Basheva Eve, of La Maison de Besh of Grand Bahama Island
Grand Bahamian Basheva Eve had the
opportunity of a lifetime to showcase her designs at the 2009 Miss Universe
Pageant held in Nassau on August 12th.
One of four designers selected for the
event, Basheva Eve, of La Maison de Besh had three months to prepare 28 pieces for
the show, but only one week to tweak the outfits after only one fitting took
place with each pageant contestant.
When asked how she felt about the
opportunity to work with the world’s largest pageant and to receive such prominent
exposure, Eve replied, “WOW! I felt it was a fabulous opportunity to have
my work seen and appreciated by such a vast audience. It is so good when you receive
positive feedback from your work. I think this exposure did much for my work in
particular but also for the apparel / textile industry of the Bahamas in
general.”
In describing her design-style for her
pieces for the big show she said, “I believe our lifestyle in The Bahamas is
one of ‘resort’, it is laid back yet clean, elegant, sophisticated, unique and
classic.
This is what I wanted to present
to the world.”
Her outfits for the show featured hand
batiked fabrics and plaited straw pieces. “The fabrics were wonderful because
they were all organic to begin with and created right here in the Bahamas by
Androsia and Bahama Hand Print. The straw used to create the
bustiers is from our islands. Since these fabrics were created here in
the Bahamas they have a flavor that could only be found in these islands, they
are born from the currant of our culture. The colours used were taken
from everyday life in the islands. I highlight
the fabrics by accentuating with items such as iridescent paint, crochet roses,
and Braided Bahamian Palm Leaf.
I am an island girl and I took the colours from nature
around me, colours I love that caress the eyes and are appealing on the
complexion.”
Outfits designed by La Maison de Besh and worn by contestants of the Miss Universe Pageant 2009 at a fashion show featuring Bahamian Designs held at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort on August 12th. Photos: Tim Aylen for the Associated Press
When asked about her experience of working with the pageant and the contestants
Eve said, “I met with the contestants with my marketing director Rolanda Epstein for the
fittings and our experience was very pleasant. The ladies that we were
sent were absolutely beautiful, with perfect bodies and were very
personable. As each lady left, there were hugs and invitations to
exchange visits to each other’s home countries. I would not want to be a
judge at this pageant, as all of these ladies were at their best.”
With representation in Nassau and Freeport, Besh
creates truly unique garments and accessories for men and women, under the
label La Bonne Vie Bahamas. Her philosophy is to design and manufacture clothes
that inspire people to enjoy the magnificence of their inner beauty while
transforming their image to an elegant, engaging one; and to create brands of
style and enduring sophistication, while promoting respect for positive social
and environmental issues
.
Besh has designed for some of the Bahamas’
most influential people. Among the many she has designed bridal ensembles
for the daughter of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, many National and
International Beauty Queens such as prospective Miss World and Miss Universe.
“I design clothes that work for the
individual; to me this is a must! It’s about the personal relationship I
have with you, my client, getting to know who you really are, that when you
wear one of my garments it makes you feel you are absolutely “The Most Beautiful
Person in the Whole World.”
In addition,
high profile and prominent business people alike seek out her modern designs of
eye-catching gowns and elegant suits, which are so very haute couture.
There’s much
more to come from Basheva Eve, as she will be opening her new store this fall
in Freeport, and as a creative mind, she has many more surprises in store.
Swimsuits designed by La Maison de Besh and worn by contestants of the Miss Universe Pageant 2009 at a fashion show featuring Bahamian Designs held at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort on August 12th. Photos: Tim Aylen for the Associated Press
Basheva Eve Achievements:
Graduate of
Bauder Fashion College
1981…
Designer of the year… Overall winner
1993…Quality
Fabrics Fashion Committee “Designer of the Year “Awards…Best Wedding attire and
Overall winner
1997…Quality
Fabrics Fashion Committee “Designer of the Year, the Best of the Best”…won six
of seven categories… Overall winner
Title holder
for the Quality Fabrics Fashion Committee’s “Most Outstanding Fashion Designer
of the Bahamas”
Designed wardrobes
for many Beauty Queens going off to international Pageants.
Worked in
wardrobe for the feature movie “Zeus and Roxanne”.
Braided
Bahamian Palm Leaf Apparel exhibited and listed in the Grand Bahama Revisited Museum
Exhibit and catalog, Commemorating 30th anniversary of independence Of
the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Volunteered as a Sewing and Pattern Making instructor at the Lucaya Urban Renewal
Centre.
Executive board member of both the Pineridge Community Leadership Association
and
the Susan J. Wallace Community
Centre, where she demonstrates her commitment to uplifting and empowering the
residents of her constituency to be healthier and more self sufficient.
Basheva Eve (right) walks the catwalk after her designs were featured at the Miss Universe Pageant 2009 fashion show held at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort on August 12th. Photo: Vaughn Scriven
