Tag Archives: Washington DC

Catching up with DC’s “haute-est” to be featured in Platinum Health Benefit!

30 Jul

As most of you may know, our inaugural Platinum Benefit is rapidly approaching. In three weeks and two days, Gbomai and The GBF Team will introduce the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area to our most prized possession that we’ve birthed and raised for almost a year: The Gbomai Bestman Foundation! We can’t wait to share with our supporters the trials, tribulations, and successes that have made this journey with women in Liberia the absolute definition of  “cause worthy”. We’ve spilled the event details here and have asked all of you to reserve your individual or sponsorship level tickets to join us and distinguished guests on this special day. However, we have yet to personally introduce you to the people that have dedicated their time and talents to make this event a  success. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll introduce you to some of the uber talent we have partnered with and hope that you’ll find them as inspirational as we have.

In starting our series, it is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to introduce one of the district’s most elite in haute fashion and featured designer for the Platinum Health Benefit on August 21st!   If you’re like me, ears always perked for the the latest fashion news in the district, you may have heard of her. If not, maybe you’ve read about her here. Either way, I caught up with designer, Tsyndyma Kroujilov, to give you some insight on why she left home country Russia for the US, her observations on American style, and how GBF fits into this equation.

[ Editor's Note: With Russian as her first language, Tsyndyma was a bit hesitant to express her th oughts about fashion and GBF in writing. Despite this, as you will read, she was able to give us great insight in to who she is as a designer and more! Her English is superb, aye?!]

Read our interview below:

Tsyndyma and model in Tsyndyma's alpca dress look

1) What inspired your current collection?

My current collection is alpaca garments, sweater dresses. They’re sweet, warm, soft so that anyone can look like they’re in their twenties again. But in a smart way! Being forever young is today’s beauty...

2) What is your fashion philosophy?

Every woman’s dream is to look beautiful. I believe that if you are incredibly happy then you are the most beautiful woman you can be. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s extremely hard nowadays to do everything as a woman…be happy, smart, creative, and still keep up that passion for life. But when it comes to your style or being stylish, whatever you wear just WOW them. In DC, I am around such amazing women who, in whatever they do, are so successful. My happiness comes very much from their happiness…and how their style has impacted that. It is a great feeling to be in contact with women of that caliber, who have made that connection from their style, success, and happiness.

Silk Viscose Jersey Dress from Tsyndyma's Current Collection

3) Tell us why you left Russia to pursue fashion in the United States.

I believe that in America you can think freely. It’s great to feel that here! Also, everyone is given the same opportunity, it’s absolutely overwhelming…in a good way. To understand what I mean you have to experience how it feels without these opportunities. Like how is it is in other countries.

4) As an international designer, what have you noticed about American style? Better yet, What are your observations of style in the nation’s capitol?

French women say that they’re born with style. Maybe it’s true? But lately they have become more conservative while American women, and women in DC especially, are more open minded to any contemporary style. American women exhibit future contemporary style.

5) I can’t thank you enough for accepting our invitation to showcase your beautiful collection to supporters of The Gbomai Bestman Foundation. What are your thoughts about maternal mortality and how Liberian women, women all over the world, are affected by this misfortune?

It’s terribly unfortunate that maternal mortality exists because of limited access to medicine and medical help. I admire The Gbomai Bestman Foundation for trying to bring people together and help in every way possible to reduce this!!

6) Tell us about the connection between fashion and philanthropy and how more artists like yourself can help bring exposure to the urgency of maternal and infant mortality.

When millions of voices support a humanitarian movement each of our separate voices become one voice. Being a fashion artist, I bring Beauty to people. I can be that one voice, supporting yours, at this event to expose and reduce maternal mortality of Liberian women.

7) A last message from the designer to the attendees that will view your collection at “The Platinum Health Benefit: Introducing The Gbomai Bestman Foundation” on August 21st? I’m big on inspirational quotes!

Learn how to make yourself happy, because as mothers we need to teach our kids to live happy too. Happy and healthy.

~~~

Click a photo below to see looks from Tsydyma’s self entitled line featured and published in Washington Life Magazine>>