Nailah Lymus wearing one of her designs. Photo by Ely Kay of emkphoto1.

Inspired by her love for all things vintage and the whimsical power of femininity, Nailah Lymus presented a collection at Fash∙ion which brought to life retro silhouettes with modern cuts.  However, upon speaking to her, it became obvious that her personal life is evident in everything she creates.

As a modern Muslim woman, Lymus makes sure that her original looks pay homage to her culture and beliefs.  Living her life as a covered Muslim, the designer says she would wear all of her designs, although sometimes she feels the need to “Islamify” them.  She says that while her designs are considered “modest” by modern standards, she’s seen many other designers going towards a more modest look.  She works a lot with hoods and layering, while keeping the pieces wearable.  A mother of a four year old child, she aims to create pieces that are quick and easy to throw on.  Lymus likes to keep things simple and versatile so they’ll last through the stages of life.

While most of her designs evoke a feeling of vintage feminine style, Lymus chose Sonic Eclectic’s show to show her first men’s piece.  She was inspired by her model – whom she’d worked with numerous times in the past – and created a hooded duster specifically for him, influenced by styles typically seen in Anime.

In addition to being a very personal designer, Lymus was incredibly hands on in all aspects of the show; helping to set the stage, organize the models in the dressing area, and whatever else needed to be done.  It is clear that her eclectic past makes her a versatile, hard working woman.  As a child, she was drawn to gemstones and recalls making jewelry when she was as young as seven years old.  As a teenager, she worked as a beautician.  However, unlike many of her contemporaries, she did not go on study fashion in college.  She actually attended school for pediatrics.  During this time, she did an internship at a boutique and began to recognize that fashion was her true calling.  She eventually managed that boutique until about six years ago when she began to focus on her own designs.

In addition to being shown at the Plitzs Fashion Week Show alongside the rest of the designers from Fash∙ion, Lymus also had a line of headpieces shown at NYC Couture Fashion Week.  She was elated to be invited to participate in Sonic Eclectic’s show, which she described as very collaborative.  She explained that this show was about more than just showcasing their designs.  It was catered to them as individuals and allowed them to tell their stories.

For more information on Nailah Lymus and her line Amirah Creations, please visit www.amirahcreations.com.