Ever since she was a young girl, NINI designer Ramona loved to express herself creatively. She recalls painting on her bedroom walls as a child, as her mother believed children should be able to express their emotions freely.
Fast forward several years later and Ramona soon found herself expressing her creativity within the fashion industry. Her career in fashion began as she started working for world-renowned luxury brands such as Gucci and Prada, eventually leading up to ten plus years of experience in the fashion world. Today she is the current buyer and brand manager for Valentino and other prominent luxury fashion brands in both Europe and the Middle East.
Always searching for new ways to channel her originality, the Iranian-Saudi fashion buyer recently launched NINI, her own brand name line of designer handbags, in early 2010. Inspired by her mother’s wisdom, the luxury handbag line features various inspirational proverbs of positive energy and strength written in Arabic calligraphy.
“My mum used to tell me that everything happens for a reason; don’t try to change things by force because whatever will be, will be. Whenever I can’t understand the path of fate, I remember those words,” Ramona says. “I started thinking of how I could always have those words with me, and got the idea of writing them on bags.” Each NINI handbag therefore contains a personal experience within its message, as each message helped Ramona to see “the sunny side of life.”
When asked which of her creations is her favorite, Ramona says she just can’t choose. “Honestly, it is hard to say since the collection is small and very exclusive.” She adds that she especially loves the multitude of colors available, as the handbags are made in modern and vibrant colors which contrast the usual warm earthy tones that are often seen in Arabian culture.
In addition to being a fan of vibrant colors, the designer attests to her love of Arabic calligraphy. “It is just beautiful, and I am very proud of all our Arab and Iranian artists.” With each proverb written on her NINI handbags, a deep cultural influence is evident in Ramona’s designs. She strongly believes in supporting all local artists and has specifically made it NINI’s mission to do so.
As for the future, plans for the NINI collection include the use of Persian calligraphy and custom-made designs. Clients will soon be able to choose customized colors for their special NINI handbags, thereby personalizing their handbags that much more. All orders and special requests may be sent to info@ninilicious.com. The collection is also available at Sauce Boutique at Dubai Mall and Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, Cugini and Pearl, Qatar.
NINI is a “Stylendubai Designer Now” member, you can follow her updates and latest collection launches on our website.