She is inspiring (Ekiuwa Asemota)

Happy Monday,

I am sooo excited that the weather is nice. Spring is a time for renewal. It is a time for creativity, love, and a time for self reflection. One person who totally understands the importance of knowing herself and respecting life is Ekiuwa Asemota. This lovely young woman has such a vibrant personality that shows throughout her work. I know Eki from my Hype Hair years and am happy to see how much her business has blossomed…plus I have to support my fellow jewelry designers .

Thanks for the interview Eki…
Peace and Love,
Ally
PS. Check out the she-blogs bulletin for a new amazing event tomorrow…

www.ekisfamous.com

She-blogs: Tell me about your journey to starting your own jewelry line?
Eki: Journey it is! I found my love for the arts at the age of nine, vending with my family at different festivals and traveling with my father. Throughout the years it was a lifestyle to make my own jewelry and clothing styles. For a while I didn’t know that I had a gift, it just felt natural for me to be an artist. Not until I got to college did I kind of realize I had this talent and a few years after college I launched my company Eki’s Famous LLC.

She-blogs: What is your inspiration for designing?
Eki: Everything is my inspiration. God, people, life struggles, beautiful things, strong and humble people. Everyday I am inspired by people’s life stories. My creations come from a place of understanding and connection to my customers.

She-blogs: Were you always interested in being a designer and did you go to school for it?
Eki: Naturally Yes. I have my BA in fine arts and was a dance minor.

She-blogs: What does your average day look like?
Eki: At work at 10am. I run an after-school program at a high school in Brooklyn. You can Imagine the variety of work, movement and execution that is required for an After-School Program coordinator, but besides that I spend most of my energy reaching the students and exposing Joy, God and their creative abilities. Around lunchtime I get to some of Eki’s Famous work or to the post office. My program starts after 3pm. I plan programs, organize for events, shows, and am planning for a play in JUNE 2009!!!!
At around 6pm I am back home and either, out with my sister or friends, at church, designing jewelry or working on my website.

She-blogs: What are some of the challenges and blessings of being an artist?
Eki: You have to believe in your self otherwise no one will. I learned that the hard way. My self- esteem was weak, but that became a blessing later on in the years. I am able to reach young teens and tell them how beautiful and gifted they are.

She-blogs: What makes your work unique?
Eki: Eki’s Famous is unique because we are not just a jewelry company but also a lifetime experience. You can always find a piece or two or three that you want. It’s one of a kind and you can feel a story and connection to the jewelry.

She-blogs: Do you have tips for someone who may want to start their designing career?
Eki: Just do it! And believe in your self! I believe if you believe in yourself and trust all your faith in God you will be lead the right way.

She-blogs: You’ve had celebs like Lil mama, Cheri Dennis, and Chrisette Michele wear your pieces… How did you go about getting celeb exposure for your line?
Eki: While attending events, some artists take a liking to my work and I am happy to have them adorn my jewelry. I am blessed to have wonderful circles of sister girls in the arts, music and fashion that continue to expose me to various opportunities where I can network with wonderful people and celebrities.

She-blogs: What do you think is the key to success in life?
Eki: Did I say God First??
Then everything else falls into place. At times there is struggle, but you are not to worry nor fear, but continue your journey.

She-blogs: Are there any other job fields you would like to explore in the future?
Eki: I see strong growth in my future. I want to travel and reach people…. Not exactly sure how… but I’m open to the future’s unveilings.

She-blogs: Name one place that you want to travel to and why?
Eki: Venezuela and Dominican Republic (I went for a few days). My mother is from the Dominican Republic and she speaks fluent Spanish. I want to go for a while so I can be fluent in Spanish. I also want to go back to Nigeria to be able to learn my father’s language Edo.

She-blogs: What is your mantra on life?
Eki: Loving, Living, Giving, and Being.

She-blogs: Who inspires you?
Eki: God, my mom and dad, sister, brother and all the beauties and struggles life has to offer.

She-blogs: When was the last time you laughed so hard you couldn’t breath?
Eki: Everyday. My students are nuts, they definitely keep me going throughout the day.

She-blogs: What do you do to stay balanced?
Eki: I dance, listen to music, walk a lot, visit with family and friends, and attend church.

She-blogs: What do you like most about the way you look?
Eki: Everything….. ok more specific, I like my natural look and style.

Tags: Artist, Ekiuwa Asemota, Jewelry Designer

This entry was posted on Monday, April 27th, 2009 at 1:24 pm and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.