Local designer, Melissa Brookes, owner and founder of Indhi Designs Studio, is living out every designer’s childhood dream. She has been invited to showcase her unique designs on the ramps of London Fashion Week (LFW) next week. Known for her ‘curve-friendly’ designs, she will be among top international designers showcasing at LFW this month.
The Indhi Designs Studio clothing brand was established after she returned home from working in retail in Ireland. Her frustrations of not finding anything that fits her ‘mom body’ pushed her to start designing clothes for the curvier woman, like herself.
Although many retailers are carrying lines for the fuller figured woman, there aren’t many clothes that cater for shorter and more curvier women nor those with ‘a little extra’ in specific areas. Brookes saw the need and created her brain-child, Indhi Designs Studio. Before opening up her own little studio in Diep River, she sold her designs from her lounge in Southfield.
She recently announced a name change on social media, Indhi Design Studios will now be known as Mel Brookes.
Brookes says her designs comprise of three elements, “quality fabrics, good cuts and simplicity”.
“My brand is inclusive of everyone. My main aim is to cater for all body types. Women should feel empowered and amazing in their garments.”
Brookes got her big break when she was scouted by London’s, Oxford Fashion Studio – a team of curators who review and issue invitations to brands with original concepts to present their collections in the world’s four fashion capitals.
She is excited to showcase her Autumn/Winter collection on International runways, and can’t wait to launch it in South Africa when she returns.
To highlight the need to cater for everyone, agency of international model, Madeline Stuart contacted her and offered to model in her collection at LFW2018.
Stuart, a Down Syndrome model and powerful advocate for inclusiveness and diversity in modeling, has appeared in top fashion magazines around the world. She has become a household name in fashion and was a crowd pleaser at the 2015 New York Fashion Week.
For what was once just a dream is now a reality for this local designer. After being in the industry for nine years, she advises other local designers to dream big.
“If you love what you do, stay at it. It is important to believe in your product. There are thousands of designers out there, so make sure your work is different. Let your brand have a point of view. ”
Locals living abroad, can view Brookes’ Autumn/Winter collection on the ramps in Devonshire Square, London at 7pm on Saturday, 17 February. Fashion enthusiast on local soil can view some of her work by visiting her website http://www.melbrookes.co.za or https://www.facebook.com/indhidesign
Local is really Lekker.
Picture: Supplied and Facebook