Designer Profile: Aso Damisi

 

 Aso Damisi, SS2013 Collection

 

Though Philly is my hometown, I'm still sometimes amazed by the creativity of some of the city's residents. Earlier this month at a fashion event at the US*U.S. Design Co-op and Boutique, I saw the creations of the talented designers-in-residence at the Co-Op including the design duo, Aso Damisi.  The bold prints and stylish silhouettes of Moriamo and Latifat's pieces drew my eye immediately.  I requested an interview to learn more about the two sisters behind the brand.  Moriamo and Latifat kindly agreed to the interview, so I can share more about them with you.  Now on to the questions!

 
Shen Dove: Tell me about the inspiration and meaning behind the name of your clothing line?

Aso Damisi: The name of our line originated from a Yoruba speaking tribe in Nigeria, where we were born. “Aso” means cloth or clothing and “Damisi” means Prosperity.

Shen Dove: I’m so amazed that you are self-taught designers! Why did you decide to start your company?

Aso Damisi: We grew up designing for ourselves and after years of receiving compliments on our creations, we decided to launch Aso Damisi.

Shen Dove: How has your Nigerian lineage, the places you’ve lived and the places you’ve traveled impacted your designs/style? 

Aso Damisi: Our line is a modern take on African fashion. We use prints from our origin on different textiles and use that to create modern and classic silhouettes.

Shen Dove: How did you come to be one of the design brands housed in the US*U.S Co-op? Can you tell us a little about your experience as a member of this Co-Op?

Aso Damisi: We were invited to become members of the Co-op by our fellow Philadelphia Fashion Incubator colleague, Autumn Kietponglert. Once she explained the concept of the Co-op, we couldn’t say no. Our experience at US*U.S has been great. It is wonderful to work with a group of talented designers, who you can bounce ideas off of.

Shen Dove: Typical work days don't exist for most creative entrepreneurs, but what are most work days like for you? 

Aso Damisi: There is no typical work day for Aso Damisi. We constantly have to be ready to change plans. Sometimes we have quiet days where we are just doing paperwork and then we have days where we are driving around for meetings, fabrics, etc.

Shen Dove: Name one artist, celebrity or personal hero you would love to see wear your clothing and your reason for your choice.

Aso Damisi: We would love to see our clothing on someone like Beyoncé because she embodies who the Aso Damisi woman is and what she's all about. The Aso Damisi woman is powerful, confident, resilient, independent and has a style of her own.

Shen Dove: Can you highlight a major point of the creative process of bringing a collection or specific clothing item to life? 

Aso Damisi: Our process starts with the creation of our print, which is the most important part of the process for our brand. Our prints are the inspiration and spring board for each collection.

Shen Dove: As fashion designers and entrepreneurs, I’m sure you’re dreaming up your next big moves. Do you have any cool events, opportunities, or projects on the horizon that you’d like to tell us about?  

Aso Damisi: We will be featured in Philadelphia Magazine's September issue for The Fashion Project Competition. We hope your readers will support us by voting. We post all of our events, activities, and projects on Facebook and Twitter (AsoDamisi). Be sure to follow/like us.



Shen Dove: Thanks for the interview ladies! Please check out the fabulous clothing from Aso Damisi on their website.  If you're in Philly, go see (and purchase) their clothing in person at the US*U.S Design Co-op and Boutique.