By Lisa Hamilton
PROMINENT fashion designer, Sonia Noel, added yet another accolade to her collection, as the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honoured her for celebrating 20 years in the Fashion industry.

Sponsoring the award is Freeholder President of Essex County, Britnee Timberlake, one of the youngest black Presidents in the United States in her capacity.
Giving awards to positive community groups, organisations and individuals is one of the many responsibilities of the District 3 Freeholder

The award was delivered in person by Legislative Aide for Essex County, Ira Lewis, who said that the recognition is the highest that one can achieve in the state of Newark, New Jersey.

“For her to be able to get this recognition from Freeholder President, Britnee Timberlake, is outstanding,” Lewis told the Buzz. “She had to be doing something outstanding because they normally don’t just give an award, they make sure they watch you, they follow you on social media, they go into your history before they decide to do a resolution like this.”

Noel was indeed handpicked, for when she visited the garden state in May to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence, Timberlake observed that she was a leader and an ambassador and therefore resolved to acknowledge the designer for her work.

Coming from a small-town with Amerindian roots, Sonia Noel is described by the body as a passionate, industrious, creative artist with a fresh new-world perspective on style.
The fashion guru has over the years founded several organisations and initiatives including Women’s Association for Sustainable Development, Guyana Model Search Designer Portfolio, the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts, the Women in Business Expo and Guyana Fashion Week.

“For them to actually notice my work and to acknowledge something that I am doing, something that contributes positively to society, I’m ecstatic, I’m really ecstatic,” Noel expressed in acceptance of the award.
“I think this award is not only just for me but for people out there who are really trying to make a difference in the world,” she said.

The philanthropist said that, although she has not yet achieved a quarter of the plans she has in store, she will continue to use the platform of fashion to inspire lives.

This period also marks the launch of Noel’s book, ‘Living with Intention’, a piece which intends to impart to readers: determination, faith, focus, self-discipline and consistency to make any goal a reality.

“A lot of people, I wouldn’t get to meet in person but I can still inspire them through my stories, through my work,” Sonia commented, “That’s why I don’t ask kids anymore ‘what do you want to be’ [I ask] What do you want to do? Because in the doing you become.”
Lewis, also a fellow Guyanese, recommended Noel’s new book and remarked that as the fashion designer continues to position her brand for international success, she simultaneously represents Guyana.

“We commend Sonia for everything that she’s doing because I think that she’s putting Guyana on the map, through her clothing, her designs, her passion and now with ‘Living with Intentions’, her book,” Lewis said proudly.

“As a young woman from Guyana and [she is] doing all these kinds of different designs and I think it’s well deserved for her to be recognised by the best.”
Noel accepted the accolade on Tuesday, 5 December at her ‘Makin’ Style Boutique’ at the Court Yard Mall on Robb Street, Georgetown.