Former DUT student, 25-year-old Nabeela Osman has made a name for herself as a fashion designer who is passionate about clothes, fabrics, beadings and designs.
The vivacious fashion designer who has since moved to Johannesburg was always interested in making and designing garments from a young age. One could say that it is in her genes since both her mother and grandmother were in the fashion industry, both being avid designers. Both women have always been Nabeela’s biggest supporters. She smiles as she remembers how she used to put on her mother’s clothes as a little girl. “I have had the desire to design and create stylish clothing from a very young age” said Osman.
As a Durban Girls College matriculant, Osman knew she wanted to do fashion. After passing matric she studied at Durban University of Technology (DUT) where she obtained her National Diploma in Fashion and Textile, she adds that being at the University taught her a lot about choosing fabrics, textures and being the best designer she can be.
“DUT really equipped me with the knowledge I needed to enter the industry. A three-year intense course taught me all the necessary skills I needed to create my own brand,” she said.
Her brand Uniform Apparel which she describes as having a “street theme” takes street style to another level. It is a style for all people who love dressing casual but still want to look good and amazing. Osman adds that she draws her inspiration from anything from her surroundings to whatever is trending in fashion.
Her brand has a lot of leathers and sweat dresses. She admits that she loves working with pastels. She also adds that the person she always calls before a show is her sister, saying that she knows how to calm her down and make her laugh. Fortunately, Osman hasn’t experienced any hardships in the industry as yet. The challenge is getting the brand out there.
The highlight of her career has been showcasing at the South African (SA) Fashion Week and also exhibiting her work on a national scale and meeting experienced designers and potential buyers. She adds that it was a great opportunity to put her brand out there.
“SA Fashion Week was like a dream come true. It was the first time that I had presented a range to buyers on a national platform. The experience was a real eye opener to what the industry is all about,” said Osman.
Since then she has been working hard trying to put her brand out there. Although she admits that breaking into retail is not easy, and quite a challenge, she also plans to have an online store, since most people prefer buying clothes online these days, for the customer’s convenience. “I want my brand to be on every store in the country, that’s what I am aiming for’” said Osman.
Her first job was junior CAD designer, and that also inspired her to design her own line of clothes. The KZN Fashion Council has helped her a lot in terms of teaching her about the in’s and out’s and also in grooming her, said Nabeela Osman, whose role model is international designer, Alexandra Wang.
She also advises DUT students to work hard and believes that it does pay off in due time. She also added the importance of having faith in oneself and dreams.
Osman has won the Young Designer Award at the Vodacom Durban July in 2011. She was ranked number three in KZN and top 10 in South Africa. She continues to inspire and be inspired and hopes toshowcase her brand internationally and make her family and DUT proud.
– Waheeda Peters
Pictured: DUT alumni Nabeela Osman (middle) with models wearing some of her designs.
