Edohart is a young woman known for her career as a performance artist and as the founder of African Silk. She’s Nigerian, from a state called Ado Etiki and decided to go against what she considers as one of “Africa’s biggest issues”, the lack of preserving and encouraging local African textile traditions. Due to this way of thinking, she decided to not only do the opposite, but to start her own brand by making her own prints and selling unique African designs.

When we think of Africa, we think of strong prints, shapes, and colors, but what many do not know is that these African prints are coming from China and India, and the laces used in traditional clothing are coming from from Switzerland. The identity that belongs to the country is missing, and becoming the earning of someplace else.

Edohart states that it has become a very complicated process to buy from other African manufacturers. The costs and reach is definitely a downside and there is a whole logistical supply chain problem, where roads aren’t built correctly, infrastructure is missing, and transport won’t arrive. She sadly agrees, there is not much of another option for designers than to import.

However, Edoharts’ strong personality and belief in herself led her to find a solution to the problem. As a female entrepreneur she decided to open up her own brand, to produce her own material and to be set as an example that it IS possible to start moving Africa’s fashion sector in the right direction. With the inspiration of her roots, she wants nothing more than to see Africa have a better standing in the fashion industry, and she is set to get close to her dream.

To start out, Edohart didn’t want to use the traditional investor method nor did she ask for a loan, but instead, she started a kickstart campaign in which she asked for donations to pursue her african silk line.

Edohart did not only reach her goal, but impacted the market. Since her collection was based in female lingerie, and African prints generally imported only in cotton, she decided to make it herself, along with decorations using natural products and the coloring of fabric with no toxic elements. She made it a complete line of sustainable clothes with absolutely no harsh chemicals.

Today, Edohart sells her garments in boutiques all over New York as well as online, and she has set an example of how a female with an entrepreneur mindset, started with a goal, worked towards it and along with the support of many, is now providing the fashion world with an exclusive and 100% African based product.