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

Alright, Delight thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As the CEO of alkeBULANPrints, our mission to address the lack of knowledge, access, and jobs in the African and African American and African Immigrant communities is deeply personal to me. Growing up, I witnessed the beauty and richness of African culture being underrepresented and misunderstood. I felt a strong desire to bridge the gap and showcase the stories, history, and artistry of African prints through fashion. Creating job opportunities in Ghana and providing affordable, culturally meaningful clothing to the African and African American and African Immigrant is not just a business endeavor for me; it’s a way to empower individuals, preserve heritage, and promote inclusivity. It’s about instilling a sense of pride and connection to our roots. Every design we create carries the weight of our ancestors’ stories, and seeing the positive impact it has on people’s lives drives me to push boundaries and amplify our mission.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As the CEO of alkeBULAN LLC, my passion for African culture and my dedication to addressing the challenges faced by the African, African Immigrant and African American communities led me into the fashion industry. At alkeBULAN, we specialize in handmade modern-style African prints that tell the story of African history and culture. Our product line includes a variety of stylish and culturally significant pieces, from dresses and skirts to men’s shirts and custom designs. We are committed to providing affordable, authentic, and culturally meaningful clothing options to the African Immigrant and African American community, empowering them to embrace their heritage and express their individuality.

What sets us apart is our emphasis on storytelling. Each design we create carries a narrative that reflects the beauty, diversity, and traditions of Africa. Our mission goes beyond fashion; we aim to educate, inspire, and create a sense of pride in our clients. We are proud of the positive impact we have made through job creation in Ghana and our commitment to fair wages and ethical practices. With alkeBULAN, you are not just embracing a fashion brand; you are joining a movement of cultural celebration, empowerment, and inclusivity. Come and experience the vibrant world of African-inspired fashion with us.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I funded the initial capital for my business through personal savings and careful budgeting. While working a full-time job, I dedicated my own funds to get the business off the ground. However, during the initial phase of starting our first collection, I faced unexpected financial challenges due to a family emergency. This put me in a tight financial position where I had to take on the responsibility of covering all the financial burdens. In order to make ends meet for both my family and the business, I meticulously budgeted every dollar of my paycheck, making sacrifices and cutting out unnecessary expenses. It was a challenging period of around 6-7 months, but through determination and discipline, I was able to cover all the expenses, pay my workers and contractors, and successfully launch the collection.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Yes, we manufacture our products. When I embarked on this journey, I traveled to Ghana in 2021-2022 to personally connect with young fashion designers who showed immense talent and potential. Through in-person interviews, I carefully selected a team of designers who were either still in school or just starting out in their careers.

The purpose of forming this team was to have a group of skilled individuals who could collaborate with me on designing, sewing, modeling, and shipping our creations to the United States. It was important for me to work directly with these talented designers, as it allowed us to infuse our designs with authentic African aesthetics and cultural significance.

Building this team was a rewarding experience as it not only provided employment opportunities for young designers in Ghana but also allowed us to create unique and culturally meaningful products for our customers. By working closely with the team throughout the manufacturing process, we ensure that our designs are brought to life with exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Through this journey, I have learned the value of fostering personal connections and nurturing talent. It is through the collective efforts of our team in Ghana and our collaboration across continents that we are able to deliver high-quality products to our customers. I take great pride in our ability to support the growth of young fashion designers while offering our clients truly distinctive and culturally rich fashion pieces.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thealkebulan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alkebulanprints/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alkeBULANprints
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVfNHnmZkMeuilWvq6oPLDg
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alkeBULANPrints/
• Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@alkebulanprints