Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emmanuella Ngam. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Emmanuella, thanks for joining us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?
If the world was a person, that would be my icon. The everyday person who my brand caters to mostly guides my inspiration. However, there are several fashion designers who I admire and look up to for different reasons. Designers like Loza Maleombho from Cote D’Ivoire, Christie Brown from Ghana, Don Morphy from Cameroon, Betsy Johnson from the U.S., Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani among several others. These influencers in unique ways have helped shape my journey and evolution. For example, Calvin Klein for his resilience in the industry, Giorgio Armani for his realism, Betsy Johnson for her versatility, Loza Maleombho for the shared vision, Christie Brown for her entrepreneurial spirit, Don Morphy for our similar background and his relative success story.
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 am Emmanuella Andongatou Ngam. Call me Ella. I am a 36 yr old female from Cameroon. I reside in El Paso, Texas. I have a BS., an MA., and a Doctorate (minus dissertation) degrees in International Business, Administration, and I/O Psychology respectively. I am married and have three beautiful babies.
I launched and own a clothing brand in 2021 called Nanka Clothing. I design and produce afro-centric clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. I loved playing dress-up as a kid, matching outfits for church, and drawing princesses in colorful outfits (my drawings were hideous). I really did start sketching for fashion in 2015 when I couldn’t find a dress for my court wedding. So, I sketched a dress and found a tailor to make it for me.
The real inspiration behind the emphasis on ‘The Fusion’ that separates Nanka Clothing from other brands is the dire need for affordable but quality culturally inspired fashion for people of African descent and beyond. My goal is to bridge the gap between ‘haute couture’ African clothing for just special events and the complete lack of an everyday day blend of Afrocentric and Western styles. Most of my designs are a fusion of simple yet chic traditional African designs and modern or classy Western designs with a touch of ‘Ella’. I hope to normalize, insert, and promote an affordable afro-centric blend of designs in the fashion world.
I achieve each creation with a unique blend of rare quality African prints and high-quality blends of fabrics common to the rest of the world. I am motivated by the need to normalize living in the diaspora despite our different origins and limited access to some of the things we really love. My design aesthetic focuses on a blend of unique fabrics and prints that infuse the African heritage into the contemporary styles of the West we have come to love.
My designs are very colorful and versatile. However, the most commonly used fabrics are 100% Ankara prints and different variants of Knits. Knits are generally a blend of Cotton, Polyester, and Spandex. Other than the affordability, I place a higher emphasis on the unique blend of fabrics and designs to represent two worlds. Nanka Clothing is unique, affordable, and inclusive. I keep it simple yet chic because I want my clothes to resonate with the average person. We are living in very difficult times and sometimes in the absence of riches and wealth we tend to lose our self-worth. My clothes are accessible and relatable.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I have learned that not every collaboration or partnership is beneficial for a business, especially a small start-up. A wider range of assessments is vital when forging new partnerships. Business owners must be mindful of not only the potential growth or profit, but also their brand identity and the overall compatibility of each partner.
I have collaborated in the past with individuals, small businesses, and experts in the fashion space both in the United States and in Cameroon where I am currently forced to manufacture my products in the absence of a more suitable manufacturing option in the United States or closer. A few of these collaborations assisted in bringing some of my ideas to life while others at several points assisted me in almost shutting my business down. As with life, some of the outcomes were horrible, some bad, others good enough, and a few great outcomes.
The biggest lesson here is to take enough time when forming new business relationships to thoroughly examine the intentions, expectations, risks, and rewards that each party brings to the table.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
Right next to the high cost of manufacturing and importing my products from Cameroon, finding a reliable and consistent manufacturer in the United States is one of the toughest parts of running my business. I am in the process of trying to find a vendor who can manufacture and best represent the vision of Nanka Clothing.
However, until then, I have to solely rely on contractors in Cameroon and myself. Yes, initially i focused on designing the clothes and letting others bring these designs to life. Due to the high costs of constantly traveling or importing goods to and from Cameroon, coupled with the inconsistencies and lack of professionalism from some contractors, I am forced to manufacture some of my products.
There is a lot of stages involved with manufacturing a product and therefore important to invest time in securing the right manufacturer and partner for your brand or business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nankaclothing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nankaclothing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nankaclothing
- Linkedin: N/A
- Twitter: N/A
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd_CKz4plbY_L5oFRE2JtqQ
- Yelp: N/A
- Soundcloud: N/A
- Other: WhatsApp (Text Message Only) 915-471-0442
Image Credits
Paul Ngam