Tuesday 21 December 2010

Dancing Dolls UK for SKYRAH KANE

Skyrah Kane in Dancing Dolls on 'Chori Chori' video set

 
Eliz of 'Skyrah Kane'...and that FIERCE WALK!


Reem of 'Skyrah Kane': Make up look
 









Despite my busy schedule for Dancing Dolls, first year as a fashion brand- what, with the creation of the first collection, the endless and on going promoting of the line, fashion show after fashion show and photo shoot after photo shoot- I still managed to fit in a collaboration with the fabulously stunning up coming, currently unsigned, girl group 'Skyrah Kane'.

Skyrah Kane- 'Skyrah' meaning Eternal Life, Strength, Love and Beauty and 'Kane' meaning together consists of the vocal performance of 4 talented young women; ReemAimeeEliz and Natassia.
Their music style is edgy Pop/RnB, a style that is unique to themsleves with the girls writing their own material and choreographing their own dance routines.
The girls have been together as group for just under a year- ten months at the time of me writing this blog and have been dubbed the UK's version of the 'Pussy cat dolls' 

For the collaboration, Skyrah Kane required for 4 garments for their first video feature on urban desi singer Chan Has' debut single "Chori Chori".
The brief I was presented with was simple: ROCK CHICK!
With not much time to design and construct the garments, I quickly ran off some rough sketches to forward, to the group and fortunately was given the thumbs up by the girls. A few little tweaks and changes to the original designs and a barrage of emails and phone conversations later, the girls opted for a sultry black colour palette.

In keeping with the asthetic of the Dancing Dolls brand the garments were produced in black Italian lycra and thick black matt jersey fabrics.
I created for: Eliz- a long sleeved high neck unitard shorts set decorated with cone spikes and 6mm sliver eyelets, completed with laced back detailing.
For Reem: I created 3/4 length halter catsuit with  low rise back and spider detailing at the neck.
For Natassia: a strapless body con min dress also decorated with sliver cone spikes and 6mm eyelets.
For Amiee: I created a hooded shorts unitard with open back. The large hood unitard design was recreated from the popular deep V swimsuit- dubbed the 'Kylie Minogue' swimsuit for its slight simaliariaties to the cat suit she wore, for the video of her 2001 hit 'Can't get you outta my head' (NOT that I even considered that ensemble at the time I was designing my swimsuit!)
The swimsuit the Skyrah Kane girls loved so much they each wore one on holiday, whilst promoting their group in Marbella.

I was sooo pleased with the final outcome of the garments- especiallly given the time factor and would definitely love to work with the girls again on any future projects they have up coming- and was even more pleased that the girls where pleased with the garments too.

The track "Chori Chori" by Chan Has featuring Sykrah Kane- which I'm really feeling, although I still don't know what 'Chori Chori' actually means is a catchy neat number with a wicked drum and bass section and is currently available on itunes now and all good record shops.
buy your copy for £2.99 (5 Track Single) http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/chori-chori-ep/id40854198
To view the full video. check out the link http://www.youtube.com/watchv=Zpr49z5fiws&feature=related  ......and for more information on the events and up coming projects of Skyrah Kane and the girls themselves. Check out http://skyrahkaneofficial.com/  or  http://www.youtube.com/SkyrahKane
 Behind the scenes photography by Jane Al-Nawassri and Ron Lamb for Amir Shah Photography
Location: Printworks Carpark

Dancing Dolls for Sykrah Kane. Check back soon for all the latest and greatest news and views!

Single cover: 'Chori Chori' by Chan Has ft Sykarh Kane



Eliz, Aimee and Reem of Skyrah Kane in Dancing Dolls hooded swimsuit. 2010



Thursday 18 November 2010

The Midlands young Fashion designers awards 2010

Paulinah on stage with pieces from her 'Doll Domination' Collection

 On the 23rd of October 2010, Dancing Dolls by myself, Paulinah N.Eboh-Sampson showcased 7 pieces from its 'Doll Domination' S/S 2010 collection at the 'Midlands Young Fashion Designers Awards' (MYFDA), which took place in the Adrian Boult conservatoire, Fletchers Walk- Birmingham.

The MYFDA aims to expose the wealth of creative talent in the Midlands through a fashion design competition for emerging designers.
Now in its third year, the awards also offers a platform enabling independant designers, such as Paulinah, to showcase their collections to fashion industry professionals  and the general public.
The event was sponsored by Clothes show live, Toni & Guy and Sixty-nine magazine with models supplied by The Model bank.
The judging panel on the night included:
   David Reeson- consultant at London museum of Fashion design & Textiles
   Diane Jones- Managing director of 'The Model bank'
   Alexis Knox- Fashion stylist and editor www.alexisknox.com
   Nigina Akram- Established fashion designer and editor

Prizes on night included 3 designers being offered the opprotunity to showacse at the clothes show livew- December 2010, VIP tickets to the clothes show live, as well a collection look book.

Paulinah was entered into the emerging designers catergory with other up and coming designers icluding, Tamara Joseph, Nicole Gill and Monika Hadjus to name a few.

Although, Paulinah was not involved in the actrual competition, her pieces did capture the attention of Fashion stylist and editor of 'Notion' magazine, Alexis Knox and she has been since approached to to showcase some of her pieces on the main stage at the Clothes show live event- Dec 2010.

Paulinah says: " I was gobsmacked to be asked to showcase at Clothes show live, on the fricking 'main stage'.
What an amazing way to end a great year for my line with the mother of all fashion shows in Birmingham.
I've taken part in about 7 runway shows, so far this year to network and get my brand out there as much as possible, which has at times been a bit mainc and tiring. But to be given this opportunity. I am honoured and unbelieveably grateful.

I remember going to see the Clothes show live runway show, for the first time in 2005, whilst I was still studying and it never occurred to me that I would ever get a chance to showcase my own designs at such a well known event.
It sound clique to say, but I remember watching the stage show and imagining what it would be like to get my clothes on there.
I'd since stopped imagining it though and was focusing on just being a part of Clothes show live, through obtaining a stand at the event to sell my pieces.

Its's crazy to think that I said this time last year, that in 2010, I will be at Clothes show live showcasinbg my clothes. At the time I was referring to having a stand at the event.
So, although, as I fund everything regarding my brand by myself and have not been able to accquire a stand at this years event.
I am going to be doing exactly, what I said I would:
I will be at Clothes show  live 2010, with MY clothing line- Dancing Dolls. I am blessed.
Catch Dancing Dolls on the main stage at the clothes show live from 3rd-10th Dec 2010"
www.dancingdollsuk.com

Models: (L-R)- Miss Birmingham, Carolyn Thwaites, Rachael Appleby & Tara Kaur




Tuesday 16 November 2010

Bimingham Fashion week 2010


On the 9th October 2010, Dancing Dolls clothing by Paulinah N. Eboh-Sampson showcased its full S/S '10 collection 'Doll Domination' @ Birmingham fashion week, which took place at Oceana, Hurst street-Birmingham.
The 17 piece collection was modelled by 6 stunning models: Yanique Gordon, Katherine Thompson, Lauren Nicole Henry, Sophia Coker, Riana Machodo and Gitte Kabai- each individually sourced by the designer to represent the label at the event.

It was the first runway show, in which the designer Paulinah had full creative control over the showcasing of her collection,
With the complete selection process being entirely devised by herself, from the music, hair & make up right down to the accessories and the walk on formation.
Paulinah says: "I was extremely excited about being a part of BFW for a number of reasons, firstly as it was the 1st time Birmingham had ever hosted such an event and as an independant designer, living and working in Birimngham. It was an honour to be a part of it. And also, it was the first chance for me to present my collection exactly as I had envisioned it".

The intimate event was created/organised by Ashleigh-Shervon Asha, a petite working Birmingham based model, whose vision was to put on a fashioin showcase where all models -both petite and otherwise, were enabled to participate in the presentation of the collections by local and independant designers from across the West Midlands and the UK, including Aimee Kight, Julian Trivedi, London based Alex Seorge, leather designer-Emma Curtis, corset & lingerie designer-Nicole Gill to name a few, as well, of course as Paulinah N.E.S for Dancing Dolls.
It was filmed by Brit Asia TV, with a number of Birmingham based magazine companies and photographers in attendance.
Ashleigh teamed up with top Midland choreographer, Jay Mistry to bring her vision to life.

Hair styling on the day was supplyed by 'Puro' hair and make up looks provided by an array of independant make up artists, including Fiona Mayo, who worked closely with Dancing Dolls' Paulinah to create her look.
Paulinah enlisted the help of her talented sister, Janet Eboh-Sampson to create the hair look for her collection- a single cornrowed braid around each models head, neatly rolled into a bun.

The 'Doll Domination' collection was opened by Yanique Gordon, in a black & white striped mini tube skirt (one of the signature Dancing Dolls prints) teamed with a black organza bushle trimmed top, with large loose neck.
The final look was modelled by Romanian born, Gitte Kabai in a ballerina inspired prom dress withg one strap sleeve, adoned with rainbow chiffon pieces, individually hand sew by the designer to complete the garment.
The collection is the first full collection from Dancing Dolls and represented all aspects of the brand.
"I called the collection 'Doll Dpomiatioin' to symbolise the arrival of a re-newed fashion brand to dominate and compete with other similar brands on the fashion scene after its exsitance as an underground label, specializing purely in dance attire. And I presented it in mainly warm earthy tones of sand, khaki greens, luxurious creams & gold with accents of gentle pink and nude hues- 'The dolls have landed....!"
For more information about the collection and the brand or to make a purchase. Check out the website www.dancingdollsuk.com.