Amel Naimy

Amel Naimy,  32

Founder and Fashion Designer,                                                                                                                                                                                                             Amel Naimy
Paris, France

Many little girls dream about being a top model. Amel Naimy has far exceeded most little girls’ dreams by becoming a fashion designer herself. Born and raised in Paris, Amel set up A.M.E.L.in 2003 At the time, she had no idea how successful she’d become but she did anyways. The Leader World meets with this active and entrepreneurial young lady who’s got a purpose clear in her head: express herself. 

The Leader World: What is special about the brand Amel Naimy?
Naimy: The brand is for elegant women who are capable of audacity. It reveals the charismatic beauty of the woman. But I think my clients would be in better position to talk about it. I think. 

TLW: From working for people to working for yourself, how has the transition being for you?                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Naimy: Freedom is a luxury. My entrepreneur profile and my communication skills are in full expression. I always had an entrepreneur temperament. My initial ambition was to become a businesswoman before even thinking about becoming a designer. Since then I wanted to acquire a certain maturity and a more credible professional experience to jump into this adventure, which I believe, is more than enriching.

TLW: Do you think it is hard to be taken seriously?
Naimy: I don’t look to be taken seriously by anybody. I do what I like and that’s what matters. 

TLW: How difficult is it to keep up with the quality of your brand, especially that it carries your own name?                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Naimy: My universe is based exclusively on the excellence of the fabrics, the precise architecture of the cuts and the meticulousness of the completions. The keyword is: refinement without which the brand cannot exist.   
 

TLW: What has been the biggest challenge that you have met after setting up your company?                                                                                                                                                                                                            Naimy: The challenge was to make my brand and image known internationally. Currently, I have other challenges, one of which is the creation of 4 other brands, positioned in the ‘haut de gamme,’ i.e: top of the line.

TLW: How do you think fashion affects people’s lives?
Naimy: It’s a search for identification. A concrete example: anorexia on the stages, teenagers in search of a beauty ideal that doesn’t exist, plastic surgery without limits…. Fashion is interpreted as a way of being well and the notion of the artistic creation doesn’t mean anything anymore. What does it mean to be ‘fashionable?’ We forget ourselves to follow I don’t know what. You don’t follow the fashion, ‘You’re a has been’… It’s so stupid!

TLW: Do you yourself wear Amel Naimy clothes?
Naimy: Yes, particularly the handbags, T-shirts and blouses in silk. 

TLW: Who is your favourite stylist/ designer?
Naimy: Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent for his very precise vision of elegance. 

TLW: What is your biggest dream or ambition?
Naimy: Create an international foundation to help the poor. I have another one: create with financial collaborators the biggest luxury Arab group and become the direct competitor of the French retailers like and P.P.R and L.V.M.H. 

TLW: Your passions?
Naimy: Design, art & deco, sports cars, travelling and jogging.

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