Deenola Designs: Why they’re flyer than the rest of them!

Last week Fade Arewa of underdarock.com brought you Deenola Designs. We had an opportunity to chat with Deenola Designs and discuss the inspiration and upcoming collections from Deenola Designs. Check out our interview with the fashion design team.

U.D.R: So Deenola, thanks for taking the time out to sit with

UnderdaRock.com today. When did you begin Deenola designs?

The adventure begun a year ago, in 2009. We started with 5 design ideas which were revisited and now we end up with a full collection of 13 pieces!!

U.D.R: What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion allows you to be free and express yourself. We wanted to make a statement about the vision that fashion and especially african fashion world needs to bring to our communities and people in general. There is definitely a demand!

U.D.R:   When did you realize that fashion design was your destiny?

We don’t think that you have to realize that it’s your destiny, it was a need that we had to fullfill, and a challenge too for us. Being both in the fashion and music industry help us to be attracted to have our own clothing line, somethign that represent who we are.

U.D.R: What inspires some of your designs?

Our personalities influence our collection a lot, we both have different tastes when it comes to fashion but at the same time we are very similar. Our main isnpiration of course is our african culture which has been a real motivation and pride.

U.D.R:   Have you overcome any difficult challenges, if so how?

Starting your own fashion label is never easy in the making. You will always have obstacles in the making of the garments, the people you work with and at the end, the most important thing is to know how to overcome them and learn from your mistakes.

U.D.R:   What makes you different from other designers?

Deenola is a package, we want to create a brand which will influence our client on a day to day basis, and give the african print more accessibility to every woman’s life.

Deenola wants also to be part of the designers who do not wish to be put in a box so called  “ethnic designers”. We are both african and we do not want our work to be defined as ethnic because we are using different type of african fabrics. Our design are made to be approachable by any type of women and wearable.

U.D.R:   What message does your fashion say to others?

Our message will reflect what the collection is about: versatality, confort, chic and details.

U.D.R:   You recently exhibited your fashion designs on the AfricanFashion Show in Dublin, Ireland—what was that like?

It was such an amazing experience as it was our first fashion show for our collection. We were very excited and overall it went quite well. Dublin is a very friendly city, we met some great people and the atmosphere was great!

U.D.R:   What do you think your fans out there should know about you that you haven’t mentioned?

We are not just a clothing line but we are aiming to become a brand that truly represents the african essence

U.D.R:   What do you hope to accomplish? What are your long term goals?

We really hope that a lot of women will recognize themself in what Deenola reflects, which represents the woman that is pride to wear confortable, chic clothes, in unusual print and design.

In a long run, we are hoping to have our own boutiques and Deenola to be a recognised brand in the african ready to wear clothing market in Europe and in Africa.

U.D.R:   How do you spend your free time, when not designing?

We both have seperate lives, Ola is working in different projects at the moment and is also a make up artist and Deena is a music educator.

U.D.R:   Do you see yourself as a role model to others? How?

We hope to inspire others to accomplish their dream cause nothing is impossible, that’s our moto!

U.D.R:   What project are you currently working on, that UDR readers

should look out for?

We are currently working on Deenola’s campaign and our website.

U.D.R:   Do you have anything else to add, for those interested?

We truly hope they will enjoy the collection

U.D.R:   How do we keep up with updates on what Deenola Designs is doing?

Do you have a website?

Just check out on our facebook group for any updates and news. The new website will be up and running very soon, watch the space!

U.D.R:  So, what can we expect from Deenola Designs in the future?

That’s a surprise, we do not want to spoil it, but it will be worth the wait!! but all we are going to say is menswear is on our list

Here are some other examples of Deenola Designs work:

For more of Deenola Designs, please visit their facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=56777307223&ref=ts

Posted by Fade Arewa on Apr 11 2010. Filed under Fashion, Interviews, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry