Bélya: Bélya
is a fashion clothing and accessories brand that uses high quality wax
print, woven loincloth and leather to melange West African traditional
fashion with contemporary Western style. Vibrant colors and patterns are
cut and matched to our original designs to create everything from shoes
to blazers; no two are the same, ever.
Bélya: I
am African (Senegal); family, culture and relationships and stories are as much a
part of me as my smile. In fact, they helped create my smile in the
same way they appear in my products. I love my ancestry, the stories
and visions being sewn in each color/pattern. It could be something my
grandmother or cousin did or said that sparks something that ends up in a
design. The color choices and patterns awaken the spirit, they’re
alive.
APiF: If your label would be a person, what kind of person would it be?
Bélya: A
person who loves life, excited, happy, sharing, daring, expressive,
dancing fool, when it rains they make a video because everything has a
beautiful purpose.
APiF: What is your professional background?
Belya: I
graduated from the University with a degree in accounting. I worked in
retail for 3 years as an Occitane associate. I created my own clothes
as a response to the lack of choices that fit my style and attitude
toward fashion. My friends encouraged me to begin designing clothes as a
profession. I am a self-trained designer.
APiF: What is your vision for your label?
Bélya: I
envision my label carving out a niche for itself in the fashion world
as mainstream explosively unique products that complement your projected
personality. We’re fun and we think fun is cool and desired by
everyone. Meeting the
needs of individuality and community through fashion.
APiF: How do you market your designs and how do you make them accessible to a
global audience?
Bélya: Our
marketing approach is our generations take on grass roots campaigning,
social media. We use Facebook and Instragram directy and other sites
indirectly through intermediaries, such as, bloggers and online
magazines. We have to go where our audience lives, use what they use,
understand, read, hear and watch and these are most effective at
promoting our Brand. People wishing to purchase our products can do so
by ordering through email via Facebook or Etsy (belyadesign). There
will be a Belya boutique and Belya website opening soon both are
currently under construction and projected to be ready by the end of
January.
Find out more:
f: https://www.facebook.com/cridejoie
w: http://www.belyashop.com/
etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Belyadesign
I love the pump shoes with the African print..where can I purchase them?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, check-out the etsy page of the designer linked under the article and right here again: https://www.etsy.com/shop/belyashop
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