In today’s age of the ‘melanin goddess’ and #blackgirlmagic, the celebration of black beauty and fashion is certainly on the rise. From scrolling on your Instagram, to catching up on trends in Teen Vogue, it is becoming more and more common to find our kinky tresses, glowing skin, and bright fashionable patterns being praised as the latest trending topic.
However our style is much more than just a hashtag, and traces back to a culture rich with tradition. Everything from head wraps to jewelry tells our story, and two young women, Chioma and Uchenna Ngwudo, have brought that story to life. Hailing from Brooklyn, NY the duo created Cee’s Cee’s Closet, which seamlessly bridges everyday fashion with West African culture.
Starting in 2015, Cee Cee’s Closet sparked to life when co-founder Chioma began selling clutch designs during a trip to Nigeria. Since then, the brand has expanded to include backpacks, clothes, jewelry, and their biggest hit head wraps.
“The birth of our headwrap business differs in that we created this segment of our business purely out of need. Uchenna had recently completed her “big chop,” and needed some bold prints for styling her hair on bad hair days. We couldn’t find any companies that offered headwraps handmade in Nigeria, so we decided to expand into that business”
Garnering success on social media, head wraps and wrap tutorials have become a large part of their business. With color-popping, eye-catching photography on Instagram it’s hard not to become an instant customer!
But their aesthetic is not the only thing that’s jaw dropping. At only 26 and 23, Uchenna and Chioma are hoping to not only celebrate women of color, but create employment opportunities in Nigeria. For them, quality is key and they strive to present the best to artisans working to create their product, as well as their customers.
“When we first started our brand we aimed to celebrate the beauty of African fashion and design. As we grew, we discovered that we accomplished much more than that.”
Chioma and Uchenna are continuing to grow Cee Cee’s Closet, promoting free expression for all women with their amazing accessories. They are setting their sights high as they grow their audience, and by the looks of it they have every right to stay ambitious! Visit Cee Cee’s Closet online and stay updated on their latest looks!
Instagram: @ceeceescloset_
Facebook: Cee Cee’s Closet NYC