Women are at the forefront of putting Africa on the fashion map of the world. One of such women is our Woman Crush Wednesday, Abrima Erwiah, co-founder of Studio One Eighty-Nine, an artisan-produced fashion brand that has won the CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative for Sustainability Award.
Her vast background knowledge – more than 16 years of fashion and luxury experience and sustainable development – has translated well in her brands’ core value.
She has worked as an advisor to the United Nations International Trade Center Ethical Fashion Initiative and has worked as the Global Associate Communications and Marketing Director as well as the Worldwide Social Media Director at Bottega Veneta (Kering Group).
Also, she has held various positions at luxury brands including Cesare Paciotti, Hermes/John Lobb, and Bureau Betak. She was appointed marketing mentor for Afripads in Uganda through the Kering Foundation for Women’s Dignity & Rights. She supports various organizations including V-day, the Lower East Side Girls Club, Fashion Revolution USA, 14plus foundation, the High School of Fashion Industries committee, Shine on Sierra Leone, etc.
Erwiah has received several awards including; the Martin Luther King Jr Social Justice award from Upenn, the MOCADA Social Justice award, the Design Miami Visionary award, the Filming On Italy Social Justice award, the Africa-America Institute Entrepreneur Impact Award, the International Women of Power Sankofa Award and more.
She is the poster girl of a successful black woman.