A stylish clothing line with elegance

BY Zanita Careem

Sandra Love is a modern fashion designer, who has studied in Milan Italy. Founder of the brand ‘Nayan by Sandra Love , she had an opportunity to complete her design studies from Milan, one of the main fashion hub in the world.

“Growing up and studying in Italy was an incredible source of inspiration’says Sandra.

“For her fashion is in nature, fashion is a way of life, fashion is in the sky, fashion has to do with ideas and fashion is the way we live.”

An icon of elegance and style,Sandra, is presently introducing her brand “Nayan” to the local market for women in Sri Lanka by creating a name in the competitive world of fashion.

‘For me fashion is incredibly exciting, since the world is changing, I continue to find ways and means to embrace and respond to new changes while supporting local artisans, sustainable principles and traditions in Sri Lanka’s craftsmanship.’’

She loves to maintain to the core of her brand ‘Nayan by Sandra’ and maintaining the essence of timeless elegance. Creating exclusive collection in limited edition is her forte.

My brand “Nayan by Sandra” is the symbol of quality, trusted and crafted by myself” says the upcoming designer. My ultimate aim is to create an ensemble that simply makes my customers looks stylish, always aiming to bring a revolutionary change to the Sri Lankan fashion industry.

Her haute couture collection available in her boutique are all made in Sri Lanka. Her clothing line has uncommon styles,and perfectly suit the body and skin type of any individual.

Who are you as a designer?

I design for the modern and elegant woman. Elegance will never go out of the style and it cannot be put in a box or restricted to day or night.

The Nayan woman dresses from beautifully from morning to night, and everything has her signature styles from casual separates to formal and bridal wear.

Where do you find inspiration?

For every new collection colours are very important for me, as they drive the mood and vision of each collection to a beautiful piece of clothing.

Usually I am inspired by something I see in nature or the richness and beauty of an experience in and around me, or somewhere I’ve have travelled in some cases this translates directly into the fabric selection and colours or shapes of each design, which become the protagonist of the collection as I work with the texture and reflectiveness of the materials.

Do you have any favourite look in any of your collection?

There are several looks, I love, and my favourites are often the simplest designs that are just purely elegant, or separates that are versatile and can be dressed up and down.

What are some of the challenges?

Sandra

I design for the women of today. At the same time, I want to express my originality and define my unique design style. This is my biggest challenge. There is a constant need to come up with new themes and ideas to design the next collection. This is the most enjoyable part the job as a designer.

If you can describe yourself what would they be and why?

Determined, creative and loving – you have to be determined to stick to business like this which is so demanding and has many failures and successes.Creativity is an obvious need to work as a designer and challenging to stay creative all the time as your brands develops and gains popularity. Apart from my work my family is the most important thing in my life as they take the first priority, my husband is the pillar of my success. He has given all the encouragement for my business.

How would you compare your brand to others?

It is really vital in the fashion industry to have a clean idea of the niche you are working.

Nyan is an affordable designer brand focussed in making the Nayan customers feel confident and express their unique personally. I have a huge focus on quality and finding unique fabrics to stand out from others brands is my main aim.In the end it is a unique expression of style and is clearly reflect a different style than other brands.

On request we customise your dream ensembles to suit your style exclusively for you

What next for Sandra ?

She wants to expand internationally and make her brand to grow and evolve. The core of her business is to maintain the outstanding quality of this “Made in Sri Lanka” tradition.

You need to keep your face looking good at all times and the best way to do it is to make use of homemade remedies.This week let’s do it with Papaya and Honey.

You need to mash ½ cup of ripe papaya until it becomes a smooth paste.Next, add 01 tablespoon of honey into the papaya paste and make sure that the honey is well incorporated.

Before applying this mask, cleanse your face. You need to start with clean, dry skin. Use your regular cleanser to remove any makeup, dirt, or oils.Now, using clean fingers, or a mask applicator, apply the mixture evenly to your face and neck. Avoid the eye area.

Gently massage the mask into your skin, using circular motions. This helps the enzymes in the papaya to penetrate.Once you have done the needful, relax and let the mask sit on your skin for 15-20 minutes. This allows the ingredients to work their magic.

After 15-20 minutes, rinse the mask off with cool water. You can also use a soft washcloth to gently remove the mask in circular motions.Pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Follow up with your favourite moisturizer to lock in hydration.

Remember, the natural enzymes in papaya gently exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells and revealing brighter, smoother skin underneath. This can improve skin texture and tone.Papaya is also rich in vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acids, which help to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture in the skin. This mask combination helps to hydrate and nourish the skin, leaving it soft and supple.

Both papaya and honey are loaded with antioxidants that protect the skin from free radical damage, which can contribute to premature aging.The enzymes and properties in papaya and honey have a soothing effect on the skin, making this mask suitable for sensitive or irritated skin types.Regular use of this mask can result in a natural, healthy glow as it improves skin health and vitality.

With lots of holidays cropping up, we are going to be on the move. Ok, that’s fine, but what about the scorching heat! With temperatures soaring sky high, skin issues are bound to surface.

Well, here are some beauty tips that will give your skin some relief:

Aloe Vera: Apply fresh aloe vera gel to the skin. It helps to soothe and heal sunburn. Aloe vera contains zinc, which is actually anti-inflammatory.

Papaya: Papaya pulp can be applied on the skin like a mask, washing it off after 20 minutes. Papaya contains enzymes and helps to remove dead skin cells. Add curd or lemon juice to the pulp to remove tan. Fruits like banana, apple, papaya and orange can be mixed together and applied on the face. Keep it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Papaya helps to cleanse dead skin cells. Banana tightens the skin. Apple contains pectin and also tones the skin. Orange is rich in Vitamin C. It restores the normal acid-alkaline balance.

 Lemon Juice: Lemon is a wonderful home remedy for sun tan because of its bleaching properties. You can apply lemon juice by mixing it with honey on the tanned skin and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it off .

Coconut Water and Sandalwood Pack: Sandalwood has great cleansing properties, whereas, coconut water is widely known for a glowing skin. Mix coconut water with one tablespoon of sandalwood powder to make a thick mixture and apply it all over the face. Wash it off after 20 minutes. This is a perfect cure for tanned skin.

Cucumber, Rose Water and Lemon Juice:The cucumber juice and rose water work as a cooling means for soothing the brown and red-spotted skin. To use these effectively, take one tablespoon of cucumber juice, lemon juice, and rose water and stir it well in a bowl. Use this solution on all over the face and wash it off with cold water after 10 minutes. This helps to turn your skin hale and healthy.

Milk Masks: Yes, milk masks do give glowing effect to tired skin. Just apply milk mixed with glycerin all over the face. Relax for 15 minutes and rinse with water. The treatment softens, rejuvenates and restores a natural PH balance, thus protecting the skin from the negative effects of the sun. You can also take half cup of milk and add a pinch of turmeric in it. Apply the mixture on your face and wait till it gets dry. Use this solution on a daily basis for exceptional results.

(Yes, time to take care of your skin and beat the heat!)