FRIDAY BORN - LOLADE HASSAN 19/11/2013

Who doesn't love a bit of African print?

Friday Born is an African inspired clothing line created by Emma Afua Amoafo. The 22 year old was influenced to create this clothing line during a visit to the Motherland. She was touched by a charity located in Ghana that supports orphan children, ‘Bless the children international’ which she wanted to raise money towards.She goes on by saying, “I really wanted to do something for them, and at the time I was thinking about ways to branch out and do something artistic alongside my degree”

This talented medical undergraduate started off with a small business selling accessories like bow ties and head bands via a Facebook page and the business has been growing ever since. The clothing line name was inspired by a Ghanaian tradition, to be named by the day of the week you were born. In this case, Afua means ‘Friday born’, hence the name of the brand.

Friday Born is known for its bright vibrant colours, patterns and shapes, bringing ordinary clothes to life! Amoafo uses modern day designs and whips them into an exotic African dessert. Her designs range from edgy playsuits, stylish crop tops, studded fitted dresses and of course, their signature bow ties.

  

The thing that stands out most about Friday born is their quirky and unique designs that cannot be found anywhere else. The “Ashanti Pirate” design, a leopard with a kente eyepatch turns so many heads as it is so unusual but at the same time stylish. She states that it is one of her favourite pieces, “I’ve sold the design on jumpers and t-shirts, and I’ve had some great feedback about it”

This young lady has not let her time consuming degree get in the way of her business. She admits that she had doubts about juggling both at the same time, “I study medicine, which is inherently really time-demanding and I worried that it might get too overwhelming at times”. But luckily her time management skills came in handy!

Amoafo is a great believer of giving back. Perhaps it’s her compassionate nature or just her deep love for the motherland. Her first donations to the orphanage changed their lives dramatically.

“This consisted of essential food and clean sanitation, and money that they used to develop an IT centre that they had begun to build. The IT centres purpose is for them to train some of the older children in IT skills, but also it acts as an internet cafe for the community, so they can get some revenue from it.”

“And now the goal for 2013 is to make enough money for the next project, which is installing a water tank. The water supply in their area is quite unreliable, so by installing a water tank they can be guaranteed water 24/7”

Keep watching out for Friday Born designs as it has so much more to offer in the near future in terms of media collaborations. Friday Born has a bright future ahead, catch them being featured on more online magazines and even music videos.

“I’ll be releasing the Autumn/Winter collection in the next few months, which I’m really excited about”

Here at MCM, we have high hopes for Friday Born and wish nothing but the best for this aspiring clothing line. African print fashion is heading places and taking Friday Born with it!!