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QUESTION: What do $5,000, a python, Saks Fifth Avenue’s City Centre Bahrain store and an ice-cream truck have in common?
Answer: Amanda Navai.
She’s been labelled one of the hot ‘100 people in Dubai’ for her work in fashion, philanthropy and her collection of exotic python handbags.
Her creation of the ‘reversible’ clutch, now coveted by all fashionistas, was dubbed the launch of the ‘universe of python’.
During an interview at Sak’s Fifth Avenue she cut an impressive figure, first by her poise and grace and then by her gorgeous Alice Temperely dress that equally matched her presence. After a few choice words were traded it became abundantly clear that this was no ordinary designer, but rather, someone who held a strong eagle-like focus to become a great entrepreneur.
This inspirational woman started with an investment of only $5,000 (well under BD2,000) which quickly converted into a profitable business proposition after selling out her debut collection in Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, Dubai in only six days.
She attributes her success to ‘luck’ at that time because the colour and texture of python was in high demand and everything just seemed to fall into place. There was a niche in the market which she filled after discovering a way to provide affordable snakeskin products to consumers.
Her original inspiration came from a speech given by Sahar Hashemi, founder of the Coffee Republic chain which gave her the courage to leave her established career working with LVMH brands to walk her own path. “It’s is so surreal because I used to work for Chalhoub Group and now I am displaying in its retail windows,” she said proudly.
In October of 2013, she launched an extensive shoe line in Chalhoub Group’s Level Shoe District which also took off and her name became the talk of the town at every Paris Fashion Week since its inception. She also went on to stage an exhibition in the upscale Satchi Gallery in London.
Although her main business is handbags, she was inspired to start a footwear line after wondering what to do with all the left-over cuttings from the handbag creations. Her waste became her gain. “I am an entrepreneur, not an artist,” she said with a coy grin.
However, the fashion business is not without its challenges and she admits: “When things are easy, they are easy, but then when things get tough your true character comes out. Take this and become better. The most important thing in the fashion industry is to leave your ego at the door.”
And putting something back into society has also been one of her key objectives. In 2010, she helped co-found an orphanage in Africa called ‘Live it Up Uganda’, and is now the managing director of the non-profit organisation.
She also works with the UN World Food Programme on various regional projects.
She has also tackled head-on the controversy surrounding the use of animal and reptile skins. Campaign groups such as PETA, alongside various media outlets and certain US States that even banned people from wearing them.
“All our python used is sourced in Asia with guarantees that the snakes are not endangered,” she said. “There is only a certain time of year when a python can be sold and once that is finished, then that is it. Python farms are in business for this reason; this is their job, to breed for products and in a safe and organic way which is controlled by government regulations.”
Her future plans are to launch a men’s leather line and she has also decided to embark on what she deems her biggest challenge yet, an ice-cream truck.
“It is one of the hardest licenses to get and I want to dive into the world of ice-cream and all that comes with it. I like to do different things because I can get bored easily and journeys like this just keep me feeling alive,” she said.
Top brands such as Haagen-Dazs and Baskin-Robbins better watch out … she’ll be soon licking the opposition.
