Today we’d like to introduce you to Adjo Honsou-Piper.
Hi Adjo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Being a Togolese woman and growing up in West Africa, my sense of fashion Is shaped in many ways by the daily lives of so many Africans. The hustle and bustle of the marketplace mean that your clothes need to not only be comfortable, they also needs to be mobile. The lack of time between activities due to the many roles women have meant that clothing needed to be versatile and functional.
Sewing was not abnormal growing up. My grandfather was a Taylor and a stylist. So fashion was always around me. I started to seriously see in high school, so I can make better garments for myself that I couldn’t find in the stores.
Fast forward 8 years, I started TRIBE228 to showcase the versatility and authenticity of my home country and many African nations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It certainly has not been a smooth road. I’ve learned a lot along the way and I still have much more to learn. One of the most important pillars of TRIBE228 is including local artisans from TOGO and west Africa in our direct economy. This method not only allows us to pay them a living wage but also grants us access to the authenticity of our garments.
But with this business model, Logistics is very hard. Though we are helping build the economy of our nation and changing our artisan’s lives, the cost of shipping to the US is detrimental to our profit. We do not outsource to cheaper manufacturing in China or other areas of the world because our artisans are more than employees. They are part of our brand.
In addition to logistics, social media and marketing and strategizing for the longevity of the brand have been additional challenges. Making sales online is much harder, but festivals are always a great turnout. Moving TRIBE228 from the live world into the digital world is the next big challenge to overcome.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love the creative process more than the business, to be honest, but prints aren’t cheap so I must sell to someone. And the more we sell, the more artisans can become part of the TRIBE228 family. I am best known for taking a print and making something that you wouldn’t expect. My brain just sees prints differently.
TRIBE228 is most famous for my elegant gowns made out of African prints. The authenticity of the tribe sets me, Alpert, from my competition, and all our gowns are handmade and customized. I take much pride in that process.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Don’t rush it, Trust the process. Be a better planner, so when the opportunity comes, you will be ready. So with what you have until you can get better. Don’t compare yourself to your competitors and lose focus.
Stay on a mission, slow and steady.
Pricing:
- Tops 50$ and up
- Custom suits 450$ and up
- Custom gowns 800$ and up
- Waist beads 10$ plus
- Other items vary, we have something for everyone
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@tribe228.com
- Website: www.Tribe228.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/Shoptribe228
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/tribe228
- Twitter: Twitter.com/tribe228
Image Credits:
Vanessa Rudloff
