Who is El-Bee London?
El-Bethel Ogbonda (also known to Houstonians as EL-BEE LONDON)is a local fashion designer originally from London. She attended Houston Community College and majored in Fashion Design. She is a makeup artist as well as a wardrobe stylist. El-Bee recently debuted her fashion line at the Belvedere, here in Houston,Texas. She will be launching her designer line March 8, 2013. I recently caught up with the super busy mogul in the making for a brief interview so people could peek into the mind of El-Bee the person and the brand. I love her creativity and her designs. She is such a talented young lady. The sky is truly the limit for her. Here's to you, my favorite Doll!!
Interview Questions
1. Where did the name EL- Bee London come from?
Well EL-Bee came from when I was in school, two girls would always call me EL-Bee, as my full name was hard for people to say. They made it shorter and cooler! EL-Bee has now become a personality. An EL-Bee girl is a confident fashion forward girl. The London part comes from my background, being born and brought up in London, I always wanted to incorporate it into my line somehow.
2. What are 3 things that not many people know about you?
A. Ok 1. I am afraid of cats!! Many people don't know unless they are my close friends and owned cats!
B. Although my room can be very messy, I am very organized and know where I keep everything.
C. Other than the color pink I am obsessed with royal blue objects!
3. What inspired this current collection?
I am inspired by so many things on a daily basis. Life is an inspiration. Right now,the 90's really do it for me. I am a 90's kid. Now that I am all grown up, I look back and appreciate women's clothing. You will notice a lot of high waist skirts, high necklines, halters, bright colors as usual! Very 90s. I am also inspired by cages and grids. I love lines and you see that repeating itself a lot in my current collection.
4. If you could design for anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
Wow,that's a tough question. There are so many people I want to see wear my line. I think I will know I've arrived if I saw Naomi Campbell in my designs. First of all, she is the model of all models. She's a living legend. She's tall, gorgeous and would really rock any EL-Bee outfit you throw her in. I would be stunned, I would wonder how she got it!
5. When did you sew your first garment?
Well, I've been doing basic design school sewing classes. The summer of 2011, was when I really sewed my OWN design from scratch not a school pattern or assignment.
6. What made you want to be a designer/stylist?
I probably sound like many people do, but I have LOVED fashion since I was like 5. I always wanted to be a singer, actress, and dancer at first I always knew I would be doing something in the arts industry, I always knew I would never be working some boring 9-5. I knew I would be in a career where I love what I do. I would sew clothes(hand sew) on my Barbie doll around that really young age, I knew for sure when I was 14 that I love this to the point that its a career, I started bugging my mother to put me in a design based school from that age
7. How did it feel having a sketch of yours loved by a Kardashian? How did that opportunity come about?
It was AMAZING! It made me feel like I'm closer to my dreams than I thought, My line is very Kardashian-like, very chic yet very glam. So if one of them loved/wore EL-Bee, I would be more than happy. I don't know what I would do. I found the competition pop up on Kim Kardashian's Facebook, but before that a friend sent it to me in a Facebook message knowing I would love it.
8. What does it mean to be an EL-Bee Doll?
EL-Bee London can be for any girl, but we mainly focus on the young girl, From the ages of 18-30. She must love fashion and not have a problem having all eyes on her.
9. Who is your ideal client or Doll?
The ideal EL-Bee doll! Well BeeDoll is funky, fun, flirty, glam, and edgy! She is very fashion forward yet loves to take risks every now and then. She loves to have fun. Be the center of attention. Very confident and doesn't care what anyone thinks!
10. Who is EL- Bee London catered towards?
What do you want the world to know about your brand as as whole?
I want EL-Bee London to become a household brand, Expand from an online store to boutiques and have multiple chains stores across the world. I want EL-Bee London to be known as that brand that doesn't care what anyone thinks and stands out apart from the rest! I want EL-Bee in the next years to be in every girls wardrobe.
My advice to other Artists trying to get into the industry is, do you, and do what you love to the fullest! Don't EVER let nobody tell you you can't, just keep proving to them you CAN!
Next for EL-Bee is the big line launch for sale March 8th 2013. We will be having another big Fashion show, this one just bigger as this is the official Launch party and Fashion Show of EL-Bee London. That day at 12.00am our online store will launch ready for sale! That same evening the Fashion Show will start showing off the Spring 2013 Collection that will be available for sale online and at the show!
A. Ok 1. I am afraid of cats!! Many people don't know unless they are my close friends and owned cats!
B. Although my room can be very messy, I am very organized and know where I keep everything.
C. Other than the color pink I am obsessed with royal blue objects!
3. What inspired this current collection?
I am inspired by so many things on a daily basis. Life is an inspiration. Right now,the 90's really do it for me. I am a 90's kid. Now that I am all grown up, I look back and appreciate women's clothing. You will notice a lot of high waist skirts, high necklines, halters, bright colors as usual! Very 90s. I am also inspired by cages and grids. I love lines and you see that repeating itself a lot in my current collection.
4. If you could design for anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
Wow,that's a tough question. There are so many people I want to see wear my line. I think I will know I've arrived if I saw Naomi Campbell in my designs. First of all, she is the model of all models. She's a living legend. She's tall, gorgeous and would really rock any EL-Bee outfit you throw her in. I would be stunned, I would wonder how she got it!
5. When did you sew your first garment?
Well, I've been doing basic design school sewing classes. The summer of 2011, was when I really sewed my OWN design from scratch not a school pattern or assignment.
6. What made you want to be a designer/stylist?
I probably sound like many people do, but I have LOVED fashion since I was like 5. I always wanted to be a singer, actress, and dancer at first I always knew I would be doing something in the arts industry, I always knew I would never be working some boring 9-5. I knew I would be in a career where I love what I do. I would sew clothes(hand sew) on my Barbie doll around that really young age, I knew for sure when I was 14 that I love this to the point that its a career, I started bugging my mother to put me in a design based school from that age
7. How did it feel having a sketch of yours loved by a Kardashian? How did that opportunity come about?
It was AMAZING! It made me feel like I'm closer to my dreams than I thought, My line is very Kardashian-like, very chic yet very glam. So if one of them loved/wore EL-Bee, I would be more than happy. I don't know what I would do. I found the competition pop up on Kim Kardashian's Facebook, but before that a friend sent it to me in a Facebook message knowing I would love it.
8. What does it mean to be an EL-Bee Doll?
EL-Bee London can be for any girl, but we mainly focus on the young girl, From the ages of 18-30. She must love fashion and not have a problem having all eyes on her.
9. Who is your ideal client or Doll?
The ideal EL-Bee doll! Well BeeDoll is funky, fun, flirty, glam, and edgy! She is very fashion forward yet loves to take risks every now and then. She loves to have fun. Be the center of attention. Very confident and doesn't care what anyone thinks!
10. Who is EL- Bee London catered towards?
What do you want the world to know about your brand as as whole?
I want EL-Bee London to become a household brand, Expand from an online store to boutiques and have multiple chains stores across the world. I want EL-Bee London to be known as that brand that doesn't care what anyone thinks and stands out apart from the rest! I want EL-Bee in the next years to be in every girls wardrobe.
My advice to other Artists trying to get into the industry is, do you, and do what you love to the fullest! Don't EVER let nobody tell you you can't, just keep proving to them you CAN!
Next for EL-Bee is the big line launch for sale March 8th 2013. We will be having another big Fashion show, this one just bigger as this is the official Launch party and Fashion Show of EL-Bee London. That day at 12.00am our online store will launch ready for sale! That same evening the Fashion Show will start showing off the Spring 2013 Collection that will be available for sale online and at the show!
Photo credits: Carpe Photography www.carpephotos.com
Bekov Creative Studios www.bekov.net
El-Bee London
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