- : . NEWS photo Brad
- DESIGNER Nargas Khabhaza and Corrine Cordoni (second and third from feft) let
their plus-size clothes grab the spotlight. On models Scilia Bonaventura (left) and

KMargurite Lam are items from Stellar Bodies collection for fall/winter. The design-
ing duo will debut their spring collection next month at the Dundarave Cafe.

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Designing duo launch new label

By Kendra Zangbei!
Contributing Writer

IT seems our culture
has built the female
image through televi-
sion media and fashion
magazines. Dress sizes
have become smaller
and smaller, so small
they don’t fit a regular
woman.

This is the frustration of
Nargas Khabazha and Corrine
Cordoni, two plus-size fashion
designers who launched their
new label, Stellar Bodies, dur-
ing a fashion show at
Dundarave Cafe last October.

The designing duo make
clothes for “real women,” sizes
12 to 24. -

Khabazha, a North
Vancouver resident, and
Cordoni, who lives in
Richmond, started their com-
pany to fill what they perceive
as a void in the marketplace for
stylish plus-size clothing.

Cordoni is amazed at the
number of gaudy prints
offered to larger women.

Khabazha backs this up b;
explaining: “Bright colors and
prints do not work well with
our market.”

Their Stellar Bodies line
offers comfort and style for
women, primarily aged 30 to
50.

“We cater to the woman
who wants something difter-
ent.” says Cordoni.

The designers carefully
choose their fabrics.

A favorite is “the stinky,” a
silky knic fabric that is 92%
acetate and 8% spandex that is
especialiy flattering on larger
women because it flows nicely
and shapes the body.

As far as construction goes,
the knitted fabric “allows more
ease for specialized measure-
ments.”

By producing garments out
of their homes, the two
designers are able to keep costs
down.

Stellar Bodies prices range
from $40 for a shell top to
$245 for a fully fined, fitted
jacket.

All designs are sold as sepa-
rates but are totally inter-
changeable.

Colors featured in the
Holiday collection — Eclipse
Black, Blackest Night, Star
Silver and Mars Red — reflect
the designers’ celestial inspira-
tion. For spring, the designers
are focusing on more casual
pieces and adding a silky
Tencel/rayon blend.

For this design team, spare
time to work on the collection
is hard to find.

Khabazha, 41, is a former
shoemaker who graduated
from Kwantlen — College
University’s fashion design
program last spring. Cordoni,
45, is a former textile specialist.
She is currently completing the
same two-year diploma.

After Cordoni graduates
this spring, the duo plan to
boost their public profile.

Stellar Bodies had its first
showing at the Dundarave
Cafe on Oct. 5. They’ve sched-
uled a second fashion show at
the cafe to debut their spring
collection some time in
February. They have also lined
up dates for 10 home parties,
their primary means of selling
the line.

As for the name, ftellar
Bodies, Cordoni says it’s a
good fit: “Plus-size women are
stellar and outstanding.”

For more information
about Stellar Bodies, call
Nargas Khabazha at 980-
4437

Kendra Zanghell is a stu-
dent at john Casablancas
Career College and a graduate
of the  college’s Fashion
Journalism course.

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