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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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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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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