About Designs by Mariana
Your place for African fashion
Designs by Mariana was created from a love for accessories and fashion. Creating something unique which will help someone to express itself was the starting point. Besides that Designs by Mariana is not only a place where you can find African clothes but also a platform for woman, we will come back later to this. The aim group of Designs by
Mariana are young and trendy woman in the age group of 16 till around 30 years who know what they want or still on search of their true self. In 2003 Mariana started her studies in fashion at the Fashion school in Amsterdam and in 2006 she graduated. Although she did not continue with another fashion education she always kept herself busy with fashion. The concept of Designs by Mariana originated in October 2010. Back then she only created different kinds of headbands from materials as satin, lace, fabric, elastic, robe and different kinds of haberdashery and applications. This went very well and because of that she got the desire to create more creative products. Now it’s already 2014, the past 4 years went with ups and downs as regards to the products. Ups because of the many creative ideas that she had and downs because it was not possible to put it into action due to her current study and lack of time. But good news, because since December 2013 Designs by Mariana has made her comeback as never before. Currently she not only makes headbands but all kinds accessories both for the human body as for your house. She makes all products by herself by hand and with her sewing machine. Besides that, all products that she makes are only available in small quantities (think of less than 5 pieces). Because of that everything that she makes is unique, exclusive and authentic. Her love for Africa plays a big part in the products that she makes, this is especially visible on the African printed fabrics that she uses. With this she wants to carry out the wide African inspired fashion industry. Also allow your world to be brightened up with these colorful products. For everyone who’s afraid to chase after their dreams she says: “Start small, step by step, build your dream in this way, slowly but surely you will see that your living out your dream”. Don’t sit and wait for the opportunities to come, get up and make them – Madam C. Walker
Start where you are, Use what you have, Do what you can – Arthur Ashe
If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to help build theirs – Tony Gaskins
About Mariana
Mariana was born in October 1986 and is from Angolan descent. On the age of 3 she left Angola with her parents and sister and they came to live in the Netherlands. Only just arrived in the Netherlands Mariana was involved in a serious accident with fire whereby she lost 2 fingers. However this didn’t stop her to grab life with two hands. Mariana’s father was a tailor in Africa, that is where she likely got her passion from. As a young child she was already busy with fashion, when her mother put her clothes on that she didn’t liked, she quickly changed before going to school. After high school she went to college in Amsterdam and studied Fashion, she graduated in 2006. Because the Fashion industry was quite uncertain, she continued in another direction. Social Cultural Work it was. June 2015she hopes finishing her Bachelor Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam. Mariana worked a lot with youth and also had her girls groups. In these girls groups she was busy with empowerment and there she discussed themes as self-image, trust and fashion. Mariana loves both fashion as people. Her dream therefore in the future is to do something that involves both, maybe a new creation?! The concept
Designs by Mariana makes unique fashion accessories for the human body as for your house. The designs that she makes are traditional but modern at the same time. Traditional because of the African fabrics and modern because of her contemporary designs. She usually gets her inspiration while sewing, an idea pops up in her head and she decides to make it. And from watching pictures of woman in Africa. Almost all of her products are “Africa” inspired, you can see that by the fabrics that she uses. Designs by Mariana has a fixed collection that always will be carried out. But because she buys the fabrics in small quantities you can be 100% sure that you won’t see many people walking around in the same product. So if you really love a fabric, you have to be fast to order it. Besides the fixed collection you can find “Limited edition” pieces. The limited edition will be carried out in less than 5 pieces. If you get to grab one of this pieces you can really underscore that you have a unique, exclusive and authentic item.
