Nithaya Somsanith was born in 1982 in Vientiane, Laos, but migrated to France when he was 19. Nithaya has developed a curiosity and love for art, especially sketching and drawing since he was a little boy. He told VOA that he loved to draw so much that it caused him to flunk school. Nithaya is the only son of Tiao Nithanom Somsanith and Mathida Shithammavanh and has one sister…”As a child I loved to draw and once I got to watch fashion shows on Thai TV, I felt in love with arts. And watching my sister dress up her Barbie doll gave me an idea of wanting to draw and make clothes,” said Nithaya.
After arriving in France, Nithaya took a job as a sketch artist for trials in court where video camera is not allowed. Nithaya did well at work, but never really liked what he did, until one day his mother asked him of what he would like to be when he grows older…”I want to be someone famous” he replied and from that day onward, Nithaya decided to go back to school. And in 2004, Nithaya entered the fashion school FORMAMOD in Paris, because he was already advanced in his drawing. Nithaya told VOA that “Being a good designer, one must know how to sow and construct clothing… making pattern and should know how to make clothes from scratch.”
Nithaya launched his premiere collection at a very young age at 22 in the fall and winter of 2005 at Cahors. Nithaya is a fighter and has no fear…he was once told by his teacher that to have a fashion show is very expensive and you have to know a lot of people to be successful. With no fear and a strong determination, he became successful in launching his collections under the name Nithaya. He then did more show and has become an instant fashion icon in Paris_evening gowns with his unique style and cutting: sexy, and feminine. He is currently working for other designers but also maintains his own showroom. His future goal is to become a couture designer at a level close to Christian Dior and his current idol, John Galliano.
Nithaya’s final destination? He would love to teach fashion design in Laos. “After spending years to learn and design clothes, I would love to be teacher in Laos. “The way they make clothes in Laos is very different; they measure and make clothes with creating patterns. I want to offer my knowledge and skills to teach them the right way,” he added. His signature in designing clothes would be…bring out the best of two worlds….creating fashions with very modern style and with a beautiful Lao touch to it.
Look at his latest show in Daily Motion - Summer 2009: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x84p53_nithaya-somsanith-haute-couture-sum_creation
Listen to our audio files for more details.
