Inside Hemma - The Designers

2009-08-19T20:26:00.002-04:00

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Ciaafrique Interviews Hemma

2009-07-06T00:31:00.005-04:00

We were recently interviewed about Hemma by Ciaafrique. It was great working with Ciaa and to be featured on such an innovative and cool blog. This blog is special because it highlights fabulous fashions that are inspired in some way by the African continent. Ciaa keeps us up to date with the beauty and style from another part of the world!

Girlfriend Beauty Bag in NYC 6.13.09

2009-06-16T20:28:00.005-04:00

On Saturday, Hemma's college associate Loren, and I attended the 2nd annual Girlfriend Beauty Bag in NYC hosted by Bettina Lee. This was a wonderful and informative beauty event where expert panelists answered hair, skin and make-up questions for women of all shades! That type of info can be hard to come by and I was so excited to hear about all the great tips that would be just right for me! Guests had everything from makeovers, mini manicures, cocktails, product sampling, massages and acupuncture...What more could a girl ask for.

On top of all of these great treats, I had the pleasure of meeting Antonique Smith, Actress who played Faith in the critically acclaimed film NOTORIUS. She was so sweet and a great woman!

This event was also sponsored by Girlfriends Get-Together created by Bettina. GGT is an inclusive social networking organization for women. It provides structured and supportive opportunities for upwardly mobile, business savvy girlfriends from various ethnicities and professions to empower themselves and learn methods to achieve their life’s goals.

When I found out about this, I immediately wanted to be a part of it because I saw the real need for it. There exists so many men's clubs and groups but not enough circles for women to empower themselves and each other. This is a great org because the women that attend these events are genuinely caring and ambitious so its a great place to find business partners as well as friends!

Bettina, like so many of us modern women, has a ton of great things going on simultaneously like the company she founded, Tinalee Media & Events, Inc. This is a hands-on social media and lifestyle event marketing firm. Focusing on the areas of beauty/wellness, empowerment, entertainment and women’s issues, they understand that successful public relations and events demand a wide-range of responsibilities and talents, boundless energy, quick thinking and even the occasional hand-holding.

Also, check out Guts.Glam.Grace, a great site Bettina set up with great uptodate tips on fashion, health, finance and life in general for the busy, beautiful, 21st century woman.

Now I'm off to put on one of the FAB deep conditioners that I got in my goodie bag! Thanks Bettina!

Hella Dope Kente Sneakers...The time for Kente has arrived!

2009-06-15T09:59:00.012-04:00

Adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott - Nizza 2 Hi - Fall / Winter 2009

Jeremy Scott has done it again...always edgy, sexy and innovative. He's designed 2 great multiculturally inspired sneakers as part of the Adidas Originals Nizza 2 Hi collection. While one sports a unique Kenta Cloth design across the upper, the other features a world map design, which also complements his African influenced dress collection, Tut TV. They both feature a solid canvas construction, and are sure to sell out as soon as they are released as part of the Fall / Winter 2009 collection.

Let us know what you think?

Drama Desk Awards

2009-06-01T13:43:00.017-04:00

We at Hemma admire and support all forms of creativity including drama & theater. We were lucky enough to attend the 54th Annual Drama Desk awards! The awards gala was established in 1949 where critics and journalists writing on theater, give annual awards honoring outstanding work in theater. These awards are unique in that Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway compete in the same categories. The Drama Desk continues to be dedicated to furthering excellence in the theater.

Billy Elliot The Musical Wins 10 Drama Desk Awards to head the list of 2008/ 2009 Drama Desk winners!

If you know any actors, you probably are already well aware that they are a special group of people in their own right. Having so many stars under one roof was incredibly entertaining, whether it was the impromptu breaks into song and dance or the heartfelt insight into the ups and the downs in the life of an actor.

We had the opportunity of meeting some of the celebs including Geoffrey Rush, a prolific actor on and off the big screen in such pieces such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Munich, Elizabeth and much more. Present were such stars as Andre De Sheilds, Jane Fonda, Condola Rashad (a wonderful actress in her own right, daughter of Phylicia Rashad), John Lithgow, Liza Minnelli, and the always fabulous Carson Kressley, to name a few!

BK Fashion Week(end)

2009-05-17T14:42:00.014-04:00

After attending the BK Fashion Week(end) Saturday and Sunday show, I couldn't help but notice the common trend that has been hitting the pages of Vogue and Elle: colorful vibrant hues and designs that have strong traditional cultural references. Countless designers are drawing inspiration from Asian and African culture in their collections this season.

The House of Osun displayed this trend during the show featuring hand painted designs inspired by the Yoruba deity of all that is beautiful, sensual, and womanly.

We had a great time viewing other designer's take on fashion inspired by a culture's traditions. Our collection embraces the rich royal tradition of Ghana.

Kente cloth has a long history in Ghana dating back centuries ago to Chief Oti Akenten's reign. At that time, the caravan trade routes of the Sahara were flourishing with the exchange of goods that included dyed silks from the East. The fabric made such an impression on Chief Akenten that he moved to develop the Kente band weaving system. Currently, the technique is extremely specialized and there are countless designs weaved into the cloth with diverging meanings.

Documentaries: An exciting path to knowledge

2009-05-06T10:30:00.004-04:00

Documentaries are a great source of knowledge. 2 of my favorite sites to watch them are Moviesfoundonline.com and watch-movies-link-net.com

Two documentaries on Hemma's top watch list are: The Secret & What The Bleep Do We Know!?

Both speak to the amazing idea that we humans have the power to create our own reality and that thought has the power to bring things into existence. They discuss the universe's laws of attraction and assert that due to your thinking you attract both the positive and negative into your life. What's more fascinating is that they both use neurological evidence and Quantum physics to prove their arguments. I would recommend both documentaries to anyone who wants to take charge of their lives and is courageous enough to be successful!

Check them out and leave your comments. Know any other good documentaries? Let us know...

African inspiration on 2009 Fashion

2009-04-29T14:15:00.014-04:00

TIME magazine recently printed an 'Out of Africa' spread. The Beauty and Quality that comes from the continent has never been realized or appreciated as much as it is today. Designers in this spread include but not limited to LV, Dior, Lim, Choo, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood, Alexis Bittar. Hemma is in good company and as more designers are inspired by Africa, we are collectively creating intricate, luxe and timeless pieces that will stand the test of time.

Kudos to Arlenis Sosa Pena who is stunning as usual in this spread, breaking molds and blazing her own trail as one of the first and already hugely successful international Dominican super models. It's time for all of us to break the mold!

What do you think about these different looks?

Hemma Supporting Economic Growth!

2009-04-15T12:31:00.014-04:00

This economic downturn that the world is currently experiencing is on everyone's mind, as it should be. We should all strive to be a bit more socially conscious and aware of the economic and governmental decisions that are being made for us. Have an opinion, take a stand, act...that means different things for different people. Companies are no different than individuals. Hemma is doing its part to create economic growth around the world during this recession.

- Hemma supports Bonwire, the Kente village where Hemma was born, by exclusively purchasing its raw materials from the weavers and vendors that make their livelihood solely form Kente.

- Hemma provides loyal business to a small group of tailors in Ghana that work exclusively producing our one-of-a-kind garments.

- Hemma's abroad logistics are handled by its full-time Operations Manager in Ghana who is incredibly dedicated to its success. We are devoted to providing fair wages and fair treatment for all of our staff in order to build a symbiotic work environment where everyone benefits!

- Hemma donates a portion of its profits to La Yahoushua, the middle school where both Cindy and I taught classes.

- In the US, small business is the backbone of the nation, and Hemma is proud to be a part of stimulating economic growth and the enlivening of the entrepreneurial spirit, even in times of hardship. Our local staff in NY allow this cross-continental endeavor to be possible.

Hemma is doing its part to bring not only the nation but the world back to its feet by persevering through the tough times and remaining optimistic about the future. In this highly globalized and technological climate, we are all interconnected. Hemma bridges the gap between 2 continents and looks forward to soon being connected to the entire globe.

Are you or your company finding ways to stimulate economic growth? Let us know how...

Thank Goodness It's Wednesday

2009-03-25T11:24:00.004-04:00

On the elevator into work today a women commented to her work buddie: "Thank goodness it's Wednesday, half of the week is almost over." Before that moment, I was semi-oblivious to what day it was, and certainly didn't compare it to its proximity to the weekend. Then I began thinking: do I really want to be in my late thirties waiting for the days to pass me by for two days of relief only to start it all over again? No!

Edna and I are optimistic about Hemma's success, so optimistic that we both deferred Columbia University, her science studies and my acceptance to Columbia Law, in order to fully devote our time to the launch. I am not too sure if I will solely practice law in the future, but I definitely don't want to be in a position in which I am counting down the days of my life. I am pretty sure that is an end everyone wants to reach, how will you?

Shecky's Girl's Night Out

2009-03-19T08:38:00.005-04:00

Shecky's Girl's Night Out is an event that doesn't dissapoint. Cindy and I went to this event in hopes of networking and seeing how other designers interact with customers. Events like these are great if you are an emerging brand because it's a great place to get your feet wet. There was everything from jewelry, clothing, to hair products. Attending industry events like this really helps to get the creative juices flowing and its a source of support to see so many people following their artistic dreams.

Ghana Flashback - The Beaches

2009-03-11T08:00:00.002-04:00

There are so many reasons why one must love Ghana, the beautiful beaches has to be top on the list. Edna and I loved visiting them, Bojo Beach is one of our favorites.

There is never a crowd at these beach since it belongs to a private resort.

The boat ride that you have to take travel there adds to its charm.

The local LaBodi Beach is great on Wednesday evenings when live reggae music is played. This is where Edna and I saw a giant turtle lay its eggs within the sand. It was like a live taping of a National Geographic show!

FIT v. Parsons - The Battle of Fashion Studies

2009-03-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Took a visit to Parsons Admissions today and spoke with a counselor to narrow down this FIT v. Parsons war I had on my mind for a while.

I told her my interests: intensive summer study for two sessions for the following skills in order of importance:

Sewing Pattern Making Drawing/Sketching Furthering my knowledge of textiles

Here's what I learned: She told me that there are two programs: the Summer Intensive or the AAS Certificate Program. The Summer Intensive is more conceptual with courses touching on Fashion Concepts and Sketching, not focusing on anything else on my list. The AAS Certificate program has a course that does Sewing, Pattern Making, but it is one course that touches on both, not an intensive study to learn and fine tune skills. I told her about Hemma, and my completion of NYU and that I just needed professional skills. Then said she honestly told me FIT is a better fit for my needs. The Parsons programs offered for the summer are more conceptual and combine the areas that I am interested in, they are not as straight to the point.

Now a trip to FIT is needed to confirm my choice, I'll tell you all about it soon!

Hemma's Must Reads

2009-02-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

Not to be confused with the infamous Oprah's bookclub, this is the first edition of Hemma's Must Reads. After four years of undergraduate studies at NYU plus time spent reading leisurely, Edna and I have racked up a large set of favorite books. The subjects will be diverse, from philosophy, sociology, fashion, history, to mystery. Here's the book of fashion books: The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: Start and Run Your Own Fashion Business by Mary Gehlhar. I can't begin to express how great this book is about explaining the ins and out of the fashion industry for young designers. The topics discussed includes strategies for production, developing brand awareness, and sales. What I love the most about this book is how specific it gets: Gehlhar lists opportunities a designer can take to break into the industry, factories that openly accept new accounts, and places where you can find a great patternmaker. She also did extensive research with luxury designers, allowing the readers to learn from the best. With a forward by Diane von Furstenburg and a great review by Zac Posen, how can this book not be amazing?

AHM Fashion Show - Behind the Scenes

2009-02-24T11:20:00.005-05:00

Come See the Hemma Collection!

2009-02-19T08:00:00.002-05:00

Out and About in Hemma - Model Citizens Event

2009-02-16T08:00:00.005-05:00

Edna, Annlouise and I dropped by the Model Citizens Launch Event. It was a fashion industry networking event that featured a fashion show and a dance performance.

We gained a slew contacts for future fashion shoots. We met a variety of people from photographers, models, stylists, make-up artists, and the organizer Eden.

There will be monthly Model Citizens Events taking place at Element, and the best part: they all benefit the educational system in New Orleans that has been weakened ever since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Come See the 2009 Hemma Collection Friday February 20!

2009-02-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

Get a fresh look at the 2009 Collection at NYU's annual African Heritage Month Fashion Show. The show takes place at the Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square, in the E&L Auditorium on the 4th Floor. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Ticket Central located on the second floor of the Kimmel Center for $7. Day-of-event tickets are $10 and can be purchased outside the E&L Auditorium.

NYU Alums Bring African Fashion To US | NYU Local

2009-02-11T11:51:00.004-05:00

Check Out the Very First Article about Hemma by NYU Local!

Preparing for the Shoot

2009-02-02T22:20:00.003-05:00

Preparing for the shoot was of course fun, we but it was nerve racking as well. The photos will be used on all of our promotional materials, so it will determine the first impression people get for our brand.

We learned a great deal about how to prepare for a photoshoot and the next one should be easier to prepare for. Here are some tips on photoshoot/film projects:

1) Props 4 Today - Best prop shop that we came by, they had everything we needed. The best part, 50% discount with a student id!!

2) Research - What better way to turn a shoot/film project into a successful one. We got great ideas from magazines and checking out the set-up at high-end stores in SoHo.

3) Model Mayhem - Great resource for finding photographers, make-up artists, and models for your project. Our amazing photographer, Lisa Ramsay, is listed on there as well.

4) Ask a friend - If you are like me, you sometimes forget what amazing resources the people around you can be. I found our photographer by asking my old NYU professor, we found the prop shop through our co-owners, our make-up artists were friends of ours that studied make-up artistry, and I was so grateful that my close friend offered to help during the shoot.

Backstage Pass - Hemma

2009-01-26T19:45:00.014-05:00

Tips for a Successful Photo Shoot:

Rehearsal, Rehearsal, Rehearsal: Have a full run through a few days before the shoot so that you can physically see what needs to be done, changed or added.
Try to build a positive relationship with your photographer, models, and studio staff before the shoot, things will go much more smoothly with everyone's cooperation. Definitely meet with everyone before the shoot.
Have the photographer check out the studio before hand, since they are the experts many times they may have objections or suggestions to a studio and its equipment.
Make sure the studio has the right lighting for your purposes.
When it comes to props, clothing rentals, shoe rentals, backgrounds etc, remember KISS
Choose accessories for each of the looks before hand and separate each into distinct packages so they are ready to be put on when needed.
On the day of, the designers and staff should get make-up and anything else done first and as early as possible, before the models come in. After that there will be very little time for anything but running around.
Stay in constant communication with your photographer so that he/she maintains your vision.
Give your models supportive feedback through out the shoot, it's no surprise that they performe better after this positive reinforcement.
Have interns, friends or family help. There is always so much to do.
Have photos for your make-up artists and hairstylists of the look you are going for so that you ensure that they maintain your vision.
Have quiet music in the background to set a relaxing atmosphere.
Have Food Finally be sure to maintain positivity and smile...Its going to be a long day but will I assure you fly by.

The Fittings

2009-01-24T11:02:00.003-05:00

During the whole process of preparing for the shoot, we assumed finding models would be the easiest part. We handled other priorities like studios, photographer, and the looks first. How hard could it be to find models anyway?

It was definitely harder than we imagined. We first tried calling a list of the agencies and some of their rates were way over our budget. We found a couple of agencies to go with and when we finally settled with one, the models that showed up looked nothing life their portfolios!

So we moved to another tactic, searching on the internet. Model Mayhem was the best, you get to see the portfolios of models from all of the agencies and set up a casting with them directly. Our first two fittings went great, and I can't imagine doing it any other way.

College Associates Make the World Go 'Round

2009-01-20T11:03:00.004-05:00

Maureen Brito has been interning with Hemma throughout Winter break and the Spring semester 09. She has been a huge help and Hemma couldn't have done everything without her! She helped us prep for Hemma's first photo shoot as she already had experience working in the fashion field. The 3 of us chose the props, models, accessories, shoes and the dozens of other things that go into a shoot! Having an intern work for your company is vital to the growth of any new business. It's an added hand, mind and opinion; seeing as how the owners of a business will probably be a bit bias, an intern gives the company a fresh, outside perspective. It is a team effort to build Hemma up into the high-end, luxury brand that it deserves to be and we are getting closer with each day! Interns for Hemma learn what Cindy and I learn beause they get a first hand look into everything we do and plan. It is a very interactive and cooperative experience, not like the usual paper pushing internships. The more Hemma rises, the more we all do. A few ways we went about finding interns:

Posted a listing on Craigslist
Posted a listing on several fashion school websites. You can register as an employer and post ur offer on the institution's career center website.
Ask within your network. We were lucky enough to snatch Maureen up from my friend Adonis, who's in the film industry as a rising star due to his amazing talent in film making and directing. He knew her and set up a meeting for us. The rest is Hemma history.

Holidays with Hemma

2009-01-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

On December 22nd, Edna , my sister, and I dropped by Star Lounge located under the Chelsea Hotel. Taffi, a friend of ours invited us to her holiday party before she left the country, we had a ball. Its a nice low-key spot with good music, DJ Mary Mac was great.

Out and About in Hemma

2008-12-31T10:21:00.012-05:00

Don' t you love the holidays? Of course there's the recession.. but there's also family, friends, & the parties where you get to meet new people. Here are some pictures of Edna, myself, and my sister at the annual Boies, Schiller, & Flexner holiday party. Check back for more out and about pics!

Why is Kente such High Quality...

2008-12-21T21:15:00.007-05:00

History: Kente is a fabric that was created over 500 years ago as a cause of the Saharan trade routes of North Africa. Chief Akenten of Ghana traded for beautiful textiles from the East and then Kente was birthed out of the need for an African textile worthy of royalty.

How is it made: Kente is now made from cotton spools that are naturally dyed in an endless array of colors. Colors of thread are chosen by the Kente weaver and woven on a wooden loom, as was done hundreds of years ago.

What is special about these Kente technicians is that they inherit the right, as only a particular group of families in Ghana are allowed to learn this sacred skill. Watch a video of Hemma's Kente weaver doing his thing!

Each color has a specific meaning and each pattern has its own symbolism. The combination of colors and patterns tell a story. Kente, like no other fabric is rich with meaning.

6 yards of Kente takes 2-3 months to weave and the intricate patterns are all weaved by eye, which is unbelievable because there are all sorts of lines, shapes and figures that are perfectly formed without any measuring tools. To give you a sense of the time it takes to make Kente, 3 yards is approximately the amount of Kente used in 1 full suit of size 0. For all of these reasons, each Hemma garment is unique in color, pattern and there will never be 2 identical pieces. Each piece is original and of the highest quality. Only the best was made for African royalty. Kente is not only the highest quality fabric in Africa but surpasses most around the world.

Now you too can feel like greatness wearing Hemma!

Beauty Tip Tuesday

2008-12-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks for checking in for Beauty Tip Tuesday. Today's tip is all about those pimples/zits that pop up at the most random time. Rapid Clear by Neutrogena is a product that I have shared with my friends and they all have raved about it. Put it on the area after doing your normal face routine and in two days it will be gone. If you have an important event (the ideal time for an annoying bump to pop up) I would just put it on top of the area sporadically during the day between normal face washes. It really does work!

The Fashion District

2008-12-15T10:03:00.004-05:00

Edna and I have checked out the pricing in many stores in the fashion district for zippers, steamers, garment racks, everything. One place rarely disappoints us and provides lower prices. Panda International Trading Inc. almost always have the goods for less. Here are pics of Edna and I making our first purchase with our Hemma Business Cards there. Panda is located at 247 W 38th St.

Thanks for Your Support!

2008-12-10T17:12:00.007-05:00

Thanks to everyone that supported us and made it to the fashion show! We really appreciated the response we received from everyone. Check back for all of the photos and videos from the show. For everyone that could not make it, check back for details on upcoming shows and events. We are now planning a photoshoot for the line. If you model or know someone that models, send their information our way!

Shoot us an email at kouture@hemmafashions.com

Hemma's Runway Debut!

2008-12-08T12:32:00.004-05:00

The show is one day away!! Between me and the December LSATs and Edna's finals it has been a challenge balancing everything. But we are doing it!

We had the last fitting yesterday and the models looked great. We are so excited to show everyone what we have been working on. Click here for more information on the show. Stop by, bring a friend or three! Check back soon for pictures and video coverage on the show.

Every Company Needs Investment

2008-12-04T17:02:00.011-05:00

I think that money or the lack there of makes most people apprehensive about starting their own business. However, there are dozens of ways to get around this problem. Though its not so easy to get someone to give you large sums of money, it's more possible than people think, myself included. Cindy and I were lucky enough to find a couple who believed in our idea and in Hemma's potential and chose to invest in our company! Best of all, they not only invested monetarily but are investing time, resources, ideas etc. This brings me to a very important point, Once you do have investors or know potential investors, you should ask your self :

Do I get along with them as people? (You will most likely be spending large amounts of time sharing and communicating with them)

Do they share my motivation and drive to make the business a success?

What are you looking for in an investor?

What do they want out of the deal?

Do you trust them?

Its very important to find a good fit between you and your investor because hopefully they will be someone who shares more than just money with you (ie: information, knowledge, experience). Cindy and I thought about these questions and what was important to us, before we even found investors so that when we did, we were prepared! Prepare for opportunities, so that when they appear, your ready! Its more than just being at the right place at the right time. What we did when searching for investors:

INTERNET RESEARCH: We searched for grants in all fields we thought would apply. Who would give you money? Be very inclusive and search broadly at first not only specific to your industry but specific to who you are (ie: student, woman, person of color; were just a few of the criteria we looked into).
YOUR FAMILY: The closest people to you, who would probably be very supportive of you doing such a courageous thing like starting your own business. Ask them for money: parents, granny's, aunts, uncles.
USE YOUR NETWORK: Whether you are a student, employee, parent etc, use yoru network of people. They may be potential investors themselves or more likely than that is that they will know someone who would be interested in investing. Tell as many people you can about your business! You have to basically become your company, its biggest fan and cheerleader. The more people you tell, the more people will hear about your company and possibly want to contribute. That is pretty much how we met our investors.
READ as much as you can about business related issues, including tips on effective ways to get investment for your specific industry. One publication I would recommend is Inc. Magazine, read the magazine or articles online, its great for the new business owner! I also recommend SBA another organization that helps small businesses with a wide range of services from loans to counseling.
YOURSELF: Cindy and I invested our own capital at Hemma's inception and we did so willingly because we both really believed that we would see a return. We had both just graduated college when we decided to start Hemma, so we were not at all financially established, but that goes to show that you do not necessarily need large sums at the inception of your company.
HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN:

Learn how to write a business plan by internet/book research and by looking at templates online or from friends
Be very detailed when writing
It's OK to not have all the answers about your business at the very beginning of writing your plan, the more you research, the clearer they may become
Make the cover and writing style within very professional and concise
A business plan is your way to convince someone that you have a great product, service or idea so treat it as such!

So now your ready to move your business to the next level. Good luck!!

Last Day in Ghana!!!

2008-11-18T10:27:00.016-05:00

My last day in Ghana was great. It started at Kokrobite beach where I hung out with some friends I met from Ashesi University last year. A man with a horse came by and we each ended up taking a ride on the horse. Then some local fisherman offered to catch us lobster (only about .80 each!!) which ended up being our lunch. It was a perfect ending to the trip. I had my last meeting with Richmond our Operations Manager in Ghana and the leading tailor which went extremely well. All of the garments came out great and I couldn't ask for a better trip. And then there was packing and my last outing at Rhapsody lounge at the Accra Mall.

I was so nervous when I flew in and was worried about setting up everything for Hemma's operations abroad. I couldn't have asked for better trip and I am so excited to show everyone the products of our hard work!

The Hemma Team - Richie Rich

2008-11-18T10:10:00.007-05:00

Richie Rich (his nickname for himself), is our operations manager. He is great at getting any job done, and I am so excited that he is on the Hemma team. He graduated from the University of Ghana in May 2007 and was a senior there when Edna and I studied abroad.

We all took a trip to Kumasi that year and he helped us buy our first bundles of kente. I just came from Tokaradi, Ghana where he lives and teaches in a middle school from Monday - Wednesday and got to meet his students and faculty members. We had several meetings with the tailors together and I am so happy that it is all working out!

Beads & Stones

2008-11-14T05:19:00.005-05:00

Every Thursday in Koforidua (about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from Accra) there's this bead market that everyone flocks to for the best prices. I found out about it during my NYU in Ghana semester. I took a History of African Art course and the whole class took a trip there with one of my favorite Ghanaian professors we called Uncle Joe. Vendors come from all over with beads from Ghana, Kenya, Congo, basically everywhere in Africa. Here are some stones found underwater in Ghana that may be used for the upcoming Hemma jewelry line.

Hmm....

2008-11-14T05:00:00.006-05:00

I wonder if Jay knows he is the poster boy for this local photo shop....

Obama Fever

2008-11-12T10:28:00.010-05:00

They love him out here; I mean there's a freakin Ghanaian song dedicated to him! Why do they love Obama so much, well according to Ghanaian news its partly because his father is of African descent and they see his accomplishments as inspiration. Many Ghanians are also hoping for an alteration of U.S. African policies leading to a trickling down of benefits for African countries. Everyday I either see people wearing Obama t-shirts, a Ghanaian biography book of Obama being sold on the streets, or even the Obama poster. I mean, I woke up Thursday morning in Kumasi and the first thing I heard was the screaming of his name from outside!

Barack Obama (Crunk Mix) - Blakk Rasta (Ghana)

Oh Kumasi!

2008-11-07T08:36:00.003-05:00

So I am on my way to purchase the fabric for the line at the kente village in Kumasi, assuming everything will go according to plan....which most likely doesn’t happen in Ghana! Of course the bus breaks down only a quarter of the way there! So we were stuck waiting for a new bus to arrive from Accra for 4 hours!! I made friends with two elderly men, one who was on the way to see his 107 year old mom! He takes the trip every month and cherishes each one as he knows she will not be with him for much longer. So I finally made it to Kumasi with a grand total of 8.5 hours on the bus and ended up sleeping there and buying the kente a day later than planned. I spent the whole day in the kente village going from vendor to vendor trying to purchase enough for the initial line. Since the road was so dusty on the way there and we were out in the sun all day the only thing I wanted to do when I got back home was take a shower! When I arrived back to Accra by 11:30pm I turned on the shower and nothing came out! No water..damn...guess there’s always tomorrow....

Reason 237 of Why I Love Ghana

2008-11-03T08:11:00.000-05:00

So I was very nervous about going to Ghana without Edna, I mean we had such a great time studying abroad there and I couldn't believe that I was traveling back for Hemma by myself! But during the flight I remembered another reason why I loved Ghana: Ghanaians are so welcoming! This is how I managed to get a new boyfriend and be the bottle opener official all in the 9 hour flight to Ghana. So, theres this cute 3 year old boy sitting in front of me who manages to waddle his way over to my seat. As always, babies are just attracted to me! By the end of the flight, everyone was referring to me as his new girlfriend! By dinner time the flight attendants were serving wine. There were older women around me and somehow I became the official wine bottle opener for those 55+ women who wanted to get their drink on. Although I was on the flight alone, I felt right at home!

Keep on Keepin on...

2008-11-02T17:30:00.006-05:00

Cindy just left to Ghana! Production of Hemma has officially begun. There she is ready for lift off! However, nothing is ever as smooth as it seems...but I'm realizing more and more that whatever can go wrong probably will and your job as the owner of a business is to suck it up and make it seem seamless. A small example: Cindy calls me understandably freaking out because the Airline she's flying want to charge her $600 in over-weight fees for her luggage. Luggage that is carrying raw materials for Hemma! A huge expense we didn't expect on having and like for any small business, funds have to be allocated very carefully. Some how she got the rep to go down by almost half...which leads me to believe that he was just trying to hustle us! Another trap expecially for small businesses to look out for. So she had to use her Ghana spending money and I had to Western Union her more money later that day. I was ill prepared for what happened next...I couldn't log into Cindy's account online because the password wasn't working, so I made my own account. We all know how long registering for a site takes, so you can understand how frustrated I was when the transaction didn't go through. Then I called customer service-- the most incompetent people I have ever spoken to! I spent 30 minutes on the phone with a rep trying to do an over the phone transaction, only to find out after all that that he could not put my transaction through, wtf I thought to myself! Then I got dressed and went to my bank in order to send Cindy $ from a physical Western Union. When I get to my bank, a withdrawal had been made from my account in the same amount that I was trying to send to Ghana! (even tho my transaction had failed and was canceled) So this lead to 3 more hours on the phone, back and forth between my bank and W.U. No Help! Which reminds me, always get the name of any rep you speak to over the phone from any company. After all this time, the conclusion they give me is that I have to wait until Tuesday and see if they money has been returned to my bank account. So I spent 4 hrs on a Saturday night on the phone with reps only to have nothing taken care of and $500 poorer (at least temporarily, I hope). In the end I had to borrow money from my boyfriend to send to Cindy until my situation clears up. So the moral of the story is, no matter how frustrated you are, remember that its all part of earning your stripes as a business owner and no matter how prepared you think you are, the unexpected ALWAYS arises! Enjoy the struggle and keep moving forward because there's always tomorrow...

Ghana Flashback: Lets Get Crunk!

2008-10-30T17:01:00.006-04:00

I know the term is very outdated, but this is a Ghana Flashback. Edna and I studied hard even while studying abroad. It seemed at times we were the only ones in the program who actually did work! Every weekend we were determined to have fun. Baze was one of our favorite local spots. Somehow we would end up there every weekend with our friends from Ashesi University. One of our close friends always used the term crunk and it just became part of our normal vocabulary. When we came back, we were forced to reject it from our speech, but I still have fond memories of it nonetheless!!!

Countdown to Ghana!

2008-10-28T17:57:00.009-04:00

So the countdown has begun! In 4 days I will be in Ghana, West Africa to complete our initial line! This whole week has been so surreal for me. Edna and I have been planning for this trip for so long and it is finally happening. We were just talking about how it just recently hit us that everything we have worked so hard for is finally materializing in front of our eyes. I am very excited, but nervous at the same time, there is so much riding on this trip! So what am I doing now to cope? I'm at work working my butt off.....on Hemma, of course!

Edna: Doin My Thing

2008-10-28T14:03:00.010-04:00

I've been interested in fashion since I could remember and from the pic you can tell that it all started with my mom. She is an artist in her own right and not only did she do all of our interior decorating but made me clothes and Halloween costumes. My father also an artist in his own career, you'd never find a sexier car but one that he'd painted, truly a skill. So art has always been in my blood and from a young age I've been in art programs and learned how to sew. If you know me, you know that sewing is the only "home-making" type thing I have any idea about! It goes without saying that I eat out a lot, lol.

As I got older, the fashion industry just seemed more unreachable. It's a tough industry to not only break into but be big in, there's so much competition. But I never let go of my passion and followed that interest by making clothes for myself, taking classes at FIT and modeling at dozens of fashion shows. This pic to the left is a show I did for 1Soul designs, a great company run by great guys who are very dedicated to community change through fashion!

By exploring different sides of fashion, I've gained a great view into the fashion industry and the business of it all- the good and the bad. (That's a whole other post in itself)

Like everybody, we're multi-dimensional and have several interests (hopefully). So I explored a lot of different fields and still was at a loss in college. What was I gonna do with me life!?

I got so frustrated with this question that I just stopped worrying about it and started just living my life. I decided, thinking it to death wasn't getting me anywhere. So I did the opposite, I decided to explore life and see where that took me. How'd I do that...I just left. I left the country through NYU's study abroad program. I went to London for my first semester of my junior year and then went to Ghana in the Spring.

One thing I did always maintain tho was my unbelievably optimistic state of mind and I suggest that people start making that change in them, because that's one of the things that has helped bring me so much success. Everbody explores through different ways, mine was traveling...take the risk to find your way!

Hemma blossomed out of my exploring life and taking a chance to live in Africa. If you too are interested in attaining a high level of performance in any field whether fashion or not, this post might help. It has great tips to live by!

Our Commitment

2008-10-22T18:54:00.010-04:00

While studying abroad in Ghana, Edna and I both volunteered as teachers at La Yahoushua Junior Secondary School. While I taught math, Edna was a biology teacher. Before this, I was a teacher's assistant in NYC and for some reason, brought with me the assumption that the experience would be similar. The only thing that was similar was the usual class disruptions due to some students cracking jokes. Other than that, it took me a while to get used to being called madam and children running to the front of the classroom to assist me if I dropped something by mistake. They were so polite!!! Edna and I also were advisors for the after-school photoclub but only another couple of entries can properly describe the crazy wonderful experiences we had during field trips and club meetings after school. We learned so much from these children and they really helped us in discovering what Ghana was really about. We never wanted to leave those experiences behind, and through hemma, we won't. A percentage of all proceeds will be donated to the Ghanaian school system.

The Origins

2008-10-21T20:02:00.026-04:00

The idea for hemma came about when we studied abroad in Ghana. We were there during the our junior year in the Spring of 07. This was a major turning point in both of our lives because we were able to become so detached from our lives in New York and fully immerse ourselves in the Ghanaian lifestyle. We were both worried when we first got there and weren't sure if we could last an entire semester. But by the time we left, we cried our eyes out because we didn't want to leave Ghana behind. Through hemma we've found a way to bring some of Ghana back with us and share it with New York. We fell into the idea of creating a clothing line, it started off unintentionally. While in Ghana we loved the wide array of West African fabrics and garment designs, so we started designing clothes for ourselves. Between Cindy and I we made dozens of pieces, including garments made out of Kente fabric. Everyone in Ghana and the NYU program loved it. When we came back to NY we got the same reception. A lightbulb clicked for us. We decided that we wanted to share the clothing that we loved so much by starting hemma.