Dazzling Collection for the Holidays by Roni Wear.
When Evelyn Roni Williams lost her
job in Health Care Systems, she never thought that a skill she learned as a
child would become a lucrative designing career. Her love for fashion, her eye for fabric and
her imagination helped her create her line “Roni Wear” and “Threadz 4 the
Throne.”
Williams works part-time at the Yeadon library where she
processes books and does the
window designs. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving
the library held their Black Saturday Extravaganza where she showed off her
holiday collection at the fashion show.
The knitted and jersey shimmering pieces included dresses, hats, bags,
wool and sweater coats.
“I am late to the game at 57 years old. I do the designs for the windows and they saw
my talent. I am so grateful,” I would bring in pieces at the library and the
Library Director, Richard Ashby and Assistant Director; Darlene Walker
encouraged me to put this collection together, “said Williams.
Williams is not new to fashion. After graduating from
Bartram, she left Philadelphia to pursue a career in modeling. She modeled for Jet and Ebony Magazines. To
supplement her income she worked in advertising and in the garment industry
learning what she could.
She stayed for a while and then decided to come back to
Philadelphia. She and her husband settled in Yeadon raising their daughter,
CaeLa Lauren Williams. CaeLa, a Penn
Wood graduate is attending George Mason University on a full athletic
scholarship for track but in her spare time she models for Model Management
Agency (MMA).
“While my daughter was growing up I made children’s
clothing. I made prom dresses for family and friends. I found it restrictive.
There is a difference between a seamstress and a designer, but you do what you
can do to pay the bills. A few years ago
I started Threadz 4 the Throne collection which are robes worn in praise dances
at church,” said Williams.
“I am a member of
the Living Waters Church which meets at the Church of the Nazarene in
Collingdale. There are lots of entrepreneurs in our congregation. My Pastor Michael K. Heath really inspired
me. He tells us not to sit on our gifts, be independent, stop being fearful and
step out on faith,” said Williams.
Williams’ business is taking off. She has had lots of orders for the Wool coat
since the
show.
“I try to price things that I could afford. So it sells
for 75 dollars. Other pieces like the hats and handbags go for 25 to 45
dollars. I like using jersey and knits because I want the clothes to be
comfortable, “said Williams.
Stepping out on faith and being inspired by what she sees, Williams is already working on
her Spring Collection which she hopes to have together by Mother’s Day.
“When I started working on the holiday collection I
found the fabric in storage in my basement. The material inspired me. In a
month I had it all together. Something
clicks and I know what I want to create” said Williams.
To contact Roni, you can email her at threadzroni@yahoo.com or call 267-650-0275
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