We had the good fortune of connecting with Ngolela and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ngolela, what role has risk played in your life or career?
If there’s one thing that comes with being an entrepreneur, it’s taking risks!! As cliché as it may sound, you’ll never know the outcome of something if you don’t go for it. Years ago, I was invited to show a collection at Liverpool Fashion Week in the UK. At the time, I had never been to the UK before and never met the organizer (she found me on social media). As excited as I was to be invited, all the “what ifs” popped into my head. I had to pray, block out all the things that could go wrong, and have faith!! That paid off in a major way because not only did I make it to LFW that year, British Vogue reached out to me after to do a profile on me, and I also got invited back to Liverpool Fashion Week to be the opening designer!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I gather inspiration from everything around me. I love to go to museums, explore on foot, and travel. Each time I’m in a new place, the ideas flow in. You can tell a lot about my personality by looking at my designs. You’ll see I love shimmer, fringe, color, and believe more is more (like a long train or dramatic sleeves).

I showcase my culture in most of my pieces, too. I’m Congolese (DRC) and Tanzanian, so you’ll see a lot of African prints in my collections. The majority of my creations can be styled multiple ways. Versatility is a big thing that sets me apart from other designers. For example, I may make a pair of pants and wear them as pants Monday, a shirt Wednesday, and head wrap on Friday. You would never know it’s the same article of clothing unless I told you!!

People are going to try to put you in a box or compare you to another artist. But, we are all unique and were not created to blend in. I got to where I am because I followed Wear what you like because you like it, not because it’s a trend or has a high price tag. I want the world to know that I’m fun and so is my brand!!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love being close to the city, but not in the hustle and bustle of it all. So, I have some favorite spots in various areas that I enjoy going to. If I had a friend in town, I would take them out for tacos on Saturday night. The best place for tacos is Melinated Café in downtown Atlanta. Taco Bae (the chef) makes the most delicious tacos you’ll ever have AND they are vegan!! Add a side of her jollof rice and you will not be disappointed!! The next day, we’d have to check out Dulce Vegan in the Kirkwood area for brunch and tea.

I would take them to famous landmarks like Madea’s house, Martin Luther King Jr’s house and historical site, and Cascade. After all that walking around, we’d probably relax at Anansi Lounge in Avondale Estates. The decor is fab and inviting and the mocktails are de-lish (I don’t drink). I’m sure we’ll be there for hours just talking, laughing, and taking pictures.

Speaking of photos, my friend and I would definitely go to the Roof at Ponce City Market. The games are fun and the views are beautiful any time of day!! Thursday night, we would head to The Loft Athletic Club for Get Down Stay Down step class with EJ. It’s always a vibe there and what’s better than a good sweat?

We would have to check out Café Sunflower in Buckhead for lunch or dinner one day. Besides the food being tasty, the portions are big and you’ll have enough for leftovers the next day!! The best place to combine all those things (food, drinks, people watching, etc.) would have to be The Beltline. It doesn’t matter where you hop on it, you’ll get your steps in and be entertained along the way!!

I’m sure we would have an amazingly memorable time at all of these spots in and around the city!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my marvelous mother. I grew up watching her sew and create masterpieces (she can make anything) from scratch!! She always has fun with fashion and knows how to make a bargain look like a billion (I get that from her, too)!! I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her. Thanks Mum!!

Website: https://Ngolela.com

Instagram: @Ngolela

Image Credits
Photos and styling by Ngolela.

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