We recently connected with Kelechi Okengwu and have shared our conversation below.

Kelechi, appreciate you joining us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

I have a voracious appetite for reading, which came from my parents who frequently gifted me with books starting from a young age. My love for reading resulted in a big imagination and a love for learning. Angelina Swann was first birthed in my imagination and my love for learning is what keeps me going, even in the hard times.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Kelechi Okengwu. I am the founder and CEO at Angelina Swann, a brand that offers luxurious, ready-to-wear geles expertly handcrafted from the finest aso-oke fabric. A gele (pronounced “gay-lay”) is a head tie that women across the African diaspora frequently wear. I was inspired to start Angelina Swann about three years ago, when I visited Nigeria after a 24-year hiatus. The trip felt like a homecoming, which placed me in a heightened emotional and creative state. While visiting a local marketplace, I noticed a disembodied mannequin head donning an awkwardly placed gele. I remember feeling a deep sense of inspiration as I walked through a busy marketplace. I remember thinking in that moment that it would be cool to start a gele line. When I returned back to the U.S., I started working to bring the brand to life. The rest is history. Angelina Swann is partly named after my maternal grandmother, Angelina Tele Akpan. My grandmother was a fashionista in her own right and came from a long line of powerful women who owned influential fashion businesses. I wanted to honor her memory by naming my business after her. The “Swann” part of the brand name is taken from the fairytale, the Ugly Duckling. I always reflect on the fact that the so-called “ugly” duck wanted so badly to fit in and later accidentally discovered that it was not a duck at all…it was a beautiful swan! The story is reminiscent of how I came to discover my own beauty and I want to empower other women to do the same. Angelina Swann is merely a mirror of sorts, held up to women to see their own beauty.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

The name of my brand is Angelina Swann, which offers luxurious, ready-to-wear geles (headgear). The geles are presented in a pre-styled format so that anyone, regardless of their familiarity with geles, can wear them with ease. I was very intentional during the design process because it was important that each piece could withstand the test of time. I approached one seamstress to design the prototypes. Although I was not satisfied with the prototypes, I was encouraged because it was the first step in bringing the pieces to life. I then approached another manufacturer and showed them the prototypes with ideas on how I wanted to improve on the prototypes. We worked together to modify the prototypes until I was satisfied that they were ready to go to market. Once the prototypes were finished, we then worked on producing the pieces–each one is made by hand over a period of three days. Throughout the entire process I learned that it is important to keep the vision at the forefront but also be willing to pivot as necessary.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Angelina Swann’s reputation was built by participating in New York Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week. Both events showcased the brand in the media in major publications, including Glamor Magazine, Elle, FashionWeekOnline and Bazaar.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://angelinaswann.com
• Instagram: @angelinaswann
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelinaSwannUS/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AngelinaSwannOfficial