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Q: How does a woman with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Sociology end up with a clothing line? (laughter)

A: I‘ve had a desire and a passion for clothing design since childhood but my other passion was law. Coming from Africa, our families always want us to be either doctors or lawyers (laughter).  But I’ve always wanted to own my own clothing line and designing company so it’s something I’ve always had a passion for. It’s always been there.

Q: Tell me a bit about your clothing line?

A: The name of my company is Shekinah Glory but my clothing line is called Adibiakor which means “It’s good for people” in Konos, my language. I wanted to make elegant and beautiful, sophisticated outfits for women that show we are beautiful.  We are princesses, we are wonderfully and fearfully made so we should embrace that. I also wanted [the clothes] to be as reasonably priced as possible.

Q: What kind of customer or demographic do you have in mind when you’re designing your clothes?

A: All women- business women, young adults... When I first started, my target was young girls, (18 year olds), but I design for young adults and older women who want to wear outfits that make them look beautiful. I design clothes for them that make them look pretty, beautiful and sophisticated- they look very attractive without showing too much or being too raunchy. (laughter).

Q: Why do you choose to work with African materials? Is it because of your background or do you just really love the way they look?

A: Yes, it’s because of my background. I thank God for America- this country really gives you the opportunity to do whatever you want to do in life- but home is where your heart is. I grew up with those kinds of fabrics and I’ve always admired the kind of passion that is put into creating them. At the same time, I like to incorporate US culture into my designs too. I was born in Sierra Leone but I live here. I am grateful for the opportunity to incorporate both cultures and make them one.

Q: Many people associate African clothing and materials with tradition; they associate it with older people and very formal occasions. How do you manage to make those garments appeal to younger people?

A: When I go to African get-togethers they’re all in these traditional clothes but the young girls are in European clothes like evening gowns, cocktail dresses.... I studied that a lot while I was growing up (I came here from Sierra Leone when I was fifteen years old), and always had it in mind that if I could “Europeanize” African outfits that would really be nice.  It’s not just about the traditional African style. As soon as I had the opportunity and started sketching garments, I did that and was really good at it.  The trick is that you have to know your fabrics because some of them don’t stretch. Sometimes you have to take the African materials (the African cotton, lace, kente, or “balza”) and combine it with a European material that works with it (silk, satin or polyester). You do a combination of the two, it’s something that I had to study.

Before I learned how to sew, my tailor in Philadelphia was the one doing it for me. Then when other young ladies would come to him, he started applying my ideas to them.  They really liked the end result and his customer base became tremendous in Philadelphia. I thought, “Hmmm, it really does work!” He ended up having a big business in PA based on that.

Q: Do you still collaborate with him?

A: No, I don’t work with him anymore. When it was time to do a collaboration and start our own business, he took my idea and ran with it. But it’s fine cause it’s still mine and I can do great things with it, it’s in my head!  I was upset but now I realize that sometimes you go through those things, especially as a female, you face those things a lot. I don’t need people who are going to bring me down, I need people who are going to work with me and raise me up! That experience forced me to learn how to sew rather than having to depend on people. I guess that was God’s way of pushing me to do what He had for me to do. This was the first year I not only designed but sewed the clothing.

Q: What would you say was your proudest moment as a designer?

A: One year I did my annual show and only about six people attended. At first, I was upset and even wanted to cry but when it was all over, I realized that I had made it- I succeeded. At the end of the day, it went really well and those who came were really proud.  God sent the right people because out of the six people who showed up, I was able to attract three new sponsors! It’s not about how many people came but that the right people came.  At one point, I was backstage and wanted to cry but I had to keep myself together for the models because if I crashed, they would too. I don’t know where it came from but I thought, “We are going to go out there and do what we need to do. There might not be a lot of people out there, but we are going to put on a show!” It didn’t matter if there was just one person out there- as long as they paid their money, we were going to put on a show for that one person. So we did it and I ended up being invited to go to the UN General Assembly in NY, the Boys and Girls Club sponsored books and computers that I was able to send to the kids back home in Sierra Leone, I got a photographer sponsor… out of that came a big blessing.

Q: That such a great story, especially because the small business owner who just wants to get their idea off the ground because they’re so passionate about it, can get really discouraged when they find that others aren’t as supportive or as invested as they would have hoped. Being able to take the positivity out of that moment was a great thing!

A: Yeah, you focus on those who are going to support you.  At the end of the day, when people make all kinds of excuses not to show up or help out, it’s something they just don’t want to do. You don’t focus on those people. Focus your attention on those that are going to show up for you. I learned from that moment that even if there’s just ten people at my show, I’m supposed to put on the best show there is because you never know who’s watching!

Q: Speaking of a putting on a show, there are so many times when a person has a talent they really want to exploit or a product they want to sell but they realize later, that it involves so many other things they never really considered. Fashion designers don’t necessarily think about financing and other things that have nothing to do with designing clothes; a singer probably doesn’t have the accounting background to balance their books or think about what it takes to promote their work.  What would you recommend to a diva who’s just starting out but don’t have a handle on the business end of following their dreams? How have you managed to make it work?

A: I have done those things myself because I don’t have the budget, but if you have the money to do it, hire a publicist and other professionals to do that work.  When I first started out, I made flyers, advertised on Facebook and Myspace… I took the time to go to games, parties, weddings and other places I knew people were going to be and advertised. I’ve done that consistently but as more girls started to come out, God started aligning me with people who have the same mentality as me and they started pulling some of the weight themselves.  They pass out flyers and make phone calls… One thing I’ve learned is that you have to sell tickets in advance because although you want people to see what you’re doing, at the end of the day, if they don’t show up, you won’t lose as much as money as you do when you just pass out flyers and hope people will come.  I give my girls (my models) tickets to sell in advance and tell them that I don’t want any tickets back! (laughter).

Also, if you can’t do it, find someone you trust to put in charge of the money. I’m blessed with my sister who’s really good in accounting, but find someone you trust.  When it comes to money, you really have to pray to God to send you someone who won’t end up either causing problems with your money.

So that’s how you have to do it. You have to push up on your tickets, sell them in advance, advertise- use the internet, go to clubs... Sometimes you don’t want to be there but you have to do what you have to do to get your name out there. I still go to parties and soccer games with my girls, pass out flyers and sell tickets. At the same time, I’m carrying my children with me. (laughter) I make sure I pack a lot of diapers and milk and we go on our way! (laughter).

Q: Wow, how many kids do you have?

A: Two. I have a ten year old and a five month old.

Q:  I’m glad you mentioned your family. In addition to being a business owner, you’re a wife and mother. Do you think women can have it all?

A: The answer is yes and no, it all depends on the woman. Sometimes you make sacrifices you didn’t really want to make but they needed to be done. But as far as my kids are concerned, I don’t sacrifice them for anything. I put them first. You can’t have it all but you can make the best of what you have.  One thing I know is doable is being a mother, a wife and a business woman- it’s about balance. When you’re out there doing business, it’s about business; when you’re home, you’re home with your family and that’s how I’ve managed to balance myself. When I’m home, after a certain time, I don’t answer phone calls, it doesn’t matter what it is. I make sure that I give my family that time, and then when it’s time for me to work with my models or go to a practice, I focus my attention on that. I think every woman can have that if they want it but if you choose not to, you can have your business and your husband. Or you can just have your business and you!

Q: What keeps you going when things get rough?

A: My faith in knowing that I can do anything I want to do. I see women like Oprah and Maya Angelou and where they came from.  They are black women who were born at a time when whites and blacks weren’t supposed to sit together or eat together. Now, if Oprah says something is good, the whole world buys it! (laughter). You see that and the changes God can bring in your life if you believe in yourself and just keep on keeping on. My faith and the future of my children keep me going.

What also gives me the drive to do what I need to do and bless others is that I feel like I was chosen. There was an 11-year civil war in my country. In order to fly out, you had to catch a plane in the capital city. It turned out that the day I left my district to go to the capital, was the very same day the war started in my district. Our houses were burned, friends of mine were killed; children were raped and amputated...  Everything you can think of happened to children in my country.  That’s what where I get my strength and my drive from. I don’t just want to help children in my country, I want to help children all over the world.

Q: I know a major part of your work is raising money and other donations for children. Do proceeds from your clothing or pageants go to a particular charity?

A: I sponsor an elementary school back home and have been able to send books, pencils, money… Most of the children in my country are orphaned because of the war. The school was actually formed by my aunt in order to help children who have no parents or family see a brighter future despite all that has happened to them. A few years ago, I also did an awards banquet in Philly for teenagers who have done something positive for their schools or neighborhoods and I plan to do it again next year!

Q: What advice would you give to a fellow diva who wants to get into the fashion industry but doesn’t know how or where to start?

A: Start with yourself. Believe in yourself, but start small. When you have an idea you want to run with it and run big!  That was a mistake I made when I started and I wasted money. Start little. Try putting on a free fashion show for the neighborhood. Pass out flyers and let people see your creations for free- just a few of your garments (you don’t want to put it all out there). See what it’s all about and how to put on a show then the next time you can start charging.  Usually, we have big ideas so we want to start big.  I’m one of the people who started big and I had a lot of disappointments. I had to go back and start small in order to see what was going on and lessen my expenditures. You have to sit back, see what you’re doing wrong and learn from it.

Also, don’t give up your dreams. When people do something and they don’t make money from it they tend to give up.  If you want to be in the business world, just know that in the first 3-4 years, you’re not going to make back all the money you put into it. Think of those first years as your learning years and then maybe by the 5^th year, you’ll start seeing profits.  If you’re doing this for the money and you’re not passionate about it, you don’t belong in this business.  Yes, it’s about money, but passion is everything!

So start small, align yourself with the right people and keep your ideas to yourself!!! (laughter). We have wolves in sheep’s clothing walking around everywhere. We meet somebody, they talk right and they sound right so we want to spill our entire guts to them. But if you think about it, if they have the finances and the talent, they’re gonna run with it and there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s gone! Put your ideas out there a little at a time and you’ll see that eventually, things will turn out to be big.

Q: Where can readers go to learn more about your clothing line?

A: We’re in the process of building the website for my clothing line right now but you can learn more about my organization at www.sginslinc.org. You’ll also see the charity work we’re doing in Sierra Leone. At www.mslpa.org, you can find out more about the fashion shows and pageant we put on.

Q: How can people who want to take a look at your designs or place an order get in touch with you?

A: They can email me at pf_koroma@hotmail,.com or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or they can give me a call at 301-821-3503. They can contact me to see my garments or have something fitted or custom-made.

Q: Before we wrap up, I have a few fashionista questions: What garment should every diva have in her closet when she wants to feel sexy?

A: Every diva should have a short cocktail dress in her closet to make her feel beautiful and sexy.  Once you put it on, you’re in a different place (laughter)! You get to advertise your legs and it actually makes you feel taller once you accent it with heels. You must have at least a 3 or 31/2 inch heel!

Q: You actually took my next question…. heels or flats?

A: Oh, definitely heels!! What I do, (this is my own little secret), is I take a purse with a decent flat if I’m doing something that requires dancing. When I get tired of dancing in my heels, I just take them off and pull out my nice decent flats!

Q: What’s the secret to feeling good in your clothes? Sometimes you’re trying to be cute and within an hour at the party, it either feels too tight or you don’t feel as confident as you thought you would…

A: I always tell my girls, you have to have the right bra! It’s one thing to try on your clothes when you’re not moving, it’s another when it’s time for you to move and you start realizing that you either have to pull it up because your boobs are too big or you have to pull it down because your behind is bringing it up. You must always have on the right bra and the right panties. Also, I tell women all the time, if you giggle a lot, wear a girdle.  If you have a nice decent girdle on underneath your clothes, you’ll feel as sexy as ever.

Another thing, if you wear a size small, don’t try to put yourself in an extra small because you want it to be skintight; if you wear a medium, stick with the medium. You also have to know your designers.  Just because you wear an 8 in Baby Phat doesn’t mean you wear an 8 in Apple Bottom.

Also, stop doing last minute shopping if you can. Most of the time it looks good when we put on right then and there, but later when we go out, that’s where the pulling, tucking and shoving comes in (laughter) because it was all put together at the last minute.