“I want to bring lace out of the bedroom,” said Felicia Persaud of her first collection, which recently set the Nolcha runway ablaze during New York Fashion Week. Her use of black and white mesh made the collection sexy and sophisticated. Persaud believes that you do not have to show skin to be sexy. She referred to the 30’s and 40’s as an example of a time when women embraced curves and wants to celebrate bodies of women.
Unable to find clothes that flattered her curves, she created a contemporary lifestyle collection inspired by her culture and everything around her. The half-Guyanese half-Brazilian designer boasts tapered and fitted as her signature style. “Women have curves…I feel that women should be able to show their curves,” said Persaud. “Every women is entitled to feel beautiful and sexy,” she added. Since fit and quality is so important, all her clothing is made in the USA with a showroom on Park Avenue and an office in South Ozone Park, Queens.
Although she was successful in previous business ventures, she felt as if something was missing. “I needed to unleash my burning desire for fashion design,” said Persaud. This desire led to the creation of her line “Bela Criacao,” which means “beautiful creations” in Portuguese. As a child she was exposed to the fashion industry. In her native Guyana, her mother owned a textile factory, so she was always around fabric, seamstresses, and prints.
Persaud designs with the women on the go in mind. As a mother of two sons, former banker who transitioned into real estate and currently runs her own title insurance company, she knows it is important for a women to be dressed for every occasion.
Her Guyanese-Brazilian background has influenced her greatly. “Guyana, Brazil, and Caribbean speak of color and print,” said Persaud. “It’s not just Americans and Europeans who can bring life to a runway show. I want people out there to know that different cultures can bring beauty to the runway.” Persaud’s collection definitely shows that with an electric blue jumpsuit and a printed peplum dress.
In the future she hopes to tap into the Latin and South American markets along with a boutique in Guyana.
