ECONOMICS and enterprise
ECONOMICS and enterprise Young designer fashions her future BY JOVAN JANE KASSAB Fashion always stood out to 25-year-old Oliviancio designer Oliva Rita Oram of Bloomfield Hills. Sewing and creating pieces at an early age gave her the chance to showcase her creativity. Oram’s first taste of national recognition in the fashion world came at age 20 when she won a competition of 35,000 entries to design a tennis outfit for tennis pro player Venus Williams. The blackand-white piece was personally chosen by the tennis star, who wore it at Round 2 of the 2010 U.S. Open. “I knew from that moment on that I wanted to pursue fashion full-time,” Oram said. Oram’s vision was to have her first collection based on a major fashion moment that happened in her life, so it makes sense that the Williams outfit inspired the first three pieces of her summer 2015 Oliviancio collection. Believing in designs that are able to compliment every woman’s figure, Oram loves working with fabrics that offer a bit of stretch. Her designer icons include Williams, Rachel Zoe, Donatella Versace and Valentino. In 2011, actress Jessica Szhor and Dove chose Oram’s shirt design as runner-up for the Dove Go Sleeveless campaign. Last October, Oram released the clothing name Oliviancio (which she likes to see in all capital letters) at rapper Frenchie’s release party in New York for his single “Ain’t Goin Nowhere” featuring B.o.B. and Chanel West Coast and produced by Grammy winner Jerry Wonda. Oliviancio has been featured in national outlets including People StyleWatch, ESPN2 and USA Today. Oram knows that in today’s world, social media offers an easy, affordable and effective way to connect with a target audience and create brand awareness. But with that comes some disappointment. “I have heard harsh comments from people. Looking back, those comments only made me the strong, independent and successful woman that I am today,” she said. Left: Oliva Rita Oram shows off a few of her creations. Above: Venus Williams personalized this photo in which she is wearing Oram’s winning design. Oram hopes to inspire young men and women to go after their dreams. “You are always going to face tough times but it is how you react to them that changes everything,” she said. Williams, Frenchie, Pam Shiver, Talenthouse, MTV, and others have kept up with Oram’s designs on social media. “They all congratulate me, support my passion and encourage my designs,” she said. Olam is active on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. The platforms have also been a great way for her to release her new designs, which are handmade in the U.S. and range in price from 0 to 0. Her YouTube page, OliviasDesigns, features how-to and style features, and viewers are welcome to ask style advice. The channel has received nearly a half-million views. Oram dreams big, and her wish list is to create for such luminaries as Serena Williams, Angelina Jolie, Katy Perry, Adele and JLo. “Living my dream,” she said, “is the best feeling ever!” Madison Makes Sense … for Your Student Open enrollment has started and your student will benefit from: Parents will benefit from our: MADISON DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 26524 JOHN R. | MADISON HEIGHTS, MI 48071 Call us to find out how to enroll your student at 248-399-7800 or visit us online at MadisonMakesSense.com MADISON DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOLS Prepare. Aspire. Succeed. 32 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2015
the DOCTOR is in Fun in the sun – the safe way Summer is a fun time of year. No more cold or snow and a great deal of time spent outdoors in the sun. But carefree days does not mean we can forget safety. Protect Your Skin Being outdoors means putting on sunscreen regularly and reapplying often. Even if the sunscreen says water-resistant, you should still apply after swimming. Sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 15 to help prevent skin cancer, a common type of cancer. However, do not use sunscreen in children under 6 months. They should be kept in the shade and wear protective clothing that includes a hat. Skin cancer can be very serious and even deadly. It is important to look for any changes in the moles on your body because this can be a sign of skin cancer. Remember the ABCDE rule: • A for Asymmetry. Is one side of the mole different than the other if you were to cut it in half? • B for Border. Does your mole have an irregular border? • C for Color. Does your mole have more than one color or is the color changing? • D for Diameter. Is the mole growing or enlarging? • E for Enlarging. Is the mole changing in size, shape or color? If you notice any of these changes, make sure you see your doctor. Water, Water Everywhere One of our favorite summer pastimes is spending time by the pool or lake. Safety is very important when swimming or boating. There are boating safety classes offered in many areas to learn the rules of the lakes and how to be safe when on a boat. Drinking and driving a boat or any watercraft is just as dangerous and has severe penalties as drinking and driving a car. Make sure the driver is sober when on the water. If you don’t know how to swim, consider taking swimming lessons. This can be important for adults as well as children and can be lifesaving. Drowning can occur in very BY ANITA BODIYA, M.D. SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS shallow water. Even a slip and fall on a pool deck can lead to a serious injury. Mind the Head Playing sports or riding bikes can lead to injuries as minor as a cut or as severe as a concussion, if not properly protected. Concussions are head injuries that occur with or without a loss of consciousness. Parents should require their kids to wear helmets when playing certain sports as well as when bike riding or riding anything with wheels. Symptoms of a concussion can Keep an eye on suspicious moles. include: headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, balance and vision problems, fatigue, sensitivity to light and sound, feeling dazed, mentally fogged, slowed down, trouble concentrating or remembering, confused, answering questions slowly, numbness and tingling. Other symptoms can be mood problems like irritability, sadness, feeling more emotional or nervous. You may also feel drowsy and sleep more or less than usual or even have trouble falling asleep. It is important to seek medical care after a head injury. You may need to go to the ER if the injury is more severe or to your doctor if it seems milder. Your doctor will determine if any testing like a CT scan of your brain is needed. Not all head injuries require this. The treatment for a concussion is rest if any symptoms persist. The patient should carefully return to their daily activities and limit physical and mental activity. The injured will need adequate sleep and possibly even naps. Returning to school can start with shorter school days if needed and slowly increasing the hours as the patient improves. Returning to sports should also be slow to avoid re-injury or prolonged recovery. The athlete should never return to sports with any lingering symptoms. Monitoring for any change in behavior or activity level is important. Teens and adults should also follow the same guidelines — start slow and monitor symptoms before returning to work full time. Driving could also be a problem until full recovery is achieved. Finessing Fireworks Summer also brings the Fourth of July barbecues and fireworks. This day of celebration of our independence can lead to serious injuries including burns. Firework safety is very important. Purchased fireworks should be legal and stored in a cool, dry place. Never let young kids play with fireworks. Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or over any part of your body when lighting. Sparklers can get very hot and cause third-degree burns. Discard sparklers and all fireworks in a bucket of water to avoid any fires. You may want to go to a local fireworks show put on by professionals to avoid any risk of injury. Don’t Get Bit These warm summer evenings can bring mosquito bites and the West Nile Virus. Make sure you use an insect repellent with DEET when outdoors in the evening to avoid mosquito bites and contracting the virus. The West Nile Virus causes no symptoms in most cases. A small percentage can have flu-like symptoms. An even smaller percentage can develop a serious, sometimes fatal neurologic illness. Eat Well Summer barbecues usually include hamburgers and hot dogs. Some healthier options are chicken, fish and vegetables, which have wonderful flavor on the grill. Ice cream is also a refreshing summer treat but choose sherbets or sorbets because they have fewer calories and fat. Fruit is the healthiest choice and there are so many delicious ones this time of year. These are all common safety tips. Despite having this knowledge, injuries and accidents still occur. I hope you will enjoy your summer safely! Anita Bodiya, M.D., is board certified in family medicine and treats patients of all ages with special interest in pediatric, preventive and travel medicine. She is on staff at Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital and Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. Visit InfinityPrimaryCare.com. JUNE 2015 CHALDEAN NEWS 33
