By: Staphey Wairimu
Posted on Friday, June 14, 2019
Everything is what you make, there isn’t an ideal time, place.
The Half Nigerian phenomenal woman Adele, brought up in London and partly in Italy, has been recognised across the globe for her handcrafted designs of African inspired jewelry. She moved to Nairobi in 2005 after her husband got posted in Somalia. She has been able to make bags, neckpieces, rings, bracelets, name them. All these accessories have been inspired by horns and she mixed her Nigerian roots with European influence and set out on her never-ending quest for that essential artefact, that allows you to express your own style. Being able to cut teeth in the typographic design field has landed her jobs with vast brands such as Samsung, Salvado, Nsa, just to name a few.
Growing up in Northern Nigerian, she saw her grandmother make her own necklaces and she loved it. Mwenesi Musalia, also having a great taste in fashion and image consulting, spent a whole day with the lawyer turned designer lady. She wakes up early to do a Maasai yoga with a Moran. She then heads to the studio having an open mind.
Adele is a woman that comes out as strong and dedicated. She also spoke on what it takes to be a boss in the creative industry. ‘’’If you don’t have passion, forget it.’’ Adele who attended Middlesex University and studied law, discovered she was in the wrong career and ventured into fashion accessories and jewelry. The remarkable business woman gets her inspiration from nature and dogs. (one named Bahati, who dislikes men) Her garden, full of roses and lilies, gets to host parties and celebrations from twenty people all the way to a thousand.
Let’s talk business
‘’I used a lot of Facebook when I started, actually my first big job the company said they found me as I was the most googled designer!’’ She says. The contemporary social media has helped creatives link with brands and vice versa. Being such a huge brand, she boasts of twelve full time employees and when a huge deal comes through they outsource.
Adelle’s advice to upcoming artists is the secret of passion, I mean, she said more than enough times.
She also insists that one should learn from mistakes and learn to evolve every day. Be ready to do the grind, no matter the place, time or age. It’s all in the mind.
‘’If I had to start all over again, the first person I would get is a lawyer, because human beings we tend to optimistic that things will go well, unfortunately sometimes they do not. The second person would be an accountant. Most people rush to managers, but that wouldn’t be me.”