The show and the line
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on February 17, 2016 1:46 PM
Lilian Danieli is seeing an increase in demand for her African print clothing line, Nashona, made in Tanzania.
Keeping up with that demand is another issue altogether.
In addition to her team in Tanzania -- she has buyers and seamstresses on staff, as well as family members who scout fabrics for her -- Mrs. Danieli is beginning to increase her staff.
"I realized, since I was so busy last year, I needed someone," she said, pointing to Jovane Holland.
Ms. Holland, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and established fashion model, has traveled the globe both in uniform and in the fabrics of the world's top designers.
"I'm happy that now I can hire somebody," Mrs. Danieli said.
Ms. Holland will be assisting with this year's trunk show, opening Friday through Sunday at The Village Rising, located at 114 S. Center St., in downtown Goldsboro.
"A trunk show is where they pull all of their remaining inventory, any inventory that you have in the house, and you provide it at anywhere from 10 percent to 90 percent off," Ms. Holland said. (Those who come in wearing Nashona will receive and additional discount of 10 percent).
"Basically, trunk shows are held to create more room for additional inventory that is coming in. So a lot of the things you'll see at this trunk show will be some things from last summer," she said.
Shoppers will see items from this past winter/fall because Mrs. Danieli will be going back to Tanzania next week and bringing in new inventory which will, of course, inundate the entire store, she said.
"So we are just trying to create some room."
The Nashona line caters to each season and is always adding new items. Last year, the line added long jackets for women for the fall.
Ms. Holland will help those who have never worn Nashona before learn to wear the flashy, loud prints and help incorporate them into their wardrobe.
She advises new comers to Nashona to dress in neutral tones so they can get a true sense of how the various prints will wear.
"An all black long sleeve, a black T-shirt or a black tank top," she said. And wearing broken in pants or a skirt that will allow for trying clothes is also a good idea.
"Your favorite pair of jeans, maybe," Ms. Holland said.
A dressing area will be made available in the back of the store.
As Ms. Danieli meets people and discusses the brand with them, they might ask for items she does not yet carry. She then works to incorporate those items into the line the following season.
"We are growing," Mrs. Danieli said.
What began with dresses and tops for women now includes men's clothing, outerwear, footwear and accessories.
She said Goldsboro might still be too small a market to open a boutique, but Mrs. Danieli -- with her line already available at The Village Rising, online and in two retail stores in Durham -- might open a shop there or in Raleigh in the years to come.