Today we’d like to introduce you to Stella Manfouo.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am originally for central Africa precisely Cameroon. I moved in the united stated in 2007 from Germany. I went to school in Louisiana where I graduated with a bachelor degree in accounting. You will wonder how I switched from accounting to the fashion world!. I have always been a bright colors sucker. I remember as long as I can that when I was a little girl, I loved to wear either all red outfit or all white. Not mix matching or anything. It gotta be one bright color all over. I loved creating new pieces, my mother was a seamstress in her leisure time, had a singer machine at home. I would remember taking my clothes apart and sew it back in another design. That used to drive my mom crazy. In my teenagers days, every garment she bought will get a makeover. My love for passion grew, even more, when I moved to Germany where I fell in love with the European fashion, the slim fitting garments for men and that edgy fashion from Italian designers. My friends used to always come to me and ask me to go shopping with them; they will be like “you know how to put crazy stuff together,” and it always comes out good.
Please tell us about your art.
Our designs are essentially made from African prints. Everything is hand made from clothes to jewelries, with materials from Africa. Our pieces are unique, and we always make just a few pieces for each design. My goal was to make my customers feel like they own a unique piece, they will not easily see on anyone else. Reasons why we do not reproduce the same design with the same prints. The reason I chosed ” the Dream World” as a name its because am envisioning a world where everyone, especially us African/African American will be proud to wear our motherland prints on an everyday basis. Not only on ” black history month” or for specials occasions but just like we are wearing any other western design. It’s okay to be different; it’s even better to be unique, bold. It takes a bit of courage to wear my garments on a regular because they are so colorful, bright, vibrant, but again this is what it is all about, Standing out, not blending in. ” life is too short to wear boring clothes.”
What do you think about the conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Small businesses like mine are struggling a bit today to emerge because first, we are not supported by our own. If I take refers to my own business like I said earlier, everything is handmade and materials outsourced from Africa. It cost quite a bit to produce those garments, and consequently, it will be on the expensive side. What people don’t usually understand. Maybe if artists have more infrastructure on site to develop and bring their ideas to live, it will definitively help any artists thrive.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
We have a physical store is parkdale mall.
The Dream World
6155 eastex Fwy. Suite 120
Beaumont, tx 77706
An online store; www.thedreamworldinfashion.com
Contact Info:
- Address: The dream world
6155 eastex fwy suite 120
Beaumont, Texas 77706 - Website: Www.thedreamworldinfashion.com
- Phone: 3182785009
- Email: Thebilliondreamworld@gmail.com
- Instagram: The_dream_world_official
- Facebook: Theafricanworldinfashion
Image Credit:
Photographer @charisphotography
Designs by the dream world.
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
