NATALIA by Natalia Naveed - Winning Hearts

Just two months old and spreading like fire. I am talking about a fashion brand, not a virus. You never know, fashion leads to feverish moments of delight as well. NATALIA is an eponymous brand by Natalia Naveed, a young designer with a drive to do something big.

Who would have thought that a tom boy, crazy about basketball, double major in Economics & Finance from LSE, would leave all that and dive into fashion? Sometimes passion can make you do crazy things, but that's a true sign of a dreamer who goes after their dreams, to turn them into reality.

Natalia knew she was taking a big risk by applying to fashion houses, like GENERATIONS, instead of jobs relevant to her own field. She could not ignore her penchant for fashion and through sheer luck (along with million emails to the Creative Director, Khadija Rehman) Generations end up giving her a chance  to prove herself which she did because she ended up working there for five years. She was a Team Lead before she decided it was time to take the Fashion Highway all by herself and her brand came into being.

The Edgy meets Classy urban wear brand has a long way to go, but the start was a good one and the journey looks promising. The first (recent) collection consists of modern fusion wear comprising of Kimonos and assortments of tunics with apparent inspiration from the Far East Asia. 

"I’ve paired some digitally printed kimonos with brocade crop tops and some with longer knee-length shirts. While some were designed to look more like kurtas with loose kimono sleeves, others that take after summer jackets and blazers can be worn with a nice pair of jeans or boot-cut jacquard pants that are also a part of my collection." - Natalia

Her collection is fresh and practical, with an edge. It's visually appealing while keeping the element of comfort intact. Natalia has big dreams for the future but for now we will share a little chat we had with her so you can get a feel of the brand and the designer behind it.

What makes your collection stand out from the crowd?
I don’t think anyone is doing self-developed digital prints and multithread embroideries on pure fabrics at such a small scale. Even I had difficulty finding vendors who were willing to cooperate with a new startup with such limited quantities. If you’re aware of how these units operate, they have minimum quantities and they don’t work below that. So, I feel that the kind of product that I’m currently offering, not many canproduce at a small scale level.

What matters to you most as a fashion designer?
I want my client to stand out, every girl and woman wearing Natalia. And I want to CREATE TRENDS, not just be somebody who follows them.

What did you see lacking in the market that you believed your brand could fulfill?
I like calling it “impactful minimalism”. I don’t know if that is even a word, but in my head it sounds right haha.

What type of woman do you envision wearing this brand?
Fashion-forward, tasteful and confident women.

What is the staple piece that all women should have in their wardrobe?
Dark blue jeans and a white button down haha!

How would you describe your personal style?
Androgynous

What fabrics and silhouettes dominate the upcoming season?
Some of the trending fabrics include cotton net, brocade, lace, jacquard, zari and organza etc.
As for silhouettes, I’m glad people have become very experimental and are wearing all kinds of things like ponchos, capes, overlapped shirts, kimonos, crop tops, long skirts, ghararas, culottes, tunics and maxi dresses with waist belts.

What's one accessory that is absolutely essential?
Belts for me! I think a nice belt serves as a major game changer.

What are your plans for the future?
Recent future plans are still under process because lots of investors are showing interest and I want to think things through before I take a decision. My ultimate plan is to have my own multinational brand one day no matter how long that takes.

Loving the brand? You can get more information and updates on their FACEBOOK.