5 minute read
Melisa Poulton gears up for the global stage
Nine years ago, I attended Melisa Poulton’s very first official fashion show, an affair that at the time set her up as a Namibian designer to watch. The event had an air of excitement as celebs, socialites and notable Namibians ascended upon the Poulton family residence to witness a fashion spectacular of note. With most of us being starved for events of this nature at the time, the invite was a rare opportunity to dress up and savour the garments on display.
Since then, Melisa has developed a brand that is synonymous with being bold and extravagant. Her signature garment staple, manipulated tulle, has always made Melisa’s designs stand out.
THE REBIRTH
Nine years on, I once again found myself at the Poulton residence – this time to attend Melisa’s boutique unveiling, featuring a colourful display of rental garments. The occasion marked the proverbial rebirth of the fashion designer who, after all these years, is embarking on a journey to Paris Fashion Week, and collaborating with one of Africa’s biggest fashion collectives.
Melisa’s career has not been easy, and she has seen some big losses in a business environment that is especially cruel to creatives. However, she has never given up, consistently putting out collection after collection and always pushing boundaries. Melisa has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Namibian music and arts, and she was one of the first to bring in brand ambassadors to market her clothing. To date, her first brand ambassador, Lize Ehlers, remains her biggest cheerleader and most loyal client.
An emotional Melisa recounted all her past experiences, triumphs and failures while celebrating her latest wins with guests at her exclusive boutique opening.
PARIS BOUND
First up on her calendar is the biggest showcase of Melisa’s career – Paris Fashion Week.
She says, “For the collection, I chose the theme La dolce vita, which literally means the sweetness of life or the good life, but for me it refers to the luxury of life. I decided this collection needs to be a collection which shows Namibian luxury. Inspired by the theme citrus, the collection will have handmade beaded fabrics and textiles made by the House of Poulton using glass beads from Namibia.”
The collection will also feature diamond and crystal beads representing Namibian diamonds. True to her nature, Melisa is creating her own textile inspired by the traditional Ondelela material of the Aawambo, including some Nama-inspired patchwork. The collection will have a lot of pleats, using tulle and organza to give the illusion of a lemon slice – all the elements that scream House of Poulton, but with a traditional Namibian twist.
“With this collection we want to showcase some of the Namibian culture with a modern feel, to truly show the luxury of Namibian fashion,” says Melisa.
SWITCHING GEARS
Anyone who knows anything about Namibian fashion knows that it is a cut-throat business where fashion designers face many struggles in the pursuit of success. Melisa is no different. In an effort to scale her business and focus on streamlining her production process, Melisa has decided to prioritise production for her Africa Fashion International (AFI) contract. AFI is a South African-based organisation that curates, incubates, promotes and retails refined African apparel and accessories through its world-class lifestyle and marketing events.
“We want to move to a space where garments are readily available for customers to come and shop or order items online from our boutique. We want to shift away from private clients and more to exclusive retail. This decision also came with our recent AFI contract which requires us to provide garments to be sold in Johannesburg at their House of Nala Boutique in Sandton,” says Melisa.
According to Melisa, this partnership could not have come at a better time. “I am very grateful for this partnership and excited to see the outcome. I think it will have a big impact on the House of Poulton. We will be able to reach different types of global clients and get our product sold on international platforms. I believe the House of Poulton will reach greater heights and achieve global recognition through AFI.”
ROAD TO PARIS
To raise funds for the trip, Melisa has some exciting fashion events lined up over the next few months.
“We created these events so that the Namibian community can support us where they can and also experience high-end luxury fashion experiences leading up to our journey to Paris,” she says.
So, if you love fashion or simply love Namibia and want to do the patriotic thing of supporting our own designer in representing us in the city of fashion, here is a list of places to be to do just that:
• 28 June House of Poulton Pop-up
• 4 July Gallery Exhibition
• 19 and 20 July House of Poulton Pop-up
• 3 August House of Poulton Met Gala Dinner
• 14 September Sending-off Picnic Party
The events will be a prelude to Melisa’s Paris showcase. Expect exhibition style artwork, poetry and film. All kinds of contributions to the fundraiser are welcome, from attending the events to purchasing from the House of Poulton boutique, or donating directly. For more information, contact Melisa directly on Instagram @houseofpoulton or @melisapoulton
