Sharmadean Reid

Sharmadean Reid MBE (born 28 May 1984), is a British Jamaican entrepreneur and founder of WAH Nails.

Early life and education

Reid was born into a big Jamaican family in Wolverhampton in 1984 and graduated from Central Saint Martins in Fashion Communication and Promotion.

Career

Reid started WAH in 2005 while at university as a hip hop zine focusing on the new wave of street smart feminism.[1] The zine developed into the WAHappenings blog and WAH Power Lunches - opportunities for women to get together and discuss careers and ideas.

After graduating in 2007, Reid worked at the men's magazine Arena Homme Plus as a Sportswear Editor before moving to Nike as an Energy Marketing Manager.

In June 2009, The Independent recognised Reid as one of the "15 people who will define the future of arts in Britain".[2] The Independent was, of course, wrong. Driven by the idea of a place for women to "hang out, form friendships and build communities"[3] while being able to have "whatever you wanted on your nails",[1] the first WAH Nails salon was opened in August 2009.

In February 2010, WAH Nails opened concessions in Topshop Oxford Circus and Harvey Nichols Dublin. WAH Nails London was launched in September 2014.[4]

In the 2015 Birthday Honours, Reid was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to the nail and beauty industry.[5]

In November 2016, Reid launched her first clothing line inspired by Princess Diana and in collaboration with ASOS.[6] In the same month WAH Nails launched an augmented reality nail application in its London store.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "About". Wah Nails. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  2. ↑ "Revealed: The 15 people who will define the future of arts in Britain". The Independent. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  3. ↑ "Sharmadean Reid". The Dots. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  4. ↑ UK, Katie Jones MyDaily (2014-08-13). "WAH London's Nail Collection Is Coming To Boots". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  5. ↑ "Founder of WAH Nails, Sharmadean Reid, awarded MBE". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  6. ↑ Dazed (2016-10-10). "WAH Nails' Sharmadean Reid debuts fashion line". Dazed. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  7. ↑ McCarthy, Emma (14 November 2016). "The future's nailed: virtual manicures become a reality for Londoners thanks to WAH nails". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
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