We recognize this name now in the Senegalese capital, in the world of African fashion and more and more internationally.
This is the brand
SOPHIE ZINGA
(---> instagram page here)
For the record
Sophie Nzinga Sy was born in Senegal and grew up in the United States, with 4 years in Kenya. She launched her brand after studying in New York at the prestigious PARSONS School of Design, which she joined in 2009. « I thought I would apply to go to this prestigious school. If they take me, it will be a sign. I did it and I was accepted ».
She has stood out despite the level there and competitiveness: « Most students who are registered for Parsons, are either white or Asian. And they all came from high schools of arts. They were already immersed in this world, which was not my case. I had an academic background and I was the only black». In her school career, she also has a degree in economics.
Her debut with her passion go back very far and she started a blog in 2005 where she talked about travel and especially fashion.
Her inspiration?
Her two parents being diplomats, she is inspired by many trips she made and the many cultures she has encountered, her African roots, education and entrepreneurial spirit.
She launched her project which already marks her impression in the industry with the opening of her shop SOPHIE ZINGA and also generated jobs for the Senegalese youth.
"I wanted to come back here to see if I can make things happen a bit," she said. "I think there is so much potential here; People are very creative, and I am convinced that I can develop my brand in my own country ... I have always wanted to come back here to work and create jobs. "
Opening a business in Africa is not easy, the project took 3 years to launch. "It was an obstacle course to build my team. I went through the training schools to recruit, but some students were unable to sew a straight line. This raises the problem of quality training in Africa ".
Opening a business in Africa is not easy, the project took 3 years to launch. “It has been an obstacle course to build my team. I went through training schools to recruit, but some students were unable to sew a straight line. This poses the problem of quality training in Africa”.
Why she impresses me:
She is passionate, enterprising, brilliant, young and talented.
The 2 things that determine my interest in a brand: Quality and Simplicity.
"I always try to divulge the history of Africa and I mainly use the woven fabric and African fabrics that I mix with the European fabric. I found it important to show that the African fabric can be as chic as the others tissues ". Her clothes are 100% made in Dakar with tailors she trained.
And her creations are elegant, simple and can dress any woman whatever the origin and it looks good! Her work is recognized by the biggest names in fashion despite the high level of competition in the world:
- Sophie Zinga was advised by fashion professionals (Simonetta Gianfelici, the Vogue Italia team and the Ethical Fashion Initiative team) and participated in Vogue Talents during Milan Fashion Week.
- Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italy to appear in the magazine as "talent to follow".
- She was among the 30 young fashion designers selected around the world, for their talent, by VOGUE to present their collection in Milan in 2014. In October of the same year, she becomes a partner of the program "Ethical Fashion Initiative", led by International Trade Cooperation (ITC).
- She was named "Outstanding Emerging Talent" by VOGUE Italy in January 2015.
- She appears in an article of Forbes Africa as elite of Senegalese fashion.
Finally, her goal is to "give the modern woman the means to reinvent herself while expressing self-confidence, either in a Board meeting, in a gala dinner or on a trip between New York, Paris and Lagos. "
For her, the woman "Sophie Zinga", must be confident, elegant, while looking for something timeless.
Here is a link for a video where she introduce herself.
