5 minutes with Nada Akram

1-When did you know that you wanted to be a fashion designer ?

I always loved fashion since I was a kid but I never thought that I would become a fashion designer till I designed my prom dress then all my dresses after that , it all started when my friends asks me every time I wear something different and they want something similar , they encouraged me to start and it took me years to take the decision .

2-Where do you find your inspiration from?

I find my inspiration from everything around, usually fabrics inspire me the most, even when I am done with my mood board I always break it when I find a fabric that catches my eyes.. Inspiration is everywhere specially the Internet.

3-What's your favourite thing you ever designed?

I guess the Audrey Hepburn T-Shirt (pretty girls are the prettiest girls) I remember I had this huge smile on my face when I added the big pink bow on her head ...it might look so simple but I love simplicity and adding something to small to something that looks so normal is my favourite part. The other item is the blazer with Arabic calligraphy it just defines who we are and I am proud to be Arab and I used to have those calls from friends telling me we saw your blazer on a girl somewhere they just knew it immediately because it was like my signature.

4-What's your favourite magazine? 
 And who's your favourite fashion designer?

I don’t have a favourite magazine, but vogue helps me a lot in my mood boards, favourite designer will always be coco Chanel as it represents simplicity and a revolution in fashion back then.

5-Tell me a bit about your newest collection.

My new collection is a mixture of pastels, neon crazy & really crazy prints.

I refused to follow the studs and spikes trend as much as possible as I am pretty sure every one else will use them. I played with colours and as usual I keep it simple
 I would say 80's inspired my latest collection as I was born in 80’s, and pastels as well.

6-What does it feel like to be a fashion designer in Egypt?

It feels great to be a fashion designer in Egypt to start in a field that just started to boom feels really good and I am happy there are a lot of fashion designers starting to appear on the field as it keeps a good space for competition and I am only talking about real fashion designers not those ones who steal other designs or get stuff from stores and add some pins on the shoulder. Those are defiantly pathetic.

7-Define style.

Style is a choice and a statement you want to give to the world about you to define who you are. It’s the reflection of your identity!

I was so happy to have this amazing opportunity to interview Nada Akram and I have to say that I loved her answers almost as much as I love her clothing line. Don't forget to like her facebook page.

xoxo,

Alia