Interview: Fashion designer - Bella Bambina

Young British fashion designer, Gabriella , 22, is the face behind the new head turning hairbands - Bella Bambina. She started off with a fashion foundation diploma, moved to NYC for two years and now works for Guess; Gabriella is certainly on the right fashion track. Having that cool creative spark with her Persian, Israeli and Italian culture, Gabriella has always been interested in fashion and design. She individually designs and produces each hairband herself, and they all come at a fantastic price ranging from £6.50-£25.00.

Read on to see how Gabriella started her own label, what she hopes to achieve, and how you can WIN fantastic pieces from the Bella Bambina collection!

Q-How did you get into fashion design?
A-I have always been very creative and I took an abnormal interest in fashion from a very young age. I also love thinking up visual concepts both on a small scale i.e. with my hair accessories line (Bella Bambina) as well as in a much wider context.

Q-Tell me about your brand.
A-Bella Bambina is literally in its baby stages. It has just launched on a very small scale but there is room for a much bigger impact. The hair accessories are aimed at girls and ladies of all ages, who want a little boost, something pretty and fun and versatile that can change their look instantly without breaking the bank. I think the UK market is definitely open to a brand like Bella Bambina because there isn’t too much choice out there at the moment!

Q-How did you come up with the name?
A-Cultural influence. Bella Bambina (Bella was my childhood nickname) means beautiful, and Bambina means girl in Italian. That is what the brand is all about; femininity, and making oneself feel a little bit more special. Each piece is one of a kind, so when you buy an item, you know you won’t walk down the street and see someone else wearing the exact same piece as you. I think people want a bit of individuality at the moment – everything is so mass produced these days!

Q-What is your favourite piece?
A-My favourite piece from the Bella Bambina A/W Pre Collection is the Bella Bambina Signature look ”Bella 1” (left). It is available in almost every color. It is simple and chic, special enough to make a girl feel great and at £8 it is incredible value! It speaks for itself without being overly individual. I am also really excited about the hats that will be available in the main collection!

Q-What do you hope to achieve in the next few years?
A-I hope that the brand will grow. It really is in its early stages so we will see where the road takes us. My long-term goal, something I hope to be working on within the next 2 years, is opening my own boutique. G-d willing we will be having another sit down soon to discuss that progression!

Q-What is your philosophy?
A-It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters, in the end – always strive forward with the bigger picture in mind!

To view the Bella Bambina website click here
To join the facebook group click here
To purchase a hairband email bellabambinahairbands@gmail.com

COMPETITION: A signature hairband, a hairband from the new collection and a hat are up for grabs! The top three comments of the month will have the opportunity to win one of these beautiful Bella Bambina pieces.Competition ends 28th January. Get commenting :)