Late fashion bloomers launch label

Shameen Clarke struts her stuff.

Northern suburbs designing women Brenda Solomons and Nadia Loyiti launched their label, specialising in bespoke garments for all ages, with a glitzy fashion show last week.

The duo met while studying fashion design at Northlink College and decided to take their studies further with their Forever Grey Fashion Gallery.

The show on Saturday September 2 at Northlink College’s Protea Campus, Bellville, saw their life-long dream come true.

Ms Solomons, from Kuils River, left her job as a nurse after 22 years to pursue a career in fashion. After failing matric in 1991, her options were limited, and nursing – at the time – was one of the few fields she could enter without matric.

“I always had a passion for design and constructing garments from a very young age. I used to make doll clothes when I was a little girl. Over the years, as a nurse, I kept my passion burning by making clothes on a part-time bases for colleagues and friends,” she said.

After getting her matric certificate in 2014, she decided to follow her passion and enrolled at Northlink to study fashion design.

Ms Loyiti, also from Kuils River, had a love for fashion design from a young age, but initially worked as a pre-school teacher, before ending up in Ms Solomons’ class.

“I was one of the 45 that was chosen out of 300 applicants – even though I registered late,” she said.

Ms Loyiti wants to motivate and groom young aspiring fashion designers by visiting schools and running competitions.

“These are the opportunities that I did not have as a young girl wanting to pursue a career in fashion,” she
said.

The two got together in January this year, after completing their studies. Ms Solomons said they always had a good working relationship
and thought this would be a perfect fit.

They hope to grow their business locally and abroad.