Her wedding was a strong motivation to start her business.
Neriona Zekaj left Albania for America when she was two years old, but she brought her work to life in her hometown many years later.
The 26-year-old tells Atlantik that her veil was the reason why she decided to start a bridal clothing business.
A dress she had seen in Turkey would look beautiful only with the changes Nera had in mind.
It was precisely this moment when she was proposed to open her own wedding dress shop.
“We were walking around and my eyes caught a beautiful dress so we went inside and I tried it on. When I had it on, I kept thinking “if only the skirt was different” and “This dress should have a beaded top and beaded sleeves”. I had this image and I got the opportunity to talk with the designer directly. I told her what exactly I was looking for and the next day she brought my idea to life,” she said.
But this was only the first step. Her conviction was strengthened even more when after the wedding, with the publication of the wedding photos, the girls expressed interest in her wedding dress.
“After my wedding in New York, I posted many videos on social media and I started noticing many women asking me where my dress was from. I told them I designed it and it was custom made. Everyone was surprised by it and all I could think of was how easy it was for me and how much joy it brought me creating a dress,” said the 26-year-old.
Well, her business started to come to life only seven months after her marriage.
Zekaj tells how the opening process went.
“I had a sudden urge to finally stop “thinking about it” and just finally going for it. I went to my husband with the idea and he thought it was a great idea, not knowing it was his idea the whole time. I told my mom who is now half owner of Nera Vela and thought “why not”. I wrapped up the school year with my kids and set off to Turkey with my father-in-law. He helped with translation and getting a deal with a designer who makes wedding gowns better than I could ever imagine” she said.
But why did she open the store of her dreams precisely in Shkoder, even though she lives in America?
“The reason why I wanted to open my store in Shkoder was because Shkoder is the place I was born in, We even have a home in Shkoder. So, Having a business in Shkoder only made sense to me. I know how important weddings are in Albania, but how important it is for women in general. I wanted my store to have wedding dresses but also evening gowns for guests who are attending weddings or parties”
The 26-year-old says that she has in mind the expansion of her business in the future, while she invites young people to take the courage to start their own business.
