Guyana Lime is once again proud to feature another successful Guyanese fashion Designer. D’Nàtálie Smith is one of the most prosperous business women in Guyana having founded several thriving companies before taking up the mantle as a fashion designer. She ran an Etiquette consultancy firm and worked with local corporations and top city schools teaching etiquette. In 1998, she co-founded a Real Estate Brokerage company with her mother and to this day it’s a successful partnership which she is still very much at the helm.
D’Nàtálie expressed her natural talent for fashion at an early age when she designed her casual and evening pieces for a local pageant at the age of fourteen. At fifteen, with the help of a dress maker she wore her own party outfits and by the following year she was able to plan her entire summer wardrobe. At seventeen, D’Nàtálie designed and created her first apparel, a two piece skirt suit in black and pink polka and a dress in matching material. She certainly did not stop there. D’Nàtálie continued designing and making clothes for family members and herself, sometimes with the help of local dressmakers. In 2004, her formal entry into the world of fashion captured with judges’ nods for the best designed gown and best designer in the locally produced Talented Teen Pageant.
In August 2004, D’Nàtálie made a bigger name for herself with the launch of her bridal collection whose focal point was the gowns of colour, none of which were plain white. They ran a kaleidoscope of colours hence the name Kaleidoscope Bridals.
Smith has since worked with Miss Guyana Universe 2005, creating a spectacular gown for Nadia Shung, Umobile Telecommunications Network Marketing campaign “Talk like U Do” and Courts Guyana Incorporated Bridal Registry Brochures. Her designs have been featured in the Guyana Entertainment Magazine and all the local print media and televisions stations. Her vast knowledge of various cultures and lifestyles has influenced her designs and enabled her to keep ahead of trends. Her unique designs cater to women in general, a fact attested by the designer that by using different body types she creates the true representation of the very essence of womanhood.
D’Nàtálie expressed her natural talent for fashion at an early age when she designed her casual and evening pieces for a local pageant at the age of fourteen. At fifteen, with the help of a dress maker she wore her own party outfits and by the following year she was able to plan her entire summer wardrobe. At seventeen, D’Nàtálie designed and created her first apparel, a two piece skirt suit in black and pink polka and a dress in matching material. She certainly did not stop there. D’Nàtálie continued designing and making clothes for family members and herself, sometimes with the help of local dressmakers. In 2004, her formal entry into the world of fashion captured with judges’ nods for the best designed gown and best designer in the locally produced Talented Teen Pageant.
In August 2004, D’Nàtálie made a bigger name for herself with the launch of her bridal collection whose focal point was the gowns of colour, none of which were plain white. They ran a kaleidoscope of colours hence the name Kaleidoscope Bridals.
Smith has since worked with Miss Guyana Universe 2005, creating a spectacular gown for Nadia Shung, Umobile Telecommunications Network Marketing campaign “Talk like U Do” and Courts Guyana Incorporated Bridal Registry Brochures. Her designs have been featured in the Guyana Entertainment Magazine and all the local print media and televisions stations. Her vast knowledge of various cultures and lifestyles has influenced her designs and enabled her to keep ahead of trends. Her unique designs cater to women in general, a fact attested by the designer that by using different body types she creates the true representation of the very essence of womanhood.
In 2006, Kaleidoscope Fashions changed to D’XàBê representing the initials of her two sons, Xavier and Benicio. She describes this new line as "Bridal gowns of an Eastern influence but with a Western flavour,". More so, this line also includes jeans wear, tops, evening gowns and a series of footwear. Additionally, she has already designed the wedding gowns which include such intricacies as sequins, beaded work and hand-knitting. Smith has also contracted a fabric manufacturing firm in Pakistan which will actually be custom-making the fabric to suit her taste and specifications.In a very candid interview with Guyana Lime, D’Nàtálie says her inspiration may come from anything at any given moment, a song, a play, history, a colour, or even fads. Her simple joy is found spending time with her sons. She describes herself as being arrogant, self centered and obsessive added with emotional, loyal and witty. “I am arrogant because I know I possess a keen intelligence and I am self centered because of my humanity. My world revolves around me and the people in my orbit because I love and truly care for them” says Smith.
She also conveyed that fashion designing was always been a childhood dream that she had to put aside for it seemed like a frivolous thing “something that does not entail too much intellect”, says Smith. Nevertheless, she had poise, spoke well and was intelligent, so she self taught a few things in order to be where she wanted to be. D’Nàtálie also revealed that if she could do anything else other than fashion, she would certainly have to enter the food business. “ I believe it's another way to exercise creativity, I cook very well and like to do it with panache” says Smith. When asked to comment on her philosophy of the art of fashion, D’Nàtálie added that “Fashion is a mirror of our times; it reflects our culture at any given point. Historically, clothing revealed many details about the lifestyles of people from various past cultures…As designers, knowledge of where fashion has come from helps us to understand how it is progressing in our own time and to anticipate where it may lead in the future and its certainty to evolve. Historical clothing can provide a wealth of inspiration and ideas which can be adapted to our modern lifestyle. However care should be given not to use them too literally in case they look like actual costumes rather than new trends inspired by the past.”
When questioned about her strengths and weaknesses as a local fashion designer, D’Nàtálie admitted that her main strength was her ability to be creative while her weakness was the lack of finances to move to the next level through marketing and mass production. With confidence and pride, D’Nàtálie sees herself owning a few franchise stores around the world in the next five years from now. “When you are dreaming you go all the way no limitations”, says Smith.
Guyana Lime wishes to thank D’Nàtálie Smith for her participation in this interview and supports her in all of her future endeavours.
1 comment:
Thank you for the opportunity. I usually avoid the media but am a big fan of electronic media. You are the first interview I've allowed in two years, great job!
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