wholesale presence; his collections have been carried by stores including Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Khan’s design work spans red carpet eveningwear, bridal gowns, and costume projects for film. He has created multiple looks for Michelle Obama, including a notable gown worn to a White House state dinner, and his pieces have been worn by other public figures such as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. He has also provided costumes for films including Sex and the City and Dreamgirls. In 2008 Khan became a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

In 2009 he broadened his market by launching a diffusion line, Timeless by Naeem Khan, for the Home Shopping Network. That line offered more accessible price points compared with his couture pieces. Beginning in 2014 he added bridal design to his offerings, making his work available through retailers across Asia as well as the United States.

Khan has been active on initiatives beyond pure design. He proposed relocating a large studio complex to Miami to create a combined fashion-and-lifestyle hub and to help position the city as a fashion center. The plan later evolved to include vocational training to pass technical skills on to a new generation of designers and craftspeople.

Public profile

Khan’s work is routinely noted for its embellishment and for referencing Indian decorative traditions within a contemporary framework. He has described a desire to create timeless, elegant clothes rather than fleeting trends, and his collections frequently incorporate handwork and references to Indian craft techniques.

His client list includes celebrities, political figures, and members of royal families, and his designs have been prominently visible on international stages and state occasions. Michelle Obama has worn his gowns on more than one occasion, and his designs have drawn attention from global media. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from FGI Dallas.

Personal life

Khan is an American national who makes his home in New York. He married model and jewelry designer Ranjana Khan in 1981. The couple have two sons, Shariq and Zaheen, both of whom work with the Naeem Khan business; Zaheen is noted as having married recently.

Outside of fashion, Khan enjoys travel, cooking, and polo. He is a self-described enthusiast of Indian cooking and keeps a well-equipped kitchen at his office. He also owns a pet dog named Raja, who once walked the runway with him during a New York presentation.

Latest updates

In 2017 Khan publicly opposed the U.S. travel ban affecting several countries, using his platform to speak out. In 2020 he presented a star-spangled collection at New York Fashion Week described as an homage to America. He continues to design couture and bridal collections and to expand the reach of his label internationally.
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Recent Work

Timeless by Naeem Khan

A diffusion line launched for the Home Shopping Network offering more accessible pieces alongside his couture collections.

2009
Bridal collections

Launched bridal designs that are sold in stores from Singapore to Japan.

2014
Star-spangled collection

A patriotic collection presented at New York Fashion Week as an homage to America.

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Trained under Roy Halston in New York and worked with him for several years
  2. Founded Riazee in 1983 and launched the Naeem Khan label in 2003
  3. Member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
  4. Designed for high-profile clients including Michelle Obama and the Duchess of Cambridge
  5. Launched a diffusion line for Home Shopping Network and expanded into bridal wear
  6. Received the FGI Dallas Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Naeem Khan born?

21 May 1958

What is Naeem Khan known for?

Fashion Designer

What is Naeem Khan’s marital status?

Married

Who is Naeem Khan married to?

Ranjana Khan