Meet the designer
A F E R D I T A
Aferdita the example of a self-made business woman. From the manager of a business specialized in exclusive fabrics and custom made clothes to her own fashion label.
Aferdita trained as a bookkeeper, following in her father's footsteps. At the same time, she knew that this was not the job of her life. "When my childhood sweetheart proposed to me in 2009, I started looking for wedding dresses. I couldn't find what I wanted anywhere and started experimenting myself. In the end I didn't make my wedding dress myself, but I knew fashion was my future ."
Supported by her mother, who used to work in the industry herself, Aferdita went back to school and graduated in Fashion. For years she made clothes for friends and family. In September 2015, after a year and a half of preparation, she opened her own business.
She had to start from scratch and build a network of clients, where she gained a lot of appreciation for her personality and work. "My customers come from all over Flanders and this is just the beginning for me. I keep raising the bar and dream of my own label."
The store closed at the end of 2020. “Which was harder than I expected,” admits Aferdita. “Suddenly I had no contact with my customers. But at the same time it was also the start of something new and the enthusiasm was particularly great. Fashion and design is my passion. I shouldn't do it, but it is stronger than myself and in the past period I have worked very hard on my own label together with my husband. ”
September 22 was the day, Aferdita launched her own fashion label that bears Aferdita's own name which means goddess of love. “Everything is therefore made with love”. Aferdita worked on both a ready-to-wear and a couture collection. “Code words at Aferdita are always quality, timelessness, femininity, elegance and tailor-made”. “I have designed items that I like to see myself and of which I experience that they are hardly available. It is precisely because of this that I have every confidence in my collections. There are certainly more women like me who were looking for and are looking for exactly these garments, which are also completely handmade in Belgium. The intention is to launch both a winter and a summer collection every year.”
Aferdita's talent and perseverance has not gone unnoticed. She has already been rewarded by Unizo with a Handmade in Belgium label and competed for two prizes during the Roeselare Awards: Trader of the Year and the Starters Award. "Those nominations are such a pleasure and are a recognition. I am really happy with it.
Read more about this 'In the press'
