September 29th, 2015: Founder and designer of internationally acclaimed clothing line Lady Fozaza, and renowned style blogger, Alanoud Badr, has discussed her remarkable rise in the field of fashion at an inspiring talk given to students at Canadian University Dubai (CUD).
Now one of the most sought after style specialists in the Middle East, Alanoud, who was born to a Saudi father and a Lebanese mother, first started designing her own clothes at just six years old. Her exclusive collection of statement blazers is now worn by celebrities including Lady Gaga, Kim and Courtney Kardashian, actress Evan Rachel Woods, singer Nancy Ajram and many more.
“I used to hate the clothes my mother bought me, so I started playing around with them, cutting them up and re-working them into something I wanted to wear”, she revealed. “Fashion has been my passion from a very young age and that’s the key; do something you’re passionate about in life and you’ll succeed.”
Alanoud went on to talk about her designs, how she pursued her goals despite the skeptics around her – family members amongst them – and how she used every resource at her disposal to build her brand and reach out to the fashion community.
“Use indirect advertising, post blogs, develop networking strategies, and make the most of every connection you have”, she advised students, many of whom were aspiring entrepreneurs themselves. “You are you own brand, so find your differentiator and build on it, and most of all, don’t give in to frustration.”
Having learned about the business world through her education and internships, and developed her brand gradually through freelance work, Alanoud recalled her career defining moment, when Kim Kardashian was visiting Dubai and saw one of her designs.
“I received a call from a friend who was interviewing Kim Kardashian and wearing my design at the time, asking if I could send over some blazers for her to look at. The next thing I knew, I was seeing Kim and Courtney Kardashian wearing my designs in the newspapers and on TV. It was unreal.”
Having launched Lady Fozaza in 2011, Alanoud’s brand is still heavily inspired by her upbringing, lifestyle and surroundings, which she said is an important part of her success. “Start out with what you know. There will be some trial and error, but you have to start somewhere in order to succeed”, she concluded.
Alanoud’s visit to CUD was organized by Student Services as part of the Cosmo Campus Roadshow.
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