N. Murray Designs
After 12 years of designing elegant and exceptional bridal wear, evening gowns and ready-to-wear clothing for women, the Creative Director of N. Murray Designs, 30-year-old Naomi Murray, is ready to enter the men’s world.
This fashion designer would be hosting her first fashion show, wherein she would also debut her first men’s ready-to-wear clothing line. It is slated for April 13 at the Herdmanston Lodge in Queenstown, Georgetown, and some 23 local models would be gracing the runway in a dazzling display of elegance and enchantment with the aim of captivating the hearts and minds of fashion enthusiasts.
Local designers Francois Designs and Nachle Designs are collaborating with N. Murray Designs to achieve this goal of expansion in a way that is modern and modest. In an interview with Guyana Times, Murray noted that, despite not having a theme, the event is inspired by her love for fashion and culture.
When asked about the shift to designing men’s wear, she explained that one of the goals of her brand this year is to transfer to men the same level of empowerment and confidence she has helped women acquire through stylish clothing. According to Murray, the demand for dynamic and daring men’s ensembles is vast, and given that N. Murray Designs is one of the leading fashion brands in Guyana, she felt compelled to answer the call.
“Each category, which are: Bridal Wear, Pageantry and Evenings Gowns, as well as Ready-to-Wear Collection, will have twenty pieces displayed, but the other designers will be having approximately eight to twelve pieces on display,” she divulged. “It’s actually been a great demand by men for us to actually extend the line by having gents’ wear, because they don’t want to be left out, they want to look good too, so I definitely had to add it to the line of designs,” Murray explained.
With the stage setting, Murray has many plans in store for her brand, and the fashion industry as a whole. Those include annual hosting of the fashion show and aspirations to participate in similar events regionally and internationally. Admittedly, however, Guyana’s fashion industry has ‘some way to go’ as they say, when it comes to the type of development that Murray is aiming to achieve.
“Over the years, the brand, and me being behind the brand — I haven’t really participated in fashion shows; I have once in Suriname, and I have also taken part in Orange the Runway — we do hope to actually have it (the fashion show) being done as a yearly event, but as well for the brand, we do hope to take it regionally and internationally,” Murray explained.
