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BAHRAINI Nedal Al Salman – known as Nina by her fiends – is making her mark on the fashion scene with a touch of Lebanese style.
And she hopes to attract women of all shapes and sizes into her boutique. Nina recently held a fashion show at Ric’s Country Kitchen in Juffair where she displayed more than 50 items of her formal collection, including two stylish wedding gowns, alongside a variety of accessories, hand bags and shoes.
“Often when one goes shopping for evening gowns, one either comes across really expensive dresses or designs that are out of fashion. Most importantly, it is hard to find large sizes,” she said. “I’ve tried to provide a solution to those dilemmas.”
The mother of two, set up her boutique ‘Nina’s’ in Budaiya six months ago offering a range of trendy evening gowns, fur coats and party wear along with accessories collected from her trips to Lebanon, the US and Canada.
“I have been to many places around the world but in my opinion
“The designs that I select are on par with Bahraini preferences – sleek and yet simple.”
Nina, 39, took to the world of fashion after a career working for a variety of organisations including the
“It wasn’t me,” she explained. “It didn’t suit my personality at all – I didn’t have the patience.”
Her career change came with huge encouragement and inspiration from her father Saeed Al Salman, an oil and construction business executive.
“He is a businessman but loves to shop,” she said. “You would be surprised as women normally love to shop… but with my father, I need to drag HIM out of the shops!”
“I had been stalling over plans to open the boutique for a while but then he urged me on.”
With a family of fashion fans, Nina’s daughter, Roya Jawad, 16, also offers a helping hand.
“She is an artist and I feel with her interest and passion for fashion, she could incorporate her talents into designing. I hope to send her to