Jennifer Nnamani
NYC
30
Designer, Jane of all trades
Jennifer Nnamani is an artist with a unique story. Born in Nigeria and raised in New York, Jennifer has been making quite a name for herself in the fashion world. From mixing eco-friendly fashion and African style with her line Lady George, to hosting Fashion Envie- an eco-friendly fashion show with eco-friendly designers. Jennifer is on the pursuit to making a better world through her fashion.
How do you define eco-friendly fashion?
Eco-friendly fashion can mean reusing, out-cycling, fair-trade.
I love fashion, I love the arts, I wanted to venture out and do something that not only looks amazing, but [ to have less of a negative] impact on the environment.
When you go into the store and you find something that was handmade, you know they paid the artist what they deserved. You look good, you feel good, and you’re supporting an artist that took the time to create something they truly love & believe in.
So you are an eco-friendly designer?
I launched my collection Lady George in April during Fashion Envie 2015. The pieces were made in Nigeria, the fabric was bought in Nigeria, fair-trade. I’m a creative director. I go to the seamstress and explain my vision to them. Working with local artist is a priority.
I want to hear about your background. You’re from Nigeria?
Yes, I’m Nigerian. I was born and partially raised there. I often refer to myself as a Nigerian transplant living in New York City. It has definitely influenced my work in many ways.
For instance, my collection Lady George was inspired by my late maternal grandmother. She was called Ada George [in her native] Igbo language, which [translates to] Lady George
What language was that?
Igbo; I’m from the Igbo Tribe in Nigeria. In the Igbo culture, the second daughter is named as the maternal grandmother.
I was named after my mother’s mom. It’s crazy because my mom always tells me, “You look just like her. You talk just like her. You act like her.” Something that’s really special about my grandmother is she was physically, emotionally, and mentally strong way before her time. She survived [through] a war. She was [a] symbol of truth, poise, and character for a lot of people. I got a chance to meet her and now that I’m older, I see her in me.
The collection is a fusion of African inspired textile and design, with my definition of comfort and style. I don’t like tight fitted clothes. I wanted to blend men-inspired design with my pieces because I love menswear.
What inspired you to become the artist that you are?
Well, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always had this interesting outlook on life. At one point, I just knew that I needed to start expressing myself. Expression is very important. There is an artist in all of us. It doesn’t matter what environment you are raised in. The artist in all of us can be cultivated.
As I got older, I just became bolder. I just knew what I wanted to do. I was never a follower. I always liked to start things on my own and wait for people to catch up. I always knew I was here for a purpose. I felt that whatever I was feeling, I needed to express that through art. It just so happens that my art is fashion.
What moment did you say, “I am an artist. I am a designer and this is my focus.” Or was it a journey that you discovered?
It was a journey. Living in New York City, I modeled in the past but I wanted to push myself out of the box to keep exploring what God wanted me to be. I went to high school in upstate New York; I went to college in North Carolina, [and] then I [earned] my masters at the New York Institute of Technology. Throughout all those experiences, I kept feeling something pushing me.
Nigeria is the fourth largest crude oil exporter in the world. The shell company went in there and basically almost sucked my country dry. I don’t want to do politics but I want to do something that is close to my heart, which is fashion. ‘How can we preserve our environment? How can we make our environment safer?’ I wanted to merge that idea with fashion.
Then I felt like there should be something that represents everything that I do. So it’s not just [a fashion] show. I didn’t want it to just be “Jennifer Nnamani presents Fashion Envie.” I wanted it to be a team or a name that identifies what I am trying to create. “Beau Monde” means a beautiful world and Society for people that adopt that same vision of attempting to create a sustainable world.
The idea was like a seed that kept growing.
So what did you get your masters in?
International Business.
Would you say that your pieces are telling a particular story through the Lady George line? If so, what would that story be?
– That women were designed to conquer. That’s really what it is in a nutshell. I actually call myself the shrew. It has a negative connotation, but I read this book when I was in high school back in Nigeria [titled], The Taming of the Shrew. I realized that, growing up in [Nigeria], women are expected to be submissive. Women are expected not to achieve [any high and great] goal, that men are supposed to [achieve].
So that’s really what the collection means. Women are designed to [overcome]. I wanted to create a collection that reminded me that I am a woman. I am strong and I am powerful. I am amazing. I will be comfortable in my own skin.
With that being said, is there any other ways in which you want to inspire women & young girls of the black diaspora?
Yes! I want to see more women in the fashion and art field. And when I say women, I mean black, white, brown, purple… all of us. There should be more of us working collectively to make the world a better place. Young girls need to be inspired [by all of us to know] that they can do that too.
What helps you face challenges in life?
God. I’m constantly talking to Him and meditating. I surround myself with positive minded people; people with higher goals.
There have been people that have come and gone. And that’s fine because, I think, when you get to a certain point some people aren’t supposed to be there. They’re meant for a season. They’re supposed to be there for a moment in time. You have to let them go and that’s okay.
That can be hard for people that are aspiring to reach higher. They may be carrying people with them that may slow progress. When you had to let some of those relationships and friendships go, how have you done so?
I had to set goals. And at the end of the day, whoever is not with you is not necessarily against you. But you can’t let those goals down. You have to have that vision. ‘What are you shooting for?’ And you came into this world by yourself. Therefore, you will be leaving by yourself. We want to have all these friends but sometimes everyone isn’t good for us.
Sometimes you really do have to do things yourself. I think It’s so important for young girls, especially in this society, to hear that there are other young women that really had to push [and] drive themselves to reach their own definition of success.
I’m reading this book called, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I would recommend that book to any artist and any young girl that’s still trying to figure out what she is trying to do. From reading this book, my energy has been renewed and my focus is on a new level in what I am trying to do.
Oh wow, I may check that book out myself. Now I’m going to ask, what are you in pursuit of?
I am in pursuit of [Maslow’s] self-actualization.
Self-actualization is basically when you get to a point when you accomplish everything in life you want to accomplish. The hierarchy of needs is shaped into a pyramid. You travel up the pyramid as you get older in life. At the bottom, you have your basic needs; food, clothing and shelter. Once you get passed that, you go into something else. The very top of the pyramid is self-actualization [which] contains, morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice and acceptance of facts. That more than likely [happens] when you accomplish everything you could possibly accomplish. My goal is just to push myself to that point where I feel like, “Okay. You’ve arrived. Now let’s start sharing the knowledge.” I constantly remind myself of that.
Follow Jennifer Nnamani at:
Website: lebeaumondesociety.com
Instagram: @Beaumondesociety
Personal Instagram: @J.I.Nnamani
Inspired? Leave a comment with your thoughts below. And share with others. Remember we are all in pursuit.
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