20 -— Sunday, November 18 , 1996 ~ North Shore News

_ FASHION

Sonya knows how
to make bride’s day

IF BRIDES-to-be can find
their way past the autobody
shops, bakery suppliers and
hot tub wholesalers to the
tiny front door of fashion
designer Sonya Nadina on
Lynn Street, they deserve a
medal.

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1348 Marine Drive, West Vancouver | «926-2661 a

KIM
THE NAIL DOCTOR

By Elizabeth Collings

News Reporter

Not that Nadina jis in’ the
business of giving medals. Bur
clients may still find the trip well
worth the navigating time because
of what Nadina does specialize in:
giving personalized service to cus-
tomers whether they be drides and
their wedding parties or women
seeking a new experience in the
old game of wardrobe building.

A long way from her roots in
New York where she graduated
from the Fashion Institute of
Technology and her native
Jamaica, Nadina set up Deli-
catesse Designs Ltd. in the
second-floor studio less than a
month ago.

So far Nadina has been relying
on word-of-mouth to establish a
clientele, and it seems to be work-
ing. Her current project is a large
November wedding where she is
designing and making the dresses
for five bridésmaids, two junior
brides, two flower girls and the

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The Exhibition and Convention Centre
of the SHERATON LANDMARK HOTEL,

mothers of the bride and groom.

As well, she is designing a spr-
ing and summer collection,
primarily of bridal wear, to show
clients samples of her work.

“If that person doesn’t know
what they want and doesn't un-
derstand what you’re saying, it
becomes very difficult,’’ Nadina
says, laughing.

Nadina is promoting herself as
the provider of a complete service,
something she says is lacking in
the current bridal wear scene in
Vancouver.

“There’s an attitude here which
I found in Jamaica. It's uncalled
for because there's so few people
here doing what I do. People are
going to Bellingham and Seattle to
buy,”? she says. ‘‘You have to
have the attitude that you love to
serve people,'’ she says.

Nadina’s service includes spend-
ing time getting to know her
clients to see what styles, fabrics
and colors will be the best fit with
their personalities and lifestyle as
well as the occasion. Although she
has a preference for simple styles,
natural fibres and mixed textures,
she does not want to force her
“ook”? on every client.

“I see people in adjectives, you
know — elegant and soft — and
one elegant woman is different
from another. | think it’s just

SONYA NADINA of Delicatesse Designs Ltd. is hard at work sew-

NEWS photo Mike Wakelleid

ing her custom-made designs for a large November wedding.

marvelous there’s so many dif-
ferent people and we don't have
to look the same.””

As a special touch, she also
presents brides with a water color
sketch of the finished dress.

In addition to bridal wear,
Nadina is designing for business
women who don’t always have the
time to put a lot of thought into
their wardrobes but who need a
versatile selection of clothes.

When designing, Nadina tries to
find a look that wil! show off the
woman, rather than overwhelm
the wearer.

“If you have two dresses, and
someone says ‘Wow, you look
great’ versus ‘That's a beautiful
dress,’ wear the one they say you
look great in,"’ says Nadina.

Brides-to-be who are weighed
down by the decisions involved in
the weddings will find Nadina’s
enthusiasm refreshing.

“IT get so excited about what
I'm doing. ! don’t think we
should limit ouvselves to anything.
We are constantly being put into
Categories. It’s not necessary,’’ she
says, looking around her small

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design studio as if to say she prac-
lises what she preaches.

1400 Rubson St. (at Broughton)
Level P5; Room 303

Parking available in hotel and on street
Cash and Visa accepted A

DESIGNER

eo Whe

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985-7615

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