Everyday, fashion gives birth to a designer, each with his or her own take on style and innovation. They all yearn for the chance to be mentioned with the Karls, the Marcs, the Christians—many will never have the pleasure. This does not mean that they lack the drive, desire, or talent to do so; most are just limited by their resources.
As a fashion-fanatic from Philadelphia, where our most famous designer is Tory Burch, I’ve witnessed the impeccable talents of many designers go unnoticed. I adore these designers, for they are the ones who do not allow a scarcity in their assets to plummet their love for creating beautiful garments, jewelry, bags, and the like.
For years now, my city has held the talents of our best designers a secret, and it is time to tell all.
In this biweekly column, in which I will call Ol’ Philadelphia’s Designer Spotlight, I will highlight the major moves of the city’s designers; showcasing where they’ve been and where they’re going.
I will begin with a designer whom I have watched rigorously over the years. In the historical Center City streets of Philadelphia, you will find Bela Shehu, creative director of her own line–Nino Brand.
Now, we have all seen lines that are innovative and groundbreaking, but Bela has managed to make us question what we think of a brand based on simplicity, sophistication, and feminine allure.
Nino Brand’s Fall 2011 collection consists of 40 garments, mostly separates, which unconsciously allude to the various curves of the woman’s figure—an idea that came to Bela while curiously fiddling with the back seam line of her self-designed birthday dress (pictured above). She uses subtle blacks, grays, and sands in wool blend, a combination that many would expect to be simple, which it is. Yet, as you go to take a second look at the signature pieces, (consisting of capes, pencil-leg pants, coats, and skirts), you notice the well-crafted detail of the garment.
One piece that certainly wowed me was a loosely fitted charcoal double-breasted wool jacket with an almost nude lining that peeked at the collars. The ¾ length sleeves and roominess of the jacket made it almost perfect for fall-time layering—and despite the unconstrained make of the piece, it didn’t lack femininity in any way.
Bela has discovered and created vague, yet sexy silhouettes in her pieces that has rarely been seen before.
Nino Brand exposes Bela’s impeccable style, creativity, and visionary love for simplicity; it is a reflection of all that she has done over her years as a designer slash consultant.
Starting out in 2002, Bela, 32, began her fashion journey through her own line of jewelry, bSHEHU, which she sold in her 13th street flagship boutique by the same name. During this time, her work was cited in Lucky and 2.1.5 Magazines, The Feast, the Examiner, this list goes on; each time she was commended for creating sexy, sleek and modern pieces. Bela closed the doors to her boutiqe in 2007, but simultaneously, opened many more.
While working as a design consultant with Philadelphian brands Commonwealth Proper, Duke & Winston and Lithe Wear, Bela’s admiration for designers that stay true to their vision of art grew into her love for her own simplistic style which sprouted into something wonderful—NINO Brand.
Philadelphia, unlike it’s neighboring, more fashion-forward state of New York, isn’t necessarily known for harboring great fashion lines Per contra, Bela kept steady, not allowing this fact to put any hesitation in her development as a designer. Running a fashion line in Philadelphia is extremely difficult “on the production side,” Bela claimed. “That’s why I has to set up my own development and production agency.” (shehu.net)
We Philadelphians are all anticipating the amazing creations that will come from Bela’s way in the near future. Nino Brand’s premier Fall line has already sent chills up my spine and left me yearning for more. When asked what we would see from her and Nino Brand next, Bela replied with cheer, “I’m working on a partnership with an amazing showroom in New York, and hopefully a work studio there by this fall, as well.”
Fabulous!
