NEED I SAY MORE

Thank you to the Prom Night comity for this prestigious honour...

I am both grateful and humble!!!

Hard work... Pays off  

Fashion Designer Returns To Polokwane.

After an absence of 19 months, Polokwane born designer, Nico Willoughby-Smith, will be returning to the Limpopo Province in June 2012 for a duration of 7 months, in order to quench the overwhelming thirst within the matric farewell and bridal market.

It is only evident that as the months have progressed, so the Willoughby-Smith label has sky-rocketed into what seemed to be an unreachable and demanding orbit. Nico Willoughby-Smith’s contribution towards the fashion world has clearly been missed and therefore highly sourced by many wanting to get their hands on a Willoughby-Smith creation that’s as unique as their personality.

For the last 19 months, Nico Willoughby-Smith has infiltrated the Eastern Cape market by creating a niche range consisting of classy cocktail wear and glamorous evening attire for the George Sorensen Boutique located in Port Elizabeth. His fashion label has also been tied to charitable work and his sublime designs have graced the catwalks of local beauty pageants, namely the Miss Bay FM contest.

Now back in Polokwane, Willoughby-Smith hopes to pick up from where he left off. Creating beautiful designs that are bound to turn a few heads and set new innovative trends. Considering the amount of appointments he has lined-up for his first week, we hardly believe he’s going to have difficulty settling in.

Nico Willoughby-Smith : Now available at George Sorensen Boutique!

After only being based in Port Elizabeth for less then a year, who would have thought that talented couture designer, Nico Willoughby-Smith (27) would have rocked the world of fashion retail. Well... It shouldn't come as much surprise, especially when you're given the opportunity to meet this ambitious force to be reckoned with!

The George Sorensen Boutique, situated within the Walmer Park Shopping Centre in Port Elizabeth, is where you can now find the sublime creations of Willoughby-Smith. His new cocktail range boasts a fusion of elegant fabrics wrapped with bold animal prints. An exclusive range only created for the niche market of style and sophistication. Willoughby-Smith felt impelled to offer a more affordable range to the public, as apposed to his custom-designed masterpieces. Willoughby-Smith believes that true fashion should enhance ones personality, and so 'fashion should be available to meet everyone preferred style'.

Thanks to George Sorensen, not only has Willoughby-Smith's dreams come true, but his name has gone from paper to neon lights overnight. George Sorensen definitely brings fabulosity to the bay. Owned by Martin George and Thomas Sorensen, the boutique has been in existence for almost five years. George Sorensen evokes sheer elegance as the largest authorized stockist of all famous fashion labels such as Guess, Polo, Nine West, Rosenwerth and Jekyll and Hide products ranging from exclusive ladies handbags, shoes, belts, eye-wear, luggage, and jewelery accessories.

'This is by far one of the biggest business adventures I've ever embarked upon. I am just so grateful for the experience and humbled by the opportunity to sell my fashion label locally'..... Nico Willoughby-Smith

Young up-and-coming Fashion Designer moves to Port Elizabeth!!!

After being based within the heart of the Limpopo Province for the past five years, a very young, up-and-coming fashion designer is about to share his sublime design talent with the Eastern Cape.

Nico Willoughby-Smith, who studied at The Design School of Southern Africa, will soon be making his mark in Port Elizabeth's world of fashion. At the tender age of twenty-six, Willoughby-Smith has already had the amazing privilege of dressing some of the biggest names within the South African entertainment arena.

Willoughby-Smith, who firmly believes that "there is no such thing as competition when you're in a class of your own", will soon be opening the doors to his new design studio in 2011. There is no doubt that it's only a matter of time before Willoughby-Smith's label sky-rockets into an orbit of it's own class. 

"Haute Couture" - Not Just Another French Word

The R35,000 ball gown with 1,000 layers of tulle. The wedding dress with 10,000 hand-sewn swarovski crystals. The floor-length coat made of shredded leather and hand-dyed wool - these are all examples of "haute couture" fashions. Haute couture is a French term that refers to one of a kind, ornate "high" fashion, that are often conceptual and experimental in nature. 

Haute couture fashion represents a chance to create the best of the best - using the highest-quality textiles, and unique materials. Haute couture projects give a designer the opportunity to experiment with innovative sewing techniques, hand-sewing and beading, to create fanciful, exquisite designs that are much more prestigious than ready-to-wear (mass market) collections.

Haute couture is a multi-billion rand per-year industry - though most haute couture creations are extremely costly to produce. However, the notoriety and prestige of haute couture fashions have the unique ability to bring out the best in those who wear them.

While haute couture designs are often seen as impractical and even "costumey," there is no denying that no other form of fashion is as visually amazing as haute couture - each season designers take risks with materials, cut, and fit, and continually create stunning garments.

Local designer Nico Willoughby-Smith is one such a designer who's designs pushes the envelope with his innovative and inspiring designs. Every year Nico ensures that his clients' designs represent all that is whimsical and fresh in fashion.

Trash The Dress?!?!

 

Nico Willoughby-Smith recently joined up with Kobus Schoeman from Mega-Pix Photography for a stunning photo shoot. Kobus had the idea of shooting a dress at the Polokwane dumping site. The contrast would provide for breathtaking photographs.

After Stacey Law fitted the dress designed and made by Nico, she had her hair and make-up done by Marle van den Berg (Cell 082 845 2611) from MONROE’S HAIR BOUTIQUE, which recently opened in Polokwane, and then it was off to the dumping site for the photo shoot.

 

 

Local designer dresses a star

Limpopo Informant article by Karen Venter

He only knew he would become a fashion designer the day he designed his own matric farewell outfit. Now, four years after qualifying as a fashion designer, Mr Nico Willoughby-Smith, is making a name in the fashion world in a big way.

The latest model of one of his sophisticated unique designs is an internationally-known singer, songwriter and musician. Nianell performed in Polokwane on Saturday night wearing one of Willoughby-Smith’s divine creations, a red haute couture corset decorated with feathers and Swarovski crystals. Prior to her performance, Nianell expressed her appreciation of Willoughby-Smith’s design.

How did this come about? In an exclusive interview, Willoughby-Smith, an avid music lover, freely admits to being a Nianell fan. “Nianell inspires in more ways than one. I do my best work while listening to music.” He says he attended both Nianell’s previous performances in Polokwane and when he heard she would be perfoming here again, he decided to take a chance. “I contacted her PA, who was very helpful. A few conversations later, he had Nianell’s size, her preferences regarding clothing and her courier address. A lot of research went into his design and he focussed on quality. “The corset was designed purely for her and I spent long hours agonising over whether she would like and whether she would wear it at all.” Even when the spotlight shone on her as she came on stage, Willoughby-Smith still did not know whether his gamble had paid off. “It was absolutely amazing to see her there, dressed in the corset I had spent so many hours designing and making.” The cherry on top of her publicly acknowledging his design, was after the show when she thanked him, giving him a hug and spending a few moments chatting to Willoughby-Smith. “She said she absolutely loved the corset.” Her promoter also indicated that this could be the beginning of a longer association between Willoughby-Smith and Nianell. Willoughby-Smith agrees that this could definitely mean the beginning of big things for him.

After matriculating from Capricorn High School, Willoughby-Smith studied at the Design School of Southern Africa. The school’s qualifications are validated and moderated by the London College of Arts. In 2005, he was one of 12 South African designers selected to participate in the 11th annual Vukani Fashion Awards. He has also participated in an array of bridal and other fashion shows and a matric farewell dress designed by him is a must have for any matric girl. He says this year has been his best year ever. Up until now, he has made his name by word of mouth. “This year I started participating in various expos, which is also giving my work a lot of exposure.”

As we speak, he is preparing for a matric farewell photo shoot that has been commissioned by another local newspaper. He certainly has strong ideas about who he prefers to frame his designs, which have been described as sophisticated, glamorous, elegant and unique. “One needs just the right hairdresser (Ms Marlé van den Berg from MonRo’s), make-up artist (Focus on Style), jewellery (Jenni Collections) and accessories (classic Accessories) to show off one’s designs to perfection,” he explains. He is also part of a matric farewell competition, Evoking Elegance, in which the lucky couple can win their entire matric farewell – clothes, jewellery, accessories, the use of that special vehicle and so forth. This year’s winner was Ranska Adlam.

Willoughby-Smith says he is blessed to be fully booked for the rest of the year, so be sure to make and appointment well ahead of time for next year for that special wedding, matric farewell or other formal function. Early matric farewell bookings qualify for a discount. What’s next for him? “I’ve set my sights on Celine Dion wearing one of my creations!” he says, only half joking. “The highlight of my career will definitely be to be invited to participate in SA Fashion Week.” Willoughby-Smith’s life motto, and advise to everyone, is to love like you have never been hurt, work like you will never need the money and dance like no one is watching. “Actually, there is another line to my motto but I can’t share it in a community newspaper because it’s a bit x-rated,” he says, smiling bashfully and blushing at the same time.