Sheila Bonsu is a Creative Director of the fashion brand SheilaBonsu Atelier which produces ReadyToWear and MadeToOrder pieces for women.
Sheila holds a degree in Biomedical Sciences and had worked full-time in different sectors including Banking, Optometry, Fashion, and Jewelry but never got to work in the scientific field after tertiary because she had zero interest.
She started her own fashion brand in 2020 and has been doing excellently well in the industry since then.
Sheila shared more light on how she started her fashion brand in an interview with the Ghanaian American Journal (GAJ). Here’s how the conversation unfolded.
GAJ: Is it your dream or passion to do the work you do now? If the answer is yes, please tell us why. If not, what were you passionate about?
Sheila: I started university not really knowing what it is I was truly passionate about. Halfway through my years of studying for a degree in Biomedical Science, fashion definitely appeared on my radar. I started a different brand not long after completing my degree but it was always on a part-time basis as I always had a full-time job. I had to close it down at a point as I couldn’t focus on it wholly. After a while of restrategizing, prepping, etc, I had the opportunity to start my brand SheilaBonsu Atelier on a full-time basis during the pandemic in 2020.
GAJ: What are some of the major challenges you have faced throughout your new career journey?
Sheila: Finding workers to work in different departments of the business such as patternmaking is a big challenge. Finding quality sewing accessories and resources to help fashion designers learn skills to make their processes easier.
GAJ: And what is that one thing that keeps you motivated to keep pushing and to continue working hard?
Sheila: Seeing how far African Fashion has reached is motivation enough to keep me going. We are embracing the use of our beloved prints in the making of unique, contemporary designs and this most definitely motivates me to keep doing what I do.
GAJ: How has your work impacted society and the people around you?
Sheila: What I provide makes it very easy for women to shop contemporary pieces with hints of African print without going through the fuss of shopping for fabrics and then getting a seamstress to sew. I would like to think that alone is a contribution towards a happy society! We also provide good jobs for people in our field in the society.
GAJ: In the next 6 years, where do you see yourself and your brand? What impacts will you like to make in society?
Sheila: In the next 6 years I would like to see my brand stocked in certain stores both in Ghana and abroad and a wider audience reach across the globe.
GAJ: What advice would you give to young people, especially young women who would want to start a business or create a job opportunity for themselves?
Sheila: I would say there are many opportunities out there and before they embark on any business idea, make sure they are actually passionate about the idea and they should do as much research as possible to make sure they really understand their business venture and what it entails.
GAJ: Aside from your business, what are your other interests? For instance your hobbies or anything else you enjoy doing.
Sheila: I am a homebody when am not working so my favourite past times are watching movies, reading, and noting down ideas for an outfit.
You can check out their website www.sheilabonsu.com and shop away!
You can also find them on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok @sheilabonsu_rtw
