Seamples is a Nigerian-based fashion brand founded by Chioma Inyang that has been making waves in the fashion industry with its bold and vibrant designs inspired by African culture and heritage.
The brand’s aesthetic and design philosophy are based on simplicity and comfort, making their clothes not only stylish but also practical for everyday wear. The brand’s success can be attributed to its focus on quality, sustainability, and ethical production practices, as well as its commitment to celebrating African culture and heritage through fashion.
One of the distinctive features of the Seamples brand is its incorporation of African culture and heritage into its designs. The use of bold and bright colours are key elements of the brand’s design language, which reflects the vibrant and diverse culture of Africa.
Infusing these colours is a way to celebrate African identity and heritage, and to help customers feel proud of their roots.
Chioma Inyang explains that’s the production process at Seamples involve the use of high-quality materials such as crepe, wool, cotton, and lace, as well as heat and water testing techniques which helps to determine whether the fabric will shrink, fade, or lose its shape after being washed, thereby ensuring that their products are of the highest quality.
The brand’s commitment to using sustainable and ethical production practices is also evident in its efforts to minimize waste and collaborate with artists and recyclers to recycle any waste generated during production.
The staff at Seamples are not overworked or underpaid, and safety is stressed to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all.
Seamples primarily targets working-class women within the ages of 27 and 35. They serve customers in Lagos, United States of America (USA), Canada, United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark. The brand hopes to expand its reach and collaborate with bigger brands such as Target, Asos, Walmart and Macy’s in the coming years. This expansion will not only give the brand wider exposure but also help to promote African fashion and culture to a larger audience.
Chioma says that the brand uses fashion as a tool for social change. Through their designs, the brand aims to change the narrative that Nigerian-made clothing is of low quality and not durable.
Seamples aim is to showcase that Nigerian-made clothing can compete with what is obtained abroad through top-notch detailed finishings.
The afrocentric fashion movement is growing at an unprecedented pace, especially among the African Diaspora and in the fashion industry. This has led to an increase in the number of designers and brands that specialise in Afrocentric fashion, as well as an increase in the visibility of African-inspired fashion on the runway and in fashion magazines.
Seamples is no exception to this trend, and in the coming years the brand hopes to see Afrocentric fashion in major stores in Scotland, Wales, England, Ireland, Canada and United States of America.
Despite its successes, Seamples has faced several challenges and obstacles along the way. One of the major challenges faced by the brand is a shortage of skilled labour in Nigeria due to a lack of training and education opportunities, as well as a lack of investment in the fashion industry, which makes it difficult for fashion designers to find qualified workers to hire.
As a result, fashion designers often struggle to meet production deadlines and maintain the quality of their products, which can affect their reputation. However, the brand has overcome this challenge by hiring passionate individuals and training them using its own techniques and methods, thereby inculcating excellence in their DNA from the very beginning.
For aspiring designers looking to create their own Afrocentric fashion brands, the key advice from Seamples’ founder Chioma Inyang is for them to be prepared to work hard on getting their marketing and brand positioning right. Starting a fashion business takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Be prepared to put in long hours, make sacrifices, and stay committed to your goals. With persistence and perseverance, you can turn your passion for fashion into a successful business.
In conclusion, Seamples is a rising fashion brand that has captured the hearts of many with its bold and vibrant designs inspired by African culture and heritage. With its plans for expansion and collaborations with major brands, Seamples is set to become a household name in the Afrocentric fashion movement, inspiring designers and fashion lovers alike to embrace African culture and heritage through fashion.