Do you matter?
If you were told that the outfit you are wearing has more meaning such as creating jobs, inspiring innovation and celebrating with a whole group of people from another country, other than just a manufactured piece of item in a factory, will you feel more confident to buy and wear it?
I have two major goals:
1) To awaken the sleeping giant of fashion that lies in the continent of Africa by creating meaningful, trendy, contemporary fashion that carries the beauty of love, culture and diversity using the finest African traditional garments and fabric, that is usually worn on special occasions by African royalty. Starting with the Toghu, a traditional regalia worn by the royalty and on special occasions by the Tikar people of the North west Region and the Bamileke.
2) To give you confidence, poise and value with an added sense of adequacy with every piece of my creation. I want people to wear my creation with a justified amount of boldness and humility leaving behind a feeling of sharing and belonging.
So far, the people wearing my fashion label without knowing have contributed to celebrating with the African people, bringing dreams alive, creating jobs for the indigenous in west Africa and waking up the sleeping fashion industry in Africa.
By us adding value and modernizing the "toghu" Many Cameroonian designers have been inspired on how to further exploit this rich culture hence creating more fashions and jobs.
I need your help to change more lives, create more jobs and wake up the African fashion Industry. Your donations will not only make this possible but it will also be a part of creating history.
In just a few years we have been able to build a great following due to our ground breaking work, playing a big role in lots of shows around the world, creating a lot of interest and awareness on our brand.We received major recognition from media giants like the BBC and New African Woman. This attracted the attention Cameroon officials and we had our first major contract in 2010 to create special contemporary outfits for the Cameroonian delegation to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
This phase was either the great beginning or the great end for our career in fashion. We plunged into the job determined to bring out the best for our nation so we could be fashionably represented at the world cup. This sweet dream turned sour when we realized our work went all in vain. Until this day, we did not receive up to ¼ of the payments though we supplied the goods and on time to our buyers.
Failure is inevitable when you are in the process of creating something big and worthwhile. We did not stop at the first major failure and we will not stop now. Like it is said, if you haven’t failed then you have not really tried. I will keep trying and that is why I need your help.
This was the turning point in my life - debts, loss of trust from our friends, deception, confusion, frustration. Many things came to an end. After all our hard work turned into failure, my first partnership business went bankrupt, ending the partnership and losing some fans and clients - The company that was built on young and vibrant inspirations that brought together thousands of young people around the world to dare, to be bold and face their future courageously especially in the creative world. However my partner and I chose to but as the beginning of a new and beautiful day. Instead of one, we now have two amazing fashion innovations thriving in two different parts of the world and we are both grateful for the tough times and proud of our new birth.
Today an even more amazing company is born – KibonenNY of which I am very proud.
Kibonen NY did not go far from the original concepts. The Toghu still stays primordial – Putting Cameroons own pride and culture on the high fashion scene, working with other African prints and luxurious textiles to create a fresh fusion of rich contemporary styles, fabrics and trends is all of what makes this brand truly unique.
Besides being a fashion lifestyle brand, KibonenǀNY is an ethical fashion brand. Cameroon is a country with abundant talent, unbelievable design aesthetics, amazing and beautiful people yet over 49% of the population live below the poverty line. This was another gripping factor that urged the formation of my brand - using the business of fashion to help create employment in Cameroon, paying employees a fair wage that will not only aid survival but allow them to improve their standard of living.
After realizing the potential that ethical fashion could provide.
KibonenNY together with some partners formed the Cameroon Fashion Common Initiative Group and instigated the start up of an ethical factory - “Made In Camer”, which today is an independent, charity based, eco and ethical clothing production unit that supports local talent and provides employment to Cameroonians in one of the poorest communities. Made in Camer aims to create a sustainable and creative long term solution to Cameroons economic crisis by putting forward community driven, ethical and environmentally friendly trade in fashion. The bigger aim for Made in Camer is to have many other local and international designers as well as other companies with specific production needs produce from Cameroon and distribute on an international level.
The great news for us today is that it is very possible.
KibonenNY has been selected to take part in the prestigious Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in South Africa. This is every fashion designers dream and one of my Dreams come True. This is a major visibility platform that comes with amazing opportunities
With all the excitement, I am kindly asking for your support to help make KibonenNY the revolution it seeks to be not just a piece of clothing to wear but an innovation that seeks to implement a substantial improvement in the lives of many whose voices have been drowned by the forces of nature, pressure and lack of proper resources. You will not only be wearing a beautiful piece of creation, you will be giving back to the world and making it a better place.
With your generous Donations, KibonenNY will be able to;
Execute the 2013 collection which will be showcased at the Mercedes Benz Fashion week in South Africa ,Flight and logistics to SA, Production of Items for sales at the Africa Fashion Week Trade Expo, Hire PR to take advantage of this exposure and enhance branding and marketing and an extensive media campaign,do a Lookbook, do a fashion video for promotion, an Ecommerce website and improve on the equipment at the Made In Camer Fair trade Production center in Bamenda and do an official Launch of KibonenNY brand in NYC.
Our total expense is really high but we will like to start with a minimum amount which can enable us kickstart.
Perks Perks Perks!!! What you receive with the pledge
Huge amounts off the retail value of our Collections and fair trade items, not yet available in stores. Most importantly, you become part of our story of bringing high quality, well designed African-made clothing
