The Distinguished

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L ECTURER AT the Edna
Manley College of the
Visual and Performing
Arts; Head Sweet Tooth at the
Original Arm Candy; Creator
of the Gift Genie and Plus Size Model, and
wife are just a few titles held by Gianna
Fakhourie.
Fakhourie is fuelled by a never-ending
energy to get things done and a passion to
make an impact on the lives of those around
her.
For Fakhourie, every challenge is an
opportunity for growth and improvement,
and she is not afraid to go back to the drawing
board. “Every new client is starting from
scratch, so I am still very much figuring
things out with every new venture or
pitch” she explained to Flair.
With the change in tide within
the fashion industry, Fakhourie
has embraced the revolution
and is capitalising on it.
“Sports Illustrated now
has plus size models in
swimsuits! The plus
industry on a whole is
on the cusp of its big
boom. People wear
jewellery just as
much for the fash-
ion as they do the
materials. So they
are seeking out
affordable brands to
have more options,”
she explained, estab-
lishing her position.
With the explosion of e-
commerce, fashion has
become more affordable and
available worldwide, it’s
something she fully
embraces. “Selling online
and through social media
is more reliable than a
brick and mortar. That
type of advance affects
how everyone does busi-
ness. You can order it from a local company
and it’s shipped from where it is made or
warehoused. The world has reduced its bor-
ders.”
ATTENTION TO DETAILS
For her Original Arm Candy line,
Fakhourie pays close attention to details and
always adds her very own personal touch.
“All of my services are personalised. In every-
thing that I do, the customer is paramount,
and thought of from beginning to end. I do
custom work when they can’t find what they
want. My signature boxes come with my
bracelets even if you are buying it for your-
self. The details are what make us unique,”
she explains.
However, the plus size model’s enthusiasm
and self-motivator, was tested gravely when
she encountered the biggest challenge of her
life. When she was 24 years old, Fakhourie
was diagnosed with three pulmonary
embolism. “The doctors said they had no
medical explanation as to why I was still
alive, but I knew why, only God. So there
was almost a feeling of invincibility that
came after that,” explained Fakhourie.
Fakhourie is constantly inspired by her
love for Jamaica and the support of her hus-
band. “My inspiration isn’t a who, it’s a what.
Jamaica is my inspiration and everything
about it inspires me. My life is so comfortable
as it is. He makes it so easy and so wonderful
to simply be me.”
6 THE GLEANER’S FLAIR MAGAZINE • MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018
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Distinguished
THE
Fashion
“The doctors said they had no
medical explanation as to why
I was still alive, but I knew
why, only God. So there was
almost a feeling of invincibility
that came after that.”
Gianna Fakhourie
Boss lady of The Original Arm Candy