It was the want
to see more modern and Casual African Wear in her own closet that inspired
Christiana Afotey to start Threads By Dreads. “I wouldn’t be creating
something I wouldn't wear myself. Although I adore and respect the fashion
creativity of designers worldwide, I feel as if I can put my own twist on
things within the industry”. And so with that mission in mind, Threads By Dreads was Born in
September 2013.
Her time spent
in Ghana also contributed to the inspiration behind Threads By Dreads, eye
catching and Unique clothing is what she loved to see. She admired the pride in
which the Ghanaians took in their proudly African Prints. Their unique prints
weren’t reserved for specific occasions as they “would wear
their African print clothing to work in corporate offices, hospitals, musical
performances…just about anywhere!” And so Threads By Dreads would contribute to
the Fashion World by staying modern but also incorporating interesting African
Designs.
Because she is
currently based in the US, most of her designs are imported from Ghana and in
some cases she may design her own prints however Threads By Dreads is more than
just a brand as it’s a celebration of Ghana’s roots “I see myself as an individual
cultivating the roots of Ghana and planting the seeds with people all over the
globe. I would love to see supporters of TBD wear the line and accentuate it
with their own individual style of fashion.”
Since the birth
of TBD Christiana has “developed a
better understanding of why people go after their heart’s desires and
fulfil their passionate dreams.” She has realised that the desire to go after
your goals and particularly what you’re passionate
about is enough to push you to reach far beyond your limitations, the sky may
not be the limit as you can reach beyond that. “I can say it
has sparked a new flame for me. “
Christiana may
embrace African prints however they are uniquely made to accommodate the closet
of a modern women who also wants to infuse African prints into her modern
style. However if given the chance she would love to collaborate with Swedish
retailer H & M. “Their product lines are constantly evolving
into a never-ending futuristic stylish trend. They have opened doors for many
designers around the World like Alexander Wang, Jimmy Choo, Roberto Cavalli. I
would love the opportunity to mesh with their brand and set the tone for the
future of ethnic fashion.”
Christiana not only pours the inspiration from her experience in Ghana
into TBD but she also uses it as inspiration for her personal style.” My inspiration
comes from the experiences that I have encountered while in Ghana and also
while seeing what designers from all over the World are producing”.
However she does admit that if she had to invade a celebrity’s closet it would definitely
have to be Ushers Closet as well as a Ghanaian singer’s closet Efya’s. Yet she does
spend less time shopping for herself but when she does go shopping, she isn’t very particular
as she shops from local retailers and she often has some of clothing tailor
made for her from Ghana. Though some of her preferred brands include Levi’s, Nike, Polo and
Timberland. She does, however, point out denim as being her favourite item of
clothing “One piece of clothing I cherish more than
others…is denim! Who doesn’t love a pair of hot jeans?”
We should definitely look out for Christiana as she is clearly here to
stay and definitely reach beyond the stars. She not only sees herself as being
one of the leading brands in the industry,“ I see myself leading people who have a
passion for producing a new stream of ideas in the fashion industry and coming
together to make the dream work. Ultimately, I want to be a successful servant
and leader.” With that said she would also love to work
with communities, “Since I’m a dreamer, I
would love to see myself being more involved in the communities of Ghana and
especially Nungua.” Its clear that
Christiana cares about more than just fashion as she would love to be known for
more than just that but also be known for the good things she’s done, “and the positive influential sparks I’ve caused in people’s lives.” And she also
advices anyone wanting to enter the fashion industry to follow their hearts
desires and always be up for a challenge. A little constructive criticism has
never hurt anyone and so she also advices that you should welcome it, “if you fail at something…its ok, learn from it and move on.”
4 more minutes with Christiana
1.
How did you come up with the name for your brand
and which other names would you have gone for if it had not been what you have
chosen now?
So you’re curious to the method behind the madness?? Lol I honestly just
thought since I was the one coming up with the designs for the TBD line, what
other name would be appropriate? I am proud of my heritage, I am proud of where
my people have come from, I love Ghana! One of my goals is to bring you specifically
a taste of the Ghanaian culture. I don't regret choosing the name Threads by
Dreads but it wouldn’t
hurt to consult with a marketing/branding specialist to get other views. I’m definitely a fan of constructive criticism.
2.
Looking back would you change any of the
decisions you took while you were starting?
Ha! Looking back on the journey thus far…I would say I should’ve
signed up Sewing 101 and Fashion 101 classes. For me, the curiosity is what
keeps me going, so I become more eager to learn the ins and outs of the fashion industry, how to sew, design and
implement everything from ‘A’ to ‘Z’. I love
to travel to other countries and witness how native residents present
themselves and rock their inner beauty! It’s never too late to begin a new adventure!
3.
Do you promote a certain way of living if so
what is your philosophy for life? I try to keep things simple.
Live your life to the fullest, with NO REGRETS…knowing that you will encounter trials and tribulations, but stay
strong because your actions will be your testimonies and triumph will be yours!
4.
In your spare time, when you aren’t working, what do you love doing?
I enjoy
playing sports, being outdoors (I’m
a freak of nature), reading a good book, indulging in laughter with family and
friends. Some may not know this about me, but I enjoy the outdoors…I am fascinated by nature and I love plants!
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