Chikodinaka Chima.

The world caught a case of Barbiemania during the later days of summer in 2023. Thanks to the blockbuster film Barbie which starred Margot Robbie as the titular character. Every fashion enthusiast went crazy at the opportunity to design Barbie-esque dresses, jumping at the chance to redesign doll dresses. The mania reached its zenith when Margot Robbie and the rest of the cast began taking style inspirations from previous looks of the Barbie doll. 

Before the Barbiemania of 2023, living in Nigeria, a girl expressed her love for fashion through the clothes she designed for her dolls and when she learnt to sew, she made closets of garments for the 29 cm tall models.

Years later, she turned her hobby into a career, making dresses for much taller models with her brand, Hn Clothings. The life trajectory of Chikodinaka Chima differs from that of a typical designer, breaking into the industry with her advanced sewing techniques. 

This connected Chikodinaka with an audience of shoppers who are focused on quality craftsmanship and tailoring. The enthusiasm from her clientele landed her a spot in the renowned, ThisDay newspaper where she was lauded for her intricate pattern drafting skills and her scientific approach to garment production. She seamlessly blends traditional Nigerian fabrics like Ankara and Adire with Western influences, creating styles that resonate with her diverse clientele.

At the beginning of her career, her initial resources were limited and the hit from the pandemic was emotionally draining but Chikodinaka had an aim- empowering women.

THE HN CLOTHINGS VISION:

Despite facing challenges and struggling to navigate her business, Chikodinaka stayed motivated with her brand’s aim. 

Beyond the seams and stitches, Hn Clothings envisions a world where her designs inspire confidence and strength in women. Her creations embody positivity, resilience, and self-assuredness. 

Hn Clothings expresses that a woman’s clothing should be more than just a garment; it should be an extension of her personality, a reflection of her values, and a symbol of her inner strength. Her clothing line is designed to help women feel comfortable and confident in their skin. With each stitch, she weaves a message of hope and encouragement, reminding women that they are strong, beautiful, and capable of achieving anything they set their minds to and Chikodinaka represents this.

MEET CHIKODINAKA CHIMA:

No stranger to working in male-dominated fields, Chikodinaka obtained a BSc in Mathematics Education. However, she is not a stranger to fashion, learning to sew at a young age and perfecting several dressmaking techniques as a teenager.

This was a skill she had picked from her mother, however, the ever-diligent artist, sought to further her art as a fashion designer and enrolled in a fashion institute, OSC College of Fashion. After the institute, she embraced various online and onsite courses, mastering sustainable luxury fashion through platforms like Corset Academy and Fashion Masterclass Africa.

Chikodinaka aims at excellence and the tale of Hn Clothings is founded on the mastery of fashion techniques but there is no better person to tell her story than Chikodinaka herself.

Q: Fashion is something you have always loved and been skilled at. You learnt to sew and had gained mastery of it, so why did you pursue certifications at fashion schools before getting into the business?

C: I went to fashion school to be properly taught and learn the basics of fashion design. I wanted to have a solid foundation in fashion design. I was able to learn how to draft patterns accurately and perfectly, I also wanted to learn advanced sewing techniques and other new trends, and new styles because fashion is dynamic and ever-changing.

Q: Now that you have explored fashion courses, looking back, how would you say they shaped you as a designer?

C: The takeaway from the fashion school I attended is every garment construction has a why behind the design, fashion school challenged me to always ask the why and how. This has helped me be detailed and organized in executing different styles for my clients.

Q: Hn Clothings has founded its spotlight with its feminine and physique-flattering designs but when did it get its start?

C: Hn Clothings was registered as a business on the 27th of November 2018 but prior to then, was already providing services to friends, coursemates and colleagues while studying at the University.

Hn Clothings ventured into custom-made services, initially for friends and family, later captivating

a wider audience.

Q: If you made a life map, fashion is one of the things that has been consistent for most of your life; from sewing for dolls as a kid to designing garments for friends and colleagues in university. Through this journey, have you ever wondered what about fashion you love so much?

C: What I like about fashion is the ability to create something extraordinary from an ordinary fabric while infusing originality, personal style and creativity into it.

Q: The world only sees the glitz and glamour of the fashion industry but as someone with an established brand such as Hn Clothings, what are some of the challenges you have faced?

C: Out of all the challenges I have encountered on this journey, the one that stands out is working long hours to meet deadlines and produce quality designs for clients especially when you have a very small team. 

Another challenge is insufficient space, I started from my one-bedroom apartment and it was so difficult working with the limited available space. I resorted to moving things around to sew, sometimes we would move the bed when I needed to iron, and other times we would move the boxes where clothes were kept to use my dress form for draping designs.

The possession of a doll has become a bus stop on the road from girlhood to womanhood, and what began as a hobby for little Chikodinaka in her home turned into a lucrative business, proving we can become who we want to be with the right amount of dedication.