We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Celine Niebiossa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Celine below.

Hi Celine, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Hood Fiancé didn’t start as a business idea. It started as a feeling. I was born and raised in Germany, but I grew up in a household that was full of sound, soul, and culture. My dad played Hip-Hop, my mom played soul and R&B — Lauryn Hill, the Fugees, D’Angelo. That balance between raw and soft energy shaped everything I do. When I was around 11, my uncle gave us our first big computer and loaded it with music. I spent hours digging through those Hip-Hop folders: Nate Dogg, Ice Cube, Snoop, 2Pac, Eazy-E. None of it was on YouTube back then – I had the gold archive on that computer, and it played non-stop. That’s where my love for West Coast culture began.

Where I come from, I couldn’t find a brand that truly reflected me. So I created one. Something rooted in contrast – soft and raw, street and soul, honest and elevated. Hood Fiancé is a metaphor: being engaged to the hood, to where you come from, but dreaming beyond it. From day one, I knew this was more than just clothing. Streetwear isn’t a logo on a hoodie, it’s culture. It’s real people. It’s story. I never connected with brands that just focused on hype. Brands like Stüssy inspired me not just because of the look, but because they represented something.

That’s what I’m doing with Hood Fiancé. This is luxury streetwear – not flashy, but intentional. I take pride in every step – design, quality, production, and especially the feeling the customer has when they open a package. Every year, I spend time in L.A. to stay close to the energy that shaped the brand. I’m not from L.A., but the city lives in the mood of Hood Fiancé — in the silence, the ambition, the way sunlight hits the streets. The street is the real fashion show. That’s where the truth is. And me , I’ve always seen the beauty in the struggle. That’s what Hood Fiancé stands for. Hood Fiancé is a love letter to where I come from – and the vision of where we’re going.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Celine Niebiossa, founder and creative director of Hood Fiancé. I was born and raised in Germany and have always been drawn to visual storytelling and culture. I started with an education in graphic design, then studied fashion design, which gave me the foundation to combine aesthetic thinking with real-world product development.

In fact, I originally founded Hood Fiancé back in 2019 while I was still studying. It started small, more like a passion project – but even then, the core idea was already there: to create a brand that tells real stories, rooted in authenticity, minimalism, and culture. After graduating, I began working full-time as a fashion designer and creative director for a German streetwear brand. I was there from day one, and it taught me everything – from production and product management to design, campaign direction, and styling. I basically held multiple roles at once, and although I learned a lot, I didn’t have the time to fully build my own brand.

So in 2024, I made the decision to quit my full-time job and give Hood Fiancé the full attention it deserved. I completely rebranded it – with more knowledge, more vision, and more capital. No investors, no shortcuts, everything I put into the brand comes out of my own pocket. It’s personal. It’s intentional. And it’s real.

What makes Hood Fiancé different is that we don’t just design clothes, we live what we represent. We don’t hide behind a big logo or trend cycles. Our focus is storytelling, culture, and quality. The brand lives in the space between softness and struggle, between rawness and refinement. Our motto is: “The street is the real fashion show” and that’s exactly how we see it. Style doesn’t start on the runway, it starts with the people.

What I’m most proud of is staying true to that vision. We’ve never followed the hype, we’ve never compromised on quality or meaning. Hood Fiancé is self-made, and every piece reflects that: honest, conceptual, and built from the ground up with purpose.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience has shown up in so many parts of my journey – and I’ve learned to take losses as fuel.

There was one moment that really hit me: I was in L.A. to shoot our Spring/Summer campaign. I managed everything completely on my own — from photography to creative direction to filming the collection video. It was just me, a couple homies from L.A., my camera, and of course, some lowriders. We captured everything – the exact mood I had in my head. Raw, soulful, real.

But on the flight back to Germany, while going through the footage, I put my laptop and the SD card in my case. And when I got home, the SD card was cracked. All of it – GONE. Weeks of work. An entire collection’s worth of visual storytelling. That moment crushed me. I had two choices: re-shoot the campaign in Germany, but lose the spirit of what I had created, or reinvest thousands of euros and go back to L.A. to do it again. I chose the second option.

And honestly? The second shoot turned out even better. I didn’t compromise. I told the story the way I originally saw it. I don’t regret it for a second.

Another time, my car was broken into. Inside were designer pieces – a Louis Vuitton bag, designer sunglasses, expensive stuff. But the only thing they stole was a suitcase filled with unreleased Hood Fiancé samples and my business phone. I was pissed at first. But then I realized: they left the designer stuff and took my brand.
That told me everything.

What I mean by that is this: I’ve taken losses. Faced setbacks. Had moments where doubt crept in. But quitting? Was never an option. Every struggle, every late night, every hit I took – it’s all been a setup for growth.

We stay locked in. Because this brand means something.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team starts with trust, not just in their skills, but in their perspective. I’ve learned that the best work happens when people feel ownership, not just execution. So I don’t micromanage, I set the vision, but I want the people around me to bring their own voice to the table.

Clarity is key. If everyone understands why we do something, not just what we’re doing – they stay connected. Whether it’s a shoot, a campaign, or a new drop, I always try to communicate the feeling behind it, not just the task.

As for morale: It’s energy. And energy comes from respect. I always remind my team that what we’re doing matters. That we’re building something real. I show gratitude for small wins and keep it human, we’re not a machine, we’re a creative ecosystem.

And lastly, I lead by example. I’ve done every role in this business – design, production, styling, photography and I still jump in where I’m needed. That creates a culture where no one feels above or below anything. We move together. And that creates momentum, not burnout.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hoodfiance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoodfiance/?hl=de
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/100174626/admin/dashboard/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqi9bgW-zFg&t=5s