'It's very bold': 11-year-old designer launches 1st collection at Sask. Fashion Week

RainaHausis living her high fashion dreams.

The 11 year old is alreadyan experienced seamstress. She is launching her firstfull collection a setof shiny, hot pink gowns with punches of black at Saskatchewan Fashion Week.

"It's very bold," saidRaina."Ithas some cool angles and shapes. You wouldn't normally wear this to, like, school or something. This is very formal and dressy and high fashion."

The pre-teen's eye for style, coupled with her skill, has taken her to the next level of Saskatchewan's fashion scene.

Until now, she had only designed her own looks for the red carpet. This year, she has an entire fleet of gowns to worry about.

"I will look at something someone is wearing and I'll just think about it in my head, how I could tweak it up ... put my own spin on it," saidRainaof her designs' inspiration.

I feel like Cinderella ... because I am just, like, an ordinary person and then I get to go and do this.- RainaHaus

Shedebuted her RainaK collection Thursday nightat the first evening show of the week.RainaK is the designer name shechose when she was seven or eight. Now that she is 11, she feelsRainaHausis a more appropriate moniker for future work.

Final touches

Thursday morning, with her debut just hours away, Raina's family'shome on Regina's south endhad been transformed into a studio.Rainawas perched at a sewing machine on the kitchen table, busilycompleting finishingtouches.

A pile of fashionsketches satnear a pink bouqueton the coffee table. Garment bags peppered the room withslivers of pink slipping out of their edges.

"I've been obsessed with pink for a really, really long time," saidRaina."It's still my favourite colour, it's always been my favourite colour. And, I feel like black just goes really well with pink."

Raina's mother LailaHaus said she knew her daughter had a passion for clothing and creating from the start.

"She, from a very young age, started drawing clothes and would draw dresses and the bow that goes with the dress andaccessories,"saidLaila."She's sort of always thought about it that way."

Rainabegan sewing with CelestePinderat SisterCeeCee'sSewing School when she was six or seven, after bugging her mom to enrol her.

At age eightshe received an invitation to Saskatchewan Fashion Week 2015.Naturally, the budding designer decided this would be a good time to put her newfound sewing skills to use. She created a special dress for herself to wear.

A proud tweet fromLailato the event's host, fashion blogger Mr. Fabulous, turned heads.

Rainawas invited on stage to show off her work. It was during this introduction that she caught the eye of renownedlocal designer DeanRenwick.

A seamless transition

RenwickofferedRainaan internship. She said she was able to learn things she had wondered about for years.

"I remember when I was little, I would always be like, 'How do you do that? I want to do that!' "Rainasaid.

Rainatook the job seriously, showing up to study and sew atRenwick'sdowntown studio several times a week for the summer.

She tried new things and mastered new skills, like cutting and sewing straight.

Fashion week has become an annual event for the young designer.

She was asked to present a collection at thisyear's show in late 2017. She says she has been working on the six-piece collection since January.

"It's really amazinghowI was just, like, making my own dressand it was no big deal,and now I am here," saidRaina. "I feel like Cinderella ... because I am just an ordinary person and then I get to go and do this and be on stage and it's really amazing."

A stylish future

WhenRainathinks about her future, she sees a stylish worldfilled with opportunities

"I want to go to fashion school and become a fashion designer," she said. "I want to go to New York, or Paris, or Milan or L.A."

For now,Rainawill continue to build on her years of experience, while balancing school and life as a kid.

Her mother said Rainahas been working very hard to get ready for the big show.

"I am very, like, pinch me,"saidLaila."Sometimes I feel like this really isn't happening."

First runway show a win

Raina will soon resume her work with Dean Renwick.

"For me to see her show last night, two years later, I was blown away," said RenwickFriday."She has come a long, long way and it is amazing. And now she can get her ideas and concepts across with no problem at all."

Raina'sshow was a success.To top it off, she won the 2018 Saskatchewan Fashion Week Emerging Designer award. The prize is another internship with Renwick but this time it is paid.

Renwick says Raina reminds him of successful designers he has mentored in the past, noting her drive and passion for design are exceptional and something they share.

The Regina designer said he also started sewing as a child.

"Most kids her age want to go out and play," he said. "For her, this is play. And, it's the same for me. This was always my play time."