Designer takes a risk with hair fascinators

Like music, fashion design continues to emulsify into new angles. But one thing is solid in Malawi—most designers consider outfits as the only arena of focus in fashion design.

But tables are about to be turned.

And there is need for everyone else to engage an extra gear to catch up as fashion continues to emulsify and designers continue to diversify.

Most artists avoid embarking on new projects until others do it.

Designer Vanessa Nsona is different.

She is new into designing and, despite knowing the glitters in outfit designs, she opted for something new.

Trading under Dorovee Designs, Vanessa, who is just two years into designing, has ventured into hair fascinator designs.

These are designs specifically for hair. They include wedding veil, hair clippers and fusion net, among others.

They are new in Malawi, but not in the developed world. Malawi is just treading where others have walked before.

However, Vanessa brings a new twist to the designs that make them Malawian.

She uses Malawian materials such as chitenje, threads, soft wires and beads; and with hand sawing and

tailoring machine, you can hardly associate the products with Malawi.

“I love designing and it has always been my wish to venture into a designing career which is different from those being practised by others. I am happy that this is an avenue many are yet to breakthrough into. I am doing my best to give it a new touch which is different from what is common among people in the developed world by being more creative,” she said, adding that her dream is to export the products in the near future.

Based in Manase, Blantyre, Vanessa is happy that the designs have a market in Malawi.

She says most of her customers are tourists and locals.

Vanessa is getting gold in hair fascinators associated with engagement and wedding ceremonies.

Among them she says are Birdcage Veil and Show-stopper for weddings.

The Birdcage Veil is for the bride while the show stopper which is an over-the-top-design is designed for mother or any one representing a mother at a wedding and sisters to the bride.

Matching is a paramount trait in design and the former Kalibu Academy student takes advantage of this to expand her productions.

She produces handbags, earrings and necklaces to complement the beauty in outfits and hair fascinators by matching the colours.

Other hot products for special events are the Glamazon, which is designed for dinner events.

This has more sparks and is suitable in venues with partying lighting. Fusion is all net. It is a mesh that is purely net and is blend into various shapes—oval, kite or round according to choice. There is also Posh, which is becoming popular in Malawi, this is eye catchy as it looks fierce, edgy and sophisticated.

Designing is about bringing blueprints to the industry and Vanessa knows this.

She has developed her own hair fascinators that do not resemble any. One of them is Halo.

This is designed in a shape of a ring or crown and has different details on it which defines the specific occasions.

Nonetheless, she says the common ones are mainly worn by flower girls. She has more for Malawi:

“I have done a lot in promoting foreign hair fascinators designs. It is time I concentrate more on coming up with my own designs that can also create a Malawian design.

“I am happy that the chitenje has already made its way into designing and people are able to tell that this is Malawian. We need our own designs by adding features that make them them more visible and attractive.”