Thread: designer pros & cons?

anyone wanna post the pros & cons of brand name bd costumes out there? such as hanan, pharaonics, raqia, bella, etc., etc.

i've noticed i have a small collection of no names, joharahs, and hanans. oh and a bella that has yet to come in. i'm thinking i should spread my wings a little but i wanna know what u ladies think of the different designers out there :)

Bella, Eman, and Sahar I have no problem with at all. They are pricey but well worth it. Nousa's costumes are also great and not so expensive.

I have had mixed experiences with Pharonics costumes. Some of them have been great, some of them fell apart almost instantly. I guess it depends on the style. Im very careful buying their costumes now, I dont want to pay $600+ to have something that I have to constantly fix.

Hanan is really nice, I hate their Dina style bra's though, they fail miserably.

Some of Raqia's costumes are pretty flimsy and not as nicely made. A lot of her costumes are also copies of other designers concepts. I saw some of her newer things and they look really cool though.

I love my pharaonics however they use some plastic beads which tend to lose their color over time. I also don't like the way they do their sequining on the edges of skirts, arm band floofies, and veils- they bend and get all out of sorts quite quickly.

I've had exeperience with Hanan and Yasser costumes that used rather see through material that was also quite delicate.

Raqia is hit and miss for quality and design.

I love love love my pharonics dress! It is definitely my go to costume. But it does show wear and anya is right - the beads aren't the best quality. I have had to make lots of repairs over time but the fit is superb.
I am slightly against emans. I don't like the way they fit and when I was in Egpyt she wouldn't let me try anything on or work with me because she thought I was too fat. I am a street dress size 12 and pant size 14 and have way larger friend's who own emans that fit great so I guess I am just pissed off.
Never tried a hanan, bella or Yasser but I swear by Nousa. She is truly the best. Although she and bella can be spotted a mile away. I like stuff that is more unusual and fresh looking. Not so cookie cutter.

i like more "unusual" stuff too, whether it be a well known designer but a very different/unusual/bright color or a no name that just looks nice.
the hanan that i have, the bra is great and i love her unusual designs and use of color and patterns.
noussas i'm never sure of because i'm not sure if that's "me" b/c of all that sparkle (crazy i know, it's in our blood to be attracted to sparkles lol). and yah her and bella's costumes can be spotted a mile away so that kind of puts me off too?

oh and how does one get a yasser costume?

Originally Posted by zfejzic

]
noussas i'm never sure of because i'm not sure if that's "me" b/c of all that sparkle (crazy i know, it's in our blood to be attracted to sparkles lol). and yah her and bella's costumes can be spotted a mile away so that kind of puts me off too?

oh and how does one get a yasser costume?

I don't like a lot of noussa's because of the beading and styling, they're just not for me.

There's also sim/oriental originals and they are impeccably made. I don't like the bra shape though, I don't have enough up there to fill them out. I also don't like how fringe heavy they are. However, I own two and they are serious work horses.

Sometimes the belly dance store carries yasser; or you talk to amity and she hooks you up ;)

Originally Posted by anyadance

I don't like a lot of noussa's because of the beading and styling, they're just not for me.

There's also sim/oriental originals and they are impeccably made. I don't like the bra shape though, I don't have enough up there to fill them out. I also don't like how fringe heavy they are. However, I own two and they are serious work horses.

Sometimes the belly dance store carries yasser; or you talk to amity and she hooks you up ;)

awesome thanks.
and the oriental origins costumes on dahlal are so gorgeous. 'rio sunset 1, 2, &3' and 'sunshine safara 2' are quirky but cute. and 'celestial stunner'...soo pretty

how strange, i've been at emans with friends that are bigger than you, and they got custom orders no problem!!!

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

I love love love my pharonics dress! It is definitely my go to costume. But it does show wear and anya is right - the beads aren't the best quality. I have had to make lots of repairs over time but the fit is superb.
I am slightly against emans. I don't like the way they fit and when I was in Egpyt she wouldn't let me try anything on or work with me because she thought I was too fat. I am a street dress size 12 and pant size 14 and have way larger friend's who own emans that fit great so I guess I am just pissed off.
Never tried a hanan, bella or Yasser but I swear by Nousa. She is truly the best. Although she and bella can be spotted a mile away. I like stuff that is more unusual and fresh looking. Not so cookie cutter.

Are all of the above designers Egyptian and Turkish?

Are there any American or European (I guess Turkey is technically European) designers that get good recognition? Who and why do you like them?

"Turkey is technically European" ..l;,
You're right... I'm laughing because "technically" they're not in EU, although they pretend to be... "Technically" speaking, Tunisia is more "european": it's so fashionable asking for euros and refusing dinars!

..l;,

Has anybody heard of these guys?

http://www.ateliertonyerobby.com.br/

They're brazilian designers... Any experience?

Yasser I love, he makes them for you to your measurements and you can literally design it. Affordable, does a lot of Dahlal's costumes. He is also a sweetie.

Bella, OMG I love bella. Her cups are actually FULL for those of us who like coverage.

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

They're brazilian designers... Any experience?

some of the brazilian ladies can speak for them
cristtiano ferreira comes to mind at the moment. his work is great
Cristtiano Ferreira - Belly Dance Costumes

and i think Elza? might be another good designer. a bhuzzer is selling one of her costumes on the swapmeet

Originally Posted by amity

Yasser I love, he makes them for you to your measurements and you can literally design it. Affordable, does a lot of Dahlal's costumes. He is also a sweetie.

Bella, OMG I love bella. Her cups are actually FULL for those of us who like coverage.

do u have examples of Yasser's designs? i've only seen one or two examples of his work and i couldn't find that pic on ur website :(

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

Has anybody heard of these guys?

http://www.ateliertonyerobby.com.br/

the sites not working for me for some reason but i know some bhuzzers have had good experiences with tony e robby :)

Originally Posted by zfejzic

do u have examples of Yasser's designs? i've only seen one or two examples of his work and i couldn't find that pic on ur website :(

EASTERNSTYLE-Åãèïåòñêîå àòåëüå - Ñòðàíèöà 88 - Ôîðóì òàíöà æèâîòà

Originally Posted by amity

EASTERNSTYLE-Åãèïåòñêîå àòåëüå - Ñòðàíèöà 88 - Ôîðóì òàíöà æèâîòà

oooooo
someone buy the costumes i have up for sale so i can get me some yasser!! hehe
how long does it take to get one usually? and do you basically tell him to create whatever u want or does he have some certain guidelines...

i looooooooooove this one
EASTERNSTYLE-Åãèïåòñêîå àòåëüå - Ñòðàíèöà 95 - Ôîðóì òàíöà æèâîòà

I wanted to swim upstairs at his store in the Khan...you send him a pic, he tells price you send measurements and demands he emails you when done and you send $ via wire (I've used money gram or western union, a lot cheaper) and he sends. It depends how busy he is, usually 8-12 weeks.

Originally Posted by amity

I wanted to swim upstairs at his store in the Khan...you send him a pic, he tells price you send measurements and demands he emails you when done and you send $ via wire (I've used money gram or western union, a lot cheaper) and he sends. It depends how busy he is, usually 8-12 weeks.

what if there's no picture per se, but rather something you wanted to create based on your own ideas. how does that work, if at all?

Originally Posted by zfejzic

do u have examples of Yasser's designs? i've only seen one or two examples of his work and i couldn't find that pic on ur website :(

This is my red Yasser, and it's one of my favorite costumes: http://www.galateadancer.com/images/...b/Galatea4.jpg

I like Hanan the best-though I'm not that fond of most of the cut of her skirts I like more material as I don't show my legs so always put chiffon in the skirt splits and would like more material. I like her bras and use of colour and there is enough beading and stuff on there so that the GP realise you are wearing a BD costume.
I've had mixed sucess with Eman. I've also had the "your too fat for here" thing with her a few years ago but as I keep going back with different groups/people every year she's gotten over that a bit and she does have some "larger" costumes now anyway.
I've always found the quality at Yassers shop not be not very good and his prices are about the same as Hanans which are far better.

i have several "old style" hannans that are me and my dance company's work horses. and beautifull work horses they are. of all my costumes they've also gotten the most abusre (been worn by several dancers, resized, been stacked in handbags for last minute bellygrams et), and they STILL loook good. easy to put on and off quickly, and beautifull fabrics that arent too delicate.

but, for stage shows, i tend to go for the emans and pharaonics. and their added bling/style/uniqueness.
the new hannans have the extra bling as well, but somehow the new style bra's dont look good on me (boops under my chin), i've seen other dancers that look fab in them though, so i guess it depends on body style

my nicest emans,... are very very delicate, and i dont think they'll live that long. but they're not meant to be workhorses...

bella's come in both categories: workhoses and amazing stage costumes... depends what you wanna spend. very very sturdy and great quality. i have some that are 10 years old and look good as new and not a bead missing.

Has anybody heard of these guys?

http://www.ateliertonyerobby.com.br/

Can't comment much on the designer thing (though I own a beautiful, solid and well-fitting Shimmyshop original) but I think that SatinWorship owns some Tony and Robbie costumes and has had dealings with them. You might try tracking her down.

Originally Posted by artemisia_danst

how strange, i've been at emans with friends that are bigger than you, and they got custom orders no problem!!!

Eman designed a dress for me and I was size 16 UK( It's sold now but I won't ask her to make me a smaller one..g.:) .I saw no evidence she was unhappy making for larger gals. In fact there seems to be lots on offer when she comes to the UK!
My Pharaonix dress is my favourite and the material, applique and cut is just superb, My Orientalmoon 2 piece is so pretty wth a fantastic bra and lots of material but the best made has to be the Madam Ablas (one has now fled to the US). Friends have Hannans and I haven't heard a bad word against them and they always look good.
I had a Sim Moda and Bella second hand but resold them as Turksish designs just are not me but they were superbly made out of lovely materials ad appliques

Originally Posted by laura 2

This is my red Yasser, and it's one of my favorite costumes: http://www.galateadancer.com/images/...b/Galatea4.jpg

NICE :)

how long does it take for him to respond to emails usually? (maybe i'm just impatient because i've contacted Hanan, Bella and Mercedes and all of them responded really quickly lol)

nvm he just sent me an email back

I have several Yassers, Pharaonics, and no-names

My Yassers fit awesome. The construction is sturdy and the details are amazing. Yasser is also a gentle and sweet man. He altered all my costumes right there (in Cairo) and was so professional.

I have two Pharoanics and I am mixed. One is a great loop and I freakin love that costume. It is my "sisterhood of the traveling pants" costume. No matter what size I may be, it fits. I love it.

I have an old Pharaonics from early 2000 where the construction is not as sturdy. So - I think it depends on the costume...

Originally Posted by amity

I wanted to swim upstairs at his store in the Khan...

OMG! I know what you mean. I went into costume overload when I was there...