Growing up in New York City in the 1980s Nadia Nour loved customising her clothing and co-ordinating outfits with her friends. Back then, the trend was to add a personal touch to clothes, so people got creative and colourful with scissors, markers, tie-dye, patches and paint. With her mother working in the airline industry, Nadia got to travel often and get a real taste of a wide range of cultures. Her design aesthetic was molded by the great museums, cities and landscapes of the world. Nour was struck by the idea that everyone could make their own clothing and began recycling clothing and household items. Graduating with degrees in fashion and philosophy was instrumental in leading her to her current role. Nour launched her first environmentally-friendly eco-fashion show in the spring of 2008 in New York City, exhibiting fabulous urban designs and colours for women of all ages that were stylish and contemporary. “When I learned about the fashion industry's negative impact on the environment, I realised that I did not want to be part of the problem. By producing locally in New York, I am reducing emissions caused by transportation as well as helping to sustain the local economy and manufacturing jobs through my support of the New York garment district,” Nour explains. The organic fabrics are dyed with natural ingredients which help keep toxic dyes from being flushed into the water supply, Nour elaborates. Cotton is also grown without the use of pesticides, which is not only eco-friendly but also makes for softer and more durable fabrics. Nour is currently working on her next eco-fashion collection, inspired by the ‘world traveller' look. The concept involves women putting together their outfits from pieces they have collected from different places they have visited.
