Since so much of Nija's life was her passion for furs, her friends were also her clients. Would her death also mean an end to the fur business she had built and molded in less than four years' time into a highly recognizable force in the fashion industry?

Saddiya, her sister, said no. She always worked by Nija's side and was determined to continue what they'd started.

Of course, there were challenges. For one, Nija Furs the company was between leases at the time of her death and was essentially homeless. Ironically, it was their success in attracting a celebrity clientele that made finding new headquarters difficult. Musicians keep late nights, and major league sports players are always traveling. Both usually visited Nija and Saddiya after normal business hours or on weekends, when most fur buildings are closed. In addition, fur suppliers -- a distrustful bunch -- were accustomed to working with Nija, not Saddiya. And then there was the fashion press, which had made Nija a darling during the past year. Would the magic evaporate? Could Saddiya maintain these relationships in the same way Nija did so well? And could she recuperate from her grief quickly enough to pull it together before the crucial next season?

Thankfully, I visited Saddiya at her new showroom recently and found the business alive and well, if off the beaten path. The new location for Nija Furs is a bright and spacious high-rise apartment in a residential building near Battery Park. Of course it has a killer view, but the real attraction, says Saddiya, is that the building is open to foot traffic all night. After greeting me with her gracious embrace and proceeding to inundate me with recent press clippings ("Essence", "Honey", "Black Book", and "The Source", and a BBC documentary on ghetto fabulous fashions among them), Saddiya said, "It's so important for our clientele to know they can make an appointment at any time. Celebrities will often come in from out of town and only have an hour free to stop by for a fitting. If that hour is at eleven o'clock at night, we can't turn them down because some office building is closed for the night."

The Nija Furs name has grown so prominently, in fact, that now the demand exceeds product supply. "People call from out of state and want to buy a fur over the phone," Saddiya says amazed. "We don't do that. We're all about custom furs. I tell them to stop by next time they're in New York City."

Saddiya is planning to develop a web site to sell Nija Furs accessories, but not custom-made furs.

As a customhouse, Nija Furs produces collections a little differently than the rest of the fashion industry. In May Saddiya premiered a Spring fur collection, and she plans to premiere Fall in September with a star-studded fashion show. As such, her latest furs are from Spring 2001. They still epitomize the Nija Furs ghetto fabulous combination of uptown chic and downtown funky with lots of attitude.

"Our furs aren't to be worn to keep warm but to have a look," says Saddiya, showing off more bright orange, red, yellow and pink fur pelts. "I don't choose colors according to what's in style this year. I choose what I like and what looks good on my clients. I mean, if everybody else is wearing black and white, and you walk in wearing orange, who do you think they're looking at?"

Sure enough, her current collection includes a red fox chubby shown over a mink bikini, a bright yellow sheared rabbit jacket with dyed silver fox collar and drawstring waist, and a tie-dyed fox jacket for men in shades of blue, green and gold. Then of course, there are furs with stories: "Wyclef owns this long, red fox chubby, which he wore to perform at the White House before Clinton left office;" and "we've also done this white mink bolero with crystal trim in a red version for Lil' Kim to match her candy-apple red Jaguar."

By comparison, Saddiya then brings out a cool, honey-colored bleached mink belted coat with a huge back vent, almost classic in style. That is, until Saddiya works her magic on it. She tries it on and belts it properly, exhibiting how most furriers would show such a coat. But no, she says, that's not what Nija Furs are about. She pulls the collar back so it's slung off one shoulder and shifts the belt askew, striking a sexy pose.

"If you want to look like an average person, wear an average fur. If you want to look different and stand out, come to Nija Furs."

Sure enough, nothing's changed here.

Nija Gloria Battle 1963-2000 -- Updated July 30, 2000

Nija's Fans -- Updated October 10, 1999