Eunice Nwokocha is beautifying people through her craft one day at a time

Description of her business

Eunice Nwokocha, founder of Daintyunyce Fashion and Events Enterprise, a Fashion outlet involved in the design of both male and female beads (Necklace) with unique designs/looks, bags and foot wears from leather work and Ankara to match targeted at giving their potential customers a unique, trendy, stylish and super looks at every occasion.

How long have you been running your business

12 months or less

What led her to be an entrepreneur

‘As an Albino, many thought I was so fragile and could not do anything, they believed I could not even thread a needle, yes that bad, but to their utmost surprise I could even peddle a sewing machine. All thanks to my Family and friends who knew my worth and strength, and myself will and determination I proved them all wrong.

My entrepreneurship journey was inspired by my mum who right from my tender age was involved in buying and selling of kitchens wares and basic household needs in order to support my dad who was a civil servant to be able to cater for my needs and that of my siblings.

I was trained in the area of home economics and fashion through my NCE program which gave me more advantage in the entrepreneurial world. At a tender age, my mum taught my siblings and I how to bake cake and make snacks for ourselves. My siblings and I also learnt how to peddle a sewing machine through observing my mum anytime she’s sewing. Little did we know that our passion for entrepreneurship will wax this strong as one of my siblings and I took up baking as a business.

I have always wanted to a corporate job after graduating from the university but this wasn’t coming forth as I faced challenges just for the fact that I am a person living with Albinism, spent 6 years plus searching for a job and was rejected at every point because they believed I could not fit in just because I am a person living with Albinism.

Yes, I am visually impaired (short Sighted) but that has not stopped me from attaining good grades while in school nor hinder me from performing excellently anytime I am called upon for a task, but this was not convincing enough to employers. This rejection awoken my Spirit to make a living for myself and prove to the world that I am just like any other human, the only difference is the colour of our skin due to lack of Melanin pigmentation and also we are allergic to the sun because too much UV rays on an Albino skin can cause Skin Cancer.

I began baking cakes and trying to empower myself with other skills through trainings for things I have passion for, not just to prove that I can be what I choose to be but also to build myself for me, myself and my community. My love for fashion can be traced to my mum who made sure we look radiant in the clothes she made for us, our uniforms for school and even clothes me and my siblings wore during festive seasons were all made by her and her designs cannot be found elsewhere and we were the envy of everyone.

Growing up I loved to be dressed in native attires and my love for culture grew every passing day. This led to my quest for more knowledge on cultural attires and accessories. Seeing that the African culture and heritage was fast fading away as regards fashion, I wish to set the fire ablaze, so it burns to the ends of the earth and spark the radiance of cultural beauty through fashion. Having faced discrimination and also being rejected several times during job interviews just for the fact that I am a person living with Albinism, drove me more to find my passion as an entrepreneur. Buying Gold, diamond and silver accessories is not a call for everyone, as these are expensive to acquire. Many wish to be adorned in them but cannot afford them. These has also sent other accessories almost into extinction like our local beads that depicts our African culture, the western dress code also tends to wipe off the likes of our home-made fabrics like Ankara. Leather is the order of the day while other local materials are being abandoned. My strife for culture as regards beads, bags and footwear making with leather and Ankara fabrics is to showcase the beauty of the African local materials while still looking radiant and confident and make affordable these accessories to the reach of many who cannot afford to have gold, silver and diamond accessories’.

Jobs

She is still the only one running the business

Revenue

Before the intervention: She was making $300 per annum

After the intervention: She hopes to generate at least $600 by the end of this year.

Milestone achieved after the intervention

Although still partly operational, she has been able to purchase an industrial machine and other equipment for making footwear and Bags. This helps to give a good finishing for my product compared to my old style of finishing (manual). I have also been able to buy quality and standard materials for my business and I hope to get more grants to be able to buy more equipment for better performance and growth of my business and to be able to employ and train others for the growth of the community.