Graduate Hena gets her brand featured in London Fashion Week
Designer makes big impression
A UNIVERSITY graduate has already made a big impression on her industry after getting her work featured at London Fashion Week.
Hena Begum, a University of Portsmouth graduate was one of six to feature in the event’s Digital Designer Profile, highlighting upcoming talents for fashion designers to keep an eye on.
Hena’s brand, Modestly, creates ‘unique and experimental’ womenswear, influenced by her experience being a Bengal Muslim woman in the UK.
The collection combines feminine tailoring and a bright colour palette, with an aim to create conversation and prove that modest wear can be creative.
Hena, who graduated from the university’s fashion and textile design course, said: ‘It feels amazing to have been selected as an emerging designer by Graduate Fashion Foundation for the London Fashion Week Designer profile.
‘It means a lot to have been given this opportunity allowing me to reach a wider network of people that I would have not been able to reach.
‘I feel grateful to be able to showcase my brand and designs on such a huge platform and hope to connect to new people through this opportunity.’
She has already won the Graduate Fashion David Band Textiles Award and had her work featured in both The Telegraph and The Guardian.
The 2021 event is being held digitally, with Hena hosting a private livestream where she directed and styled her collection remotely, with further moodboarding, video calls and threaded messages.
Hena’s former course leader, Rachel Homewood, said: ‘The course team is extremely proud of Hena's achievement and the deserved recognition of winning the Graduate Fashion Week David Band Textiles Award and also the opportunity to present her collection at London Fashion Week, in collaboration with Graduate Fashion Week.
‘Her fashion collection has been beautifully executed, exploring unique and experimental techniques using laser cutting techniques and engineered digital prints.
‘Hena has launched her brand. Modestly. after winning her award from Graduate Fashion Week and we will be closely following her success in the Industry.’
To check out more of Hena's work, go to instagram.com/henabegum__.
POSITIVE Sarah Lakey is looking on the bright side of life – and she is spreading a little happiness with her new business venture.
For mum-of-two Sarah has decided to grasp life with both hands and has started her dream business The Happy Bean, selling takeaway vegan and vegetarian meals.
The 40-year-old, from Gosport, had an even more troubled 2020 than the average person as the coronavirus pandemic was not the only difficulty Sarah had to content with.
She suffered a stroke, her marriage broke down, and her dad Chris Haynes died two days before Christmas.
Sarah said: ‘I decided that now is the time.
‘It was something that my dad always pushed me to do, setting up on my own, and after everything that had happened, it was the right time to take a leap of faith.’
Sarah took on the unit in Stoke Road, getting the keys on January 1, and set about setting up her venture.
She quit her job as a school cook at Haslemere Primary and is now looking to the future with her own business.
She said: ‘I have been a vegetarian all my life. Both my children are vegetarian too, so we knew there is nowhere to buy anything.
‘I have always cooked for everyone I know and it’s always been appreciated.
‘I have spent the last six years as a school cook, which is very regimented and restricted, so it is nice to break out and do what I want to do.
‘Last year was the worst time in my life, my dad dying was the worst thing that ever happened to me. My marriage broke down, I suffered a stroke, and to top it all I turned 40.
‘I thought “this is it, life is too short”. It was time to do something for myself.’
Since opening on February 1, meals have been flying out of
Happy Bean’s doors.
Sarah’s daughter Kaya, 15, has been working in the shop, and her partner Shaun Hayes has been stepping in as delivery driver.
The takeaway is set up on Just Eat and Sarah says her most popular dishes have been the vegan burger, macaroni cheese, lasagne, shepherd’s pie and the shish kebab.
‘It has been very busy,’ she said. ‘There’s nothing like having a proper meal. I have had such good feedback. The reviews have been amazing.
‘I am so pleased, it has really built up my confidence. We have had the same people coming in every day, I hope that continues. It’s great to see people enjoying my food.’
For more go to facebook.com/The-HappyBean-176281993922829