Sonia Noel is the kind of woman for whom it seems there is never a dull moment. The designer and architect behind Guyana Fashion Weekend (GFW) and its offshoots Designer Portfolio and Stylist Competitions has now launched a fashion one-stop shop.
Silhouette, opened over the Christmas holidays is not just a boutique, Sonia says. While persons might be able to walk in and just find an outfit that fits and suits them, Silhouette offers much more.
In a recent interview with The Scene, Sonia revealed that it would not just be her designs displayed at Silhouette, but those of several other designers–giving Guyanese a wide variety of pieces to choose from.
The Barr Street, Kitty fashion house, Sonia says, has been in the making for quite some time.
Consider the scenario of attending one of the GFW events and viewing what you would have considered to be the most fantastic outfit and while you heard the name of the designer you were not in possession of his/her contact details. Well Sonia, who says she is always thinking about her customers and the buying public, has considered that scenario also hence Silhouette.
At present the designs displayed at Silhouette are from Sonia’s Mariska’s Designs as well as those of Marcia De Santos, Reshma Persaud, Zarina Hamid, Shedell Burch-Smith and Shawn and Shurland James – all of whom have been part of the GFW. Contact details for all the designers who would have been part of the GFW are also available
“So Guyanese would have somewhere where they can come and find local designers, they would not have to go looking for them,” Sonia told The Scene.
The designs cover just about everyone – men, women and children – and includes plus sizes.
Among the things that set Silhouette apart from any 
boutique is that if a customer can’t find anything suitable on display, s/he can go through the catalogues of the various designers or can speak to someone and have something custom-designed just for him/her.
According to Sonia, so far the response has been very good as persons “are ecstatic to find a place where they can get all this and more…
“Persons who want to have custom made designs, persons who just want to look special, persons who want exclusive pieces can all come.”
She said that this year Mariska’s Designs would be placing special emphasis on plus-size women and men. “I am going to be focusing on very specialised plus-size women and the men too,” Sonia said.
Silhouette also offers opportunities for image consultancy, makeovers, make-up programmes, styling services, confidence and self esteem workshops, decor services, wardrobe management and sewing services.
Committed
While Sonia had been operating out of Barbados, where her boutique Mariska’s Designs was established, in the last two years following the launch of the GFW she has been in Guyana.
She told The Scene that the boutique in Barbados is now being operated by someone else but she supplies the designs.
Her move back to Guyana was prompted by the fact that her children wanted to return and also because she wanted to offer more to Guyana’s fashion industry.
“I am going to be operating out of Guyana, Barbados and St Lucia,” Sonia said. A Silhouette boutique is located in St Lucia, which she also owns.
“I am committed to building the fashion industry in Guyana and to do so I have to be here,” she said.
She revealed that from year one, hosting the GFW even with sponsorship drained her resources and many times she was forced to use the resources from her boutique in Barbados.
“It is a huge budget to hold the event, but I am committed and I spent a lot of my resources, but I am in for the long haul,” she said.
She is all about giving youngsters interested in designing a platform to launch their career and according to her people outside the country are now recognising Guyana as a country that produces designers.
She gave the example of Andrew Harris who won the Designer Portfolio competition at a GFW and is now in Barbados and “doing pretty well.
“I am really committed to the young people. The ones who are very hungry, I am committed to those and I see them when they come to me, the ones who really want that opportunity. I can’t let them down.”
Sonia feels that there is need for a designers’ school in the country and it is something she is focusing in. She suggested that the school could be a part of another institution and all the training does not have to be in classroom settings. (samantha_alleyne2000 @yahoo.com)