We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zainab Olagunju a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zainab, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I realized I was meant to go down the creative path since I was a child. I would stay in my rooms for hours working on some type of creative project, weather it was painting, drawing, crochet/knitting, or sewing. I just loved creating so much it took up most of my time. I had a rough childhood so creating something was a major outlet for me and a way to express myself. Self-expression is something important to me, and it wasn’t till high school where I had the decision to make on what school I wanted to go to and what my career path would be. A representative from an art school came to speak to me and a few others about a career in the Arts and that’s when a lightbulb lit up in my head and I knew this could be something I could do. I went to an Art school for fashion design because it had to do with self-expression and creating something out of my imagination while using my hands. I love it and went on to putting on my own solo fashion show during my last year of college. I even had the opportunity to showcase my brand Newbox (NWBX) own designs during NYFW 2018. I was slowing trying to make a name for myself and stood by my brand. I had the aesthetic of punk rocker chic, sexy, fierce, streetwear.

Zainab, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I took a break from creating for a while, because I became confused about what I wanted to do with fashion and was also going through personal issues and needed time to reflect. During that year I connected with my inner child and had to ask them to remember what I loved so much about creating. The ability to tell a story and connect with people all while also staying true to my self-expression was something I realized I was missing and longing for in my creations. Creating became fun again because it became more personal, and I wanted to tell a story through my garments in a way people could connect to my art while using multiple mediums. I don’t consider (Nwbx) a brand anymore but the physical manifestation of my self-expression. Nwbx is a mix media outlet for creative expression and storytelling. I Zainab the Creative director creates specialized garments/ pieces to tell a story and transcend you to a different reality. I have great ambitions for what is being created in Nwbx now. The type of client I’d attract are ones who are looking for a more Avant Garde hand made pieces to help tell their own stories in their own lives or outside of it. I could see myself Creative directing short films and helping in the designing process for garments used in movies. There is a lot of heart in my creations now that I hope people will see and as I keep advancing in my creative pursuits. I Zainab the artist could consider myself a Creative Rebel.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

This is a great question! I believe there isn’t enough love or support shown to us artist. I think people believe it is so easy and can undermine how much their support can do for any artist no matter what stage they are in. I say if you love a specific artist show them that love. Sometimes a like or comment is enough to keep us going to believe we were meant for that path. Art is something that is so vital for us humans and is needed as part of our evolution. The importance of connecting with each other through artistic expression is a beautiful thing and I hope us as a society can make sure that sacred space is celebrated and guided with love and continued support. I also encourage anyone to dabble into any artform that makes them happy no matter how good they seem to think they are or aren’t. People can forget how art can be healing like music or painting to how therapeutic simply crocheting or knitting could be. Also checking out ad buying from your local galleries and local artist work is a great way to show support and keep art alive in your community.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing about being a creative is the satisfaction from finishing a project and the love being poured into each creation. Having new ideas and being able to see the vison and produce it, is what has been so fun and kept me continuing my creative pursuits. I love when people see what I have created and can connect to it in some way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @_nwbx_
• Other: Tiktok- @_nwbx_