Designer Kimma Wreh
With her innovative, traditional and cultural creations, designer Kimma Wreh is on the forefront of African wedding gowns. Her dresses allow a bride to display her heritage in a modern, fresh way that makes any woman feel like a goddess on her big day.
Long before meeting the right man or planning the perfect wedding, a little girl dreams about one thing: her wedding gown. Implementing this sense of nostalgia along with the time honored features that make African wedding gowns so unique, Kimma Wreh has taken her small business on a new venture. Touching each bride and helping their dreams become a reality is what Wreh achieves to do. Working with an extensive team who is dedicated to meticulous handiwork and exotic fabrics, Wreh is able to bring those dreams to life with needle and thread.
Growing up in Liberia, the designer was forced to leave after the local university was closed due to civil distress and military rule. She received the opportunity to study at the prestigious Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1988. With her trip to the States, Wreh brought her ferocious work ethic, determination to succeed and her wardrobe. It was with this that she began receiving compliments and inquiries on her clothing, all which drew from the ethnic vibe of her home nation. As welcoming as they were of her look, the student body was a little less so about her roots. “Many of the students I encountered viewed Africa in a negative light. Their image of Africans was that of poor people living in desolate environments, [and] not speaking good English.” Wreh went on to triumph over the stereotype, educating friends on the history of Liberia, and learning everything she could about a new culture. This gave her the inspiration to try her hand at something that would change her life.
Far before she began designing wedding dresses for blushing brides to be, Wreh poured over fashion magazines for inspiration. “My friends in Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) would mail me French fashion magazines such as Femme and Afrique.” Like many young girls with a knack for creativity, she found herself always inching towards ideas and things that allowed her to express herself. With little time to devote to designing, Wreh made many of the dresses she wore to school. After graduating from Howard, she launched TeKay Designs with her sister. Their intention was to create a collection that would appeal to both sides of the modern African woman: the homage to the beauty and strength of her home land, as well as the fresh outlook while living in a new place.
“The turning point in my career as a designer was when I went to Ghana in 2001. I spent 2 months in Ghana…I met with local weavers, tailors…and embroiders to produce the Sankofa collection meaning ‘Going back to your roots.’” After meticulously seeking out a team of people who could create for the Western market while retaining the impeccable workmanship of African tailors, Wreh was able to move forward with her designs. TeKay Designs received a bevy of orders in their first run. Wreh used traditional Ghanaian embroidered symbols, and textiles familiar with the African culture such as the Guinea brocade. The bridal collection boasted detailed artistry and embroidery work that was elaborate and fun. This, explains Wreh, is the most time consuming process of creating the dresses. “This requires…patience, talent and attention to detail.” Most of Wreh’s designs have intricate embroidery created by the designer and passed along to tailors. The vision is clear and concise, showing the tradition of African craftsmanship in fashion. Gilded threads make the embroidery appear more regal and defined, especially when paired with bold colors or the unassuming white that most brides choose for their gowns.
Inspired by her native land, Wreh draws from many aspects when creating her collections. She uses Gye Nyame, the symbol of the omnipotence, supremacy and immortality of God in many of her garments as it is a highly respected Adinkra symbol in the African culture, primarily for the Akan tribe. The use of gold on white represents the ceremonial state. Taking a look at Wreh’s gowns, one notices the dominant use of gold threads and trim on the traditional African garb, giving it the distinct, modern look of the Western society formal wear.
Using high quality fabrics and threads, TeKay Designs has grown from a small operation to that which is the go-to label for African women seeking out that special something so far from home. Even modern brides want to capture a piece of their homeland for their wedding ceremony by way of their gown. Just that one element takes a wedding to a new height, ensuring that the bride is connected to her roots on her monumental day. Wreh designs her gowns with the discerning bride in mind: refined and dramatic, both in their own element ensuring there is a gown that speaks to each woman who visits her or her site. Gowns are custom made to a client’s specific needs. This allows the fit and model of the dress to flatter in every way possible.
Besides gowns for the bride, TeKay Designs also has a hand at making African-inspired formal wear for grooms and grooms men. The label has gone as far as producing a variety of sleeveless men’s agbadas (the traditional top worn by men) in “a revolutionary design in which the dashiki is exposed with its eye-catching embroidery.”
Wreh still becomes inspired by fabrics and colors. She is partial to aso-ake fabric, which is made in Nigeria. It is handmade and custom weaved by craftsman in a small village, and uses the highest quality thread. She describes her clients’ reaction as “flabbergasted” when it comes to the quality and beauty they receive when ordering a piece constructed of aso-ake. In Nigeria, it is used for weddings and naming ceremonies, while in the States it is not commonly found, thus expensive.
Like most women who come to a new country, Wreh is eager to take her accomplishments and continue to create for women celebrating a momentous occasion. She continues to work and design and hopes to see the label grow. Reflecting on how far she has come, it’s no surprise to see TeKay Designs for many years to come.
For more information, visit http://www.tk-designs.com .