Nubia Williams is a fashion design company specializing in custom "wearable art" womenswear. Our design philosophy is to make every woman look and feel her best with designs that cater to her lifestyle. Comfort, confidence, and style are our mission. The Nubia Williams aesthetic incorporates architecture, exoticism, and bold color to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
ubia Williams designs to make the garments work for the woman, not make the woman work for the garments.
www.nubia-williams.com
Latest Collection: Wildest Dream
6 - What helped promote your career in Fashion Design?
I first discovered my love for fashion design when I was a little girl attending special creative events with my mother. I wanted to get home as soon as possible to illustrate the fancy outfits of the night. I began doing fashion collages and once I started being commissioned by women to do more, I realized I was destined to be a womenswear designer. That's when I began taking sewing classes, constantly sketching, and studying to make that a reality.
5 - Which designer would you like the opportunity to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with the womenswear designer, Duro Olowu. I respect his love of culture and art and the way he captures that in his designs. He not only embraces vibrant prints and colors but veers away from trends and boundaries. My professors at Parsons used to tell me my design aesthetic would be greatly appreciated in London so, this collaboration might have to happen in the future.
4 - Who inspires you the most in fashion?
For me, the answer is not who but, what. Cultural diversity, art, and stories inspire me the most. I'm always looking for more than just a reference or icon but a story I can start with and translate through my own design aesthetic. I try not to become so consumed with looking at magazines and runway shows to avoid unintentionally replicating something I've seen. It's essential to stay up-to date with the changes in the industry however, naturally you begin designing what you've seen.
3 - How do you balance creativity with commerce?
It can be very difficult trying to balance the two, especially when your intention is to illustrate stories. For my collections, I simply include both commercial and conceptual pieces. Buyers will buy what's trending so if you want to sell, you must give them what they want which is a simplified, streamlined version in the season's color, at the appropriate price point. I've found that women have the desire to stand out however, still prefer to buy what's "commercially acceptable." When the goal is to create art, I create art, and when the goal is to make money, I design to do so.
2 - What kind of feedback have you been receiving on your latest collection? How has the 2015/2016 season been for you so far?
I have been getting great feedback from my most recent Nubian Queen collection. Powerful, strong, and sensual at the same time. Exactly how I wanted to portray the culture. Exactly how I see my customer.
1 - Where do you see The Nubia Williams brand in 5 years time?
I see myself selling in boutiques in New York, Boston, and LA. By then, I plan to be showing at New York Fashion Week.
