Meet the Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon creating fashion pieces to empower survivors of domestic violence.
“I design to unite the multiple lights in our lives and make them one…… that’s fashion to me…..”- Dr Chichi Menakaya (CEO, Okwuís_Frocentric)
You are a Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, what drove you towards designing?
I grew up surrounded by luxurious pieces worn by my mother. In my eyes, my mum was eponymous to fashion. I remember travelling for hours with her to meet top dress makers to create her next fashion piece. Although in my eyes the pieces looked extraordinary, Mummy would spend hours enhancing the designs by hand before she wore them. She was a lawyer but, her fashion sense stood out from the crowd. I would sit patiently admiring her work and I felt so much joy threading the needles for her.
By the time I was 12, I played constantly with her singer sewing machine and would create outfits for my dolls. Over the years, I started drawing my own designs or modifying outfits made for me by dress makers in order to create unique pieces. I remember walking into high end stores and walking out with nothing to wear but, ideas to create my own unique outfit. Fashion made me smile. It helped me unite the multiple lights in my life.
You say you design to empower, how?
In medical school, in collaboration with a few friends, we started “unofficial” counselling sessions with friends who were in emotionally abusive relationships in my room. These session created a small trail of women who realised the strength within them. On relocation to the United Kingdom and despite a hectic surgical career, I focused on supporting immediate friends, colleagues, patients and strangers who somewhat survived yet another predator. One day, I was confronted by a colleague who had benefited from my informal one-to-one sessions that started from just chatting about life. She challenged me to help more people.
Okwuí Mask Scheme was born out of a drive to look beyond the outward appearance and see inside the individual. This charity supports survivors of gender based violence in the United Kingdom and Africa. Meeting with survivors, I realised that many stayed on in abusive relationships because of fear of financial loss. So, as part of the projects, we run a business empowerment scheme in Africa which equips grass root survivors with means of ensuring financial freedom.
Okwuís_Frocentric is a philanthropy venture capital launched in 2017. Okwuís_Frocentric label showcases a few pieces created by survivors alongside other pieces all designed by me to portray the uniqueness and affluence of African culture by integrating this with Western values. This fashion line was born out of a passion to empower survivors of domestic violence globally. All our fabrics are locally sourced in Africa from local sellers and only the most luxurious and original fabrics are chosen. Our production partners are all local businesses in Africa. We watch their businesses grow by showing their pieces to the world.
How do you communicate empowerment in your pieces?
Our pieces are usually created with fusion of different fabrics all with Ankara. Different fabric fusion means that we all have the power to create bigger impact by working together. The vibrancy of Ankara means we can colour our lives and reach the world by spreading love. Our pieces are usually flattering because we believe that it adds to your stride and guides towards greatness. When I wear a beautiful dress, my elevator pitch is enhanced and I walk taller.
How do you choose your production teams?
Our production teams are either benefactors of our “ Foster A Woman” campaign or local female owned businesses in Nigeria, West Africa who align with our values to empower others. We also have a few male owned local businesses that we support. In May 2018, we started accepting designs of our independent production partners to be added to our collections. Most of our benefactors are referred by our representatives in Nigeria who are willing to mentor the survivors while they grow their businesses and gain financial freedom.
How do you juggle being a surgeon, a charity founder and designing?
This is easy. I love to design, I love to give and I love to operate. These are my hobbies. They are not chores. All these activities are related. As a surgeon we create or reconstruct, that’s like designing too. Although these roles sounds like a lot, I have a great team that I work with in the UK, Nigeria and the US and without this team, we cannot achieve anything.
Who inspires you most?
My Mummy remains my hero. As a female legal practitioner in South Eastern Nigeria, she fought for justice in everything she did. She taught me that with my voice and skills, I can change the world and so can anyone else who truly decides to use their voice for humanity. Unfortunately, I lost her on Saturday 10th of September 2016 but, her voice of wisdom and encouragement walks alongside me every day.
What advice would you give new designers hoping their work would make impact?
Dream big, start small but most of all, start now!!!! I would say run, crawl, skip, jog, race to your dreams. Never stop dreaming even if it’s hard when you just start.
Welcome to Okwuís_Frocentric from London, United Kingdom to the ends of the world aimed at empowering women globally…….
@facebook- okwuis_frocentric
@instagram- okwuis_frocentric
@www.myokwui.com
Email: okwuisbijoux@yahoo.com
Photo Credit: The Lightfull Studio (Agatha Politanska-Konecka)
Kingken Photography (Kenny Anaedozie) – Supporting
Paul Weaver Photography
Make-up and Hair: EJ Hair and Makeup
Creative Director: Dr Chichi Menakaya
Creative Team: Miss Dera Meka, Mrs Uju Ifebunandu
Production Partners: Zainab Raufu, Colins Ukwu, Sisi Adaski, January 8th House of Style
