LINDEN may be described by some as dismal and gloomy, but no one can deny that what it may lack in terms of ambience, it more than makes up for in the calibre of personalities it has managed to produce over the years. One such person is up-and-coming fashion designer, Alana Binning, who, to her fellow Lindeners, is already a force to be reckoned with on the international fashion scene.
Well known in her home-town as a perfectionist where fashion is concerned, it’s a reputation that Alana strives to maintain not only here in Guyana, but also at the regional and international levels.
No stranger to promoters of fashion shows and pageants in Guyana, as she has been participating in such events for almost a decade now, she fondly remembers landing her first big job back in 2006 with the Linden edition of the Miss Talented Teen Pageant.
Not only was she privileged to have been tasked with designing and producing both swim and casual wear for all the delegates, but she was also commissioned to do the evening gowns as well for quite a few of the girls. And the rest, as they say, is history, as she has not looked back since.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Hailing from the mining town of Linden, Alana comes from very humble beginnings, and will always remain humble, in spite of her many successes in her chosen field as a designer and fashion expert.
The fourth of seven children, Alana recalls beginning to show an interest in fashion and designing from the tender age of 11. She vividly remembers those days she would sit for hours and watch as her mother, who was a seamstress by profession, sewed for her clients.
As any curious child would, Alana began to use the opportunity when her mother was not at home to sew her own little clothing with whatever scraps she could lay her little hands on. As is the old saying, ‘When the cat’s away, the mice will surely play’. And play Alana certainly did, as she used these opportunities to even sew her own school uniform.
Not that her mother was a happy camper. “My mom would quarrel with me when she came home and noticed I used her stuff, but then she stopped,” Alana revealed.
Then, at the age of 13, Alana began helping her mom full-time with her sewing, as money was tight back in those days with her father gone. It was not as if he’d just upped and left her mother; he died.
But as time went by and her work became noticeable, she was invited to participate in the annual fashion week event which was being held in Georgetown.
Her most memorable fashion week designs, she recalled, were named after her eldest daughter, Tavina. She was also invited to participate in such events as GuyExpo and pageants of all descrip[tions. But unfortunately, she was unable to attend international fashion events because of being pregnant each time she was invited. This, however, did not deter her from fulfilling her dream of owning her own factory and boutiques both locally and internationally.

GOING SOLO

Despite being a mother of three, this determined Sagitarrian recently hosted her very own fashion show for the first time, in which several of her designs and work were showcased and modelled. These included swimsuits, cocktail dresses, evening gowns and fashion wear. She is planning her second show to be held next month in Linden.
“What gets me excited about my work is materialising a new idea,” Alana said.
She draws her inspiration from the expression of awe on the faces of those who wear her pieces. “To see that my clients are satisfied, and that they are astonished by my work brings me great joy,” she said, the emotion evident in her voice.
Alana is also an expert in fabric painting, and even though time does not permit her to paint very often, she still tries to do it occasionally. “I actually am a free-hand fabric painter, and most people are not aware of that,” she said quite modestly.
Alana Binning thanks her parents for supporting her throughout this career path, and regards them as her biggest role models.
In the fashion industry, she admires the work of Olympia Small and Sonia Noel, and hopes to one day reach their level of achievement.
Her advice to aspiring designers is to never give up and to stay focused in order to become better.

By Vanessa Braithwaite