Short Documentary Film Shares Challenges Faced By Young NYC Designer Poised to Break Through in the Fashion Industry

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NIIAMAR…It Is What It Is, a documentary short, takes viewers on an emotional journey with an ascending talent determined to make his mark in the highly competitive world of fashion. The film is a cinematic look into the creative mind and an insider’s view of what it takes to create a capsule collection, from concept to reality. 

The 26–minute film can be seen at: http://www.niiamar.com/documentary/ 

Whether dealing with finances, fabric choices or wardrobe malfunctions, NIIAMAR…It Is What It Is shows that meeting challenges, paired with vision and focus, are parts of the process in making a great designer.  “There are many obstacles to overcome whenever you aspire to do great things, and this is the case with each collection that I design,” says the designer.  Tasked with producing seasonal collections, and the rising costs associated with each, Niiamar sees this film as an opportunity to highlight the details of what the process entails while helping to educate others interested in working in the fashion industry.  The familiar saying ‘it is what it is’ may sound like a cliché, but it is a very true mantra that the designer lives by. 

Niiamar, his line of women’s ready-to-wear, avoids trends in favor of a focus on elegance and enduring style.  His designs have been worn by Hollywood personalities to red carpet events, including the Academy Awards.  As a contestant on Lifetime Channel’s “24 Hour Catwalk,” he impressed the panel of celebrity judges with his attention to detail and exceptional design aesthetic.  An AUDELCO Award nominee for Best Costume Design in theatre, he has served as Principal Costume Designer for the off-Broadway productions of August Wilson’s acclaimed Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Cheaters Club, Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate, and The Doll Confessions, directed by Tony Award winner Trezana Beverley, among others.

A Florida native, Niiamar resides in New York City, where he is the resident Fashion Design Specialist at the prestigious Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy, instructing and inspiring students with a recognized aptitude in fashion design.  Prior to joining the Academy, he served as Assistant Costume Director for five years at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, America’s first acting conservatory.

NIIAMAR…It Is What It Is will strike a chord with its entertaining yet realistic depiction of what designer hopefuls should expect from the world of fashion. The film’s creative team is comprised of Executive Producers Niiamar Felder and Marlynn Snyder; Producer Lisa Chance; Director Austin J. Henderson; and Editor Erin Marie Davis. 

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NIIAMAR FELDER – BIO 

Inspired by the brilliance of legendary style icon Valentino, rising young fashion designer NIIAMAR avoids trends in favor of a more enduring style that has become a signature of his coveted designs.  Those designs have been featured in several publications, fashion shows, theatre productions, marketing campaigns and on national television.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Niiamar (Sudanese for ‘King’) Felder discovered his love for artistry at an early age.  While attending Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, he realized a true talent and passion for fashion design.  He draws inspiration from paintings, architecture and nostalgic glamour to construct timeless designs.  He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in design from Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 2007.  During his undergraduate studies, he worked as a design assistant to renowned designer, Kevan Hall.  He was nominated for the Marvin Sims Design Fellowship in Costume Design, awarded by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  A sought after instructor in fashion design, Niiamar conducts various workshops at schools and colleges on the east coast, including a 2013 Summer Intensive Workshop at his alma mater. 

In addition to designing stylish and wearable collections each season, Niiamar’s designs have been worn by Hollywood personalities on nationally syndicated television shows and to red carpet events, including the Academy Awards; featured in Ebony magazine; and impressed judges with his exceptional design aesthetic as a contestant on Lifetime Channel’s “24 Hour Catwalk.”  His list of accomplishments includes nominations for his work in the theatre and on the runway.  Most notable was his 2012 AUDELCO Award nomination for Best Costume Design for the off-Broadway production of August Wilson’s acclaimed Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.  The theatrical community has continued to take note of his impressive skills via principal costume design work in Sowa’s Red Gravy, The Cheaters Club, Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate andThe Doll Confessions, directed by Tony Award winner Trezana Beverly.

Niiamar currently resides in New York City.

For more information, please visit: http://www.niiamar.com/