We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Reza Mohammadi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Reza thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

In Agust 2021, I didn’t just lose a business, I lost a country.

In 2005, with hopes for political improvement, I returned to Afghanstan, the country I belonged to after years of displacement. I settled in karte 3, near pul-e-surkh in Kabul, and three monthe later, I rented a small 18-square-meter shop and lanched my first business: BARG.

Over the next 16 years, I built three businesses in Kabul.
The first was BARG – a luxury tailoring brand that became a nationsymbol of elegance and quality. from that tony shop, it grew into a 250-square-meter showroom and workshop with over 20 employees.
It served political elites, diplomats, military personnel, and everyday people-all those who valued dignity and self-respect in their appearance.

In 2015, based on the principle that one should never put all their eggs in one basket, I launched my second business: Mehran Kitchen — initially a small catering service that, due to its exceptional quality, expanded into a full-service restaurant with three dining halls, dozens of employees, and a strong reputation in Kabul.

In 2020, I launched my third business, under the name Hosaineh — which translates to “Welfare” or “Comfort” in English.

All three businesses were thriving.
Despite political and economic pressures, we stood strong.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we endured. We believed in our country — in rebuilding it through service, job creation, and dignity.

But in August 2021, everything collapsed. Not because of poor management, but due to political betrayal, abandonment, and the sudden fall of a nation. Everything we had built was wiped out in a matter of days.
I had long-term plans — not only for personal success, but for helping build a better Afghanistan.That dream vanished overnight. Once again, I became a refugee — but this time, I was not defeated.

Still, a deep sorrow remains in my heart.

Today, in the United States, I’ve revived the essence of BARG through BARG Garments — a custom tailoring brand founded on precision, dignity, and resilience. The failure and pain I carry were not my choice — but my response to them was: I chose to begin again — stronger than before, with even deeper purpose and commitment.

Failures come in many forms — but some make us who we are.

Reza, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Reza Mohammadi. I am originally from Afghanistan. I am married and the father of five children — three daughters and two sons.

In 2022, after a long and challenging journey and following the loss of our beloved homeland, I arrived in the United States with my family and settled in the state of Virginia. Two years later, in February 2024, I launched my own custom tailoring brand called BARG Garments, with the help of a $20,000 loan and a deep purpose behind it. Our first shop opened at 108 North Alfred Street, in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.

I can say with confidence that my path into this profession wasn’t the result of meticulous planning — it was destiny that led me here.

As a teenager, I had no clear image of my future. I would go to school in the morning and work as an apprentice in a tailoring shop in the afternoon. Initially, my only goal was to stay busy and perhaps learn a skill that could help support my family.

My parents hoped that by learning a practical craft, I could build a future — and tailoring gradually became that path.
When it came time to choose a major in school, I discovered a formal field called Fashion Design and Tailoring. I chose it consciously and continued my education in this area.

I earned a vocational diploma in garment design, tailoring, and production.
That formal education, combined with my hands-on experience in the shop, turned me into a real tailor — skilled, knowledgeable, and purposeful.

At BARG Garments, we provide specialized tailoring services for men’s and women’s formal and business attire — from suits and shirts to any clothing that fits a professional lifestyle.

We also offer professional clothing alterations and repairs for both men’s and women’s garments — whether formal or casual.

All work is done with the utmost precision and finesse, so the original quality and form of the garment remain intact, and the result is visually indistinguishable from the original.

We solve our clients’ needs in two main areas:

Custom clothing — by offering high-quality fabrics, linings, and materials along with precise design and tailoring, we help clients find garments that perfectly suit their taste and body.

Alterations and updates — from fitting purchased clothes, adjusting garments due to weight changes, to modernizing old pieces (such as changing buttons, collars, or cuts), all services are done with great attention and care.

What sets us apart from others is love — a deep passion for this craft, for quality, and for building a lasting brand.

We don’t just sew clothes; we pour our hearts into every piece, making sure each order reflects our commitment to precision, beauty, and authenticity.
This love for detail, our loyalty to quality, and honesty in work have made BARG Garments more than a name — it’s a distinct experience.

Above all, I’m proud of the exceptional skill and intuition I’ve developed in this field — a mastery not gained solely through training, but through years of experience, passion, and integrity.

Even though my English isn’t perfect yet, when a client says just a few words, I instantly understand what they want — what they need, their taste, even their discomforts.

It doesn’t matter if the client is male or female, young or old, with a traditional or modern style — I know how to turn their ideas into beautiful clothing.

It’s this deep understanding, real expertise, and unconditional love for the craft that I’m most proud of.

I want everyone to know that BARG Garments is not just a tailoring brand — it’s the continuation of a life story — the story of someone who rose from hardship, with empty hands but a heart full of faith, skill, integrity, and love, and started anew.

I came from a country where, in one night, everything collapsed — and what we had built was swept away in a storm.
A country where the language was Persian. For this reason, my English was very limited. I had no capital, no backing, and barely any awareness of the new world. But I entered this path with four guiding principles: willpower, skill, honesty, and love.

These values not only helped me stay in my profession but rebuild it in a land where nothing was originally mine.
In midlife, while responsible for a family of seven, I revived my brand in America — with a small loan but a great hope.

At BARG Garments, no one is just a customer.
Everyone who walks into our space brings with them a unique personality, style, and story — and my job is to bring that story to life in the form of a garment, with respect, precision, and deep understanding of their needs and tastes.

Despite their gender, wheter they are young or old, formal or casual — I strive to understand their desire even better than they can express it, and create it for them.

I want people to know that this brand was not built through marketing hype, but through resilience, quality, attention, and honesty. I want them to believe that if someone truly wants something, with skill and faith, they can shine — even in the harshest of conditions.

BARG Garments is not just a business for me; it is a part of who I am — a piece of my homeland, a part of my soul.
It reflects my past and is a bridge toward a future I’m still building — with love and determination.

— Reza Mohammadi

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

In my first year in the U.S., I worked as an employee at two companies: Nordstrom and Suit Supply. Later, I decided to improve my English and gain familiarity with the business landscape in Northern Virginia, near Washington, D.C. My goal was clear: to one day open my own tailoring business. That’s why I consciously chose to drive for rideshare services—so I could interact with people, practice English, and learn about different commercial areas.

Everywhere I went, I paid close attention—especially to commercial zones. I would note locations on the map and revisit them to better understand where they were and what their names were. When I came across friendly passengers, I’d tell them that I’m from Afghanistan and that I’m a professional tailor looking to open a tailoring shop. I’d ask them what they thought of the market for such a business. It was during these conversations that I learned the meaning and importance of the word “demand”—because so many of them used it.

Some passengers, depending on their professions, were willing to discuss things in more detail. I’d tell them I was looking for a small business loan to get started. One day, a woman who worked at an organization that supports small businesses gave me the address of a local office that might be able to help. She explained that they assist with business plans and even help revise them. They offered loans ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.

I followed her advice and contacted an organization that supports immigrants. They had a special training program for immigrants with business ideas. Interestingly, the program director was an Afghan man named Zabih. He had lived in the U.S. for many years, and as fate would have it, he had visited Kabul in 2018 to get married—and I had tailored his wedding suit at BARG Garments in Kabul. I didn’t recognize him, but he remembered me. He said, “You’re Master Reza!” and recalled visiting my shop in Kabul. Right away, he told me that even though the training program was full, he would speak with his supervisor to get me in. Two days later, he called back to say I was accepted.

The two-month training program covered business planning, credit cards, how small business loans work, and more. The loan had a very low interest rate—around 5%—and had to be repaid over three years. We attended three sessions per week, prepared our business plans, and submitted our loan applications. The loan process took another two months after the training, so the entire journey—from joining the program to receiving the funds—took about four to five months.

One day, Zabih called me and said, “Reza, check your bank account—your loan has been deposited!” That was the moment I knew it was time to act. I began searching for a commercial space to rent—but this process turned out to be even more difficult than the loan.

Over four months, I was rejected by multiple leasing agents. I didn’t have enough money, no strong credit history, and no prior business ownership experience in the U.S. Eventually, two agents gave up on me. But I didn’t give up. I had learned enough about the leasing process to keep trying on my own. I found a space, contacted the listing agent, and presented myself professionally—even though I was still new to the process.

One kind female agent eventually agreed to speak to the landlord on my behalf. She told them that I had experience, had completed a business plan, and was serious about launching my business. I had also attached documentation of my past business experience from Afghanistan—including the three businesses I had successfully run there. These credentials, she said, made a difference.

Eventually, the landlord agreed. I believe this was a blessing from God. He moved the landlord’s heart to give a chance to someone who had nothing but faith, skills, and relentless determination. I had been searching for almost eight months. During this time, I continued driving to support my family of seven in this expensive country.

This is the true story of how I funded and started BARG Garments. It’s a story of resilience and perseverance—and perhaps, it can serve as the answer to two questions:

What drives me? And how did I get here?

The answer: Endurance. Faith. Hard work. And love for what I do.

If you’d like, I can also provide this translation in a designed format (PDF or printable document) or summarize it for use in a grant application, investor pitch, or business presentation

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Throughout my life, there have been many books and influential figures who have shaped my thinking — and from whom I continue to learn.

Some of the key books that have left a lasting impact on me include:

Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener

On the Meaning of Life by Will Durant

The Silent Shams by Dr. Sinan Yağmur

I have also been deeply inspired by intellectuals and thinkers such as Hannah Arendt, Friedrich Nietzsche, the Buddha, and others who explored the philosophy of human life. Their ideas have taught me that we must not remain silent or passive — but instead move forward with effort, awareness, and responsibility to shape our lives with purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barg-garments.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com.barggarments
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barggarments
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com.company/barggarments
• Twitter: https:twitter.com/BargGarments
• Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/barg-garments-alexandria

Image Credits

One of the images features the sxtrior of my former busiess complex in Kabul, which included our tailoring shop(Barg) a Restaurant, and on office for heating/lift installation services.
A brochure related to the heating services has also been included.
Some of our valued customers, such as MS. olita and Mr. Josh, appear in the photos. If their faces are blurred when used, that would be preferable. However, I have already recevied their permission to publish these images on my own platforms.