30 November 2013 www.womanthismonth.com REEM BUQAIS-RIVERA Reem BuQais-Rivera is a luxury ready-towear label that brings elegance, comfort and sophistication while offering youthful and lively elements that are threaded into each piece of clothing. “My target audience is elegant women, who like to have a little fun with their wardrobe,” explains Reem. “I design for women who embrace their natural style, comfortably and confidently expressing their individuality.” Advice to upcoming designers: If you wish to become a fashion designer, then go to a fashion school that not only teaches you design but also goes through the technicalities of constructing a garment. That is when you truly appreciate the art of fashion design. It is more than just sketching on a piece of paper. It’s draping; it’s patternmaking; it’s sewing. DAY N’ AGE The idea to start a brand of t-shirts sporting local themes happened upon friends Abdulla and Munther while swapping channels on the television. They haven’t looked back since. “If it wasn’t for the Middle East and where we lived, there wouldn’t be the ‘Lady Gahwa’ t-shirt,” says Abdulla. “We like to cherish and respect our tradition and lifestyle, and transfer a message to our audience,” Munther adds. “We grew up in Bahrain with many experiences to share. That in itself is a source of inspiration.” Day N’ Age products feature a simple design that is fun, smart and quirky. Hundred percent cotton is their fabric of choice with navy, black and light grey as the top colours of their collection. The online store showcases everything from t-shirts and hoodies to phone covers and stickers. Advice to upcoming designers: We had a choice of either continuing to watch TV and eat chips or take the idea we had and run with it. We’re glad we’re running with it. A New Fashion Capital FASHION | feature As the fashion industry matures, a host of local designers choose Bahrain as a base for their labels. Woman This Month speaks to some of the most popular and successful creators of these start-ups.
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