Anila Dhanak
Profile of a Fashion Designer
Winner of Huw Williams Tribute Award for Innovation
Anila d/o of Shree Pranlal Mavji Devji of Nairobi, Kenya won an Award for Innovation at the 2005 LFF Profile 6 Fashion Show. Her success goes back to her upbringing in
Anila had always been interested in fashion. While working in their family jewellery shop, she worked on her own designs and won an international fashion competition. She came to the
She started a company Melanka & Me in partnership with her college friend, Feride Aydemir in January 2005. Anila and Feride both graduated from the
Anila and Feride launched Melanka and Me Label as women’s and children’s wear label. The aim was to create refreshingly feminine and unique pieces that celebrated culture, colour and fabric. Each piece is unusual, individual and beautifully made. Their creations emanate style and elegance with a twist of vintage.
LFFLondon Fashion Forum
Winners of Huw Williams Tribute Award for Innovation
LFF Profile is a trade event which showcases new and vibrant ladieswear, menswear and accessory designers. The event combines a trade exhibition, catwalk show and competition
The total event from trade show to fashion catwalk theatre was heralded as a huge success by designers, attendees and sponsors alike. It was fantastic to see representatives from the Mayors office, Creative London, DCMS attend too. The closer the links Government bodies have with industry the better! The unprecedented support this season from industry shows that Profile has made it onto the fashion books. With a new edge every six months Profile exceeds boundaries and expectations bringing much sort after razz-a-matazto fashion. The days of moody models down a catwalk are over the industry needs excitement with a twist and that's exactly where Profile delivers!
Melanka & Me - Photo by C.M. Photography
Melanka & Me is a celebration of colour, fabric and cultures. Handmade in
At this year’s London Fashion Forum Profile show, Anila and her friend were thrilled to win the prestigious Huw Williams Tribute Award for Innovation. The judging panel was led by Isabella Blow and Gerry Deveux – two leading figures in the fashion world. Isabella has taken a personal interest in their clothes. She is the Fashion Director at Tatler magazine and is credited with discovering the designer Alexander McQueen.
Their web-site (www.melankaandme.co.uk) shows some of their clothes. They are in the process of agreeing more retail outlets for Spring/Summer 2006. They are currently stocked at boutiques in Kent and Leamington Spa.
This is indeed is a fantastic achievement and will make all Pattni members extremely proud of the progress made in the field of fashion. We wish Anila the very best and hope she will take her career to a new high.