Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Aug. 20, 1992, edition 1 / Page 12
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Business Briefs 1 BUSINESS PROFILE I African business woman creates custom African designs ?? By CAROLE RAGINS Community News Editor J Operating a business in a for ! eign land can be a difficult endeav J or but a local entrepreneur from -J Kenya broke barriers when she 5 ! came to America. Purity Ruchugo, owner of Umoja Mpingo African Crafts, sells 1 went to different stores to see what they had and 1 could not find the real flavor of Africa in any of the places I visited." Ruchugo says her store offers over ^60 original African patterns and prints. The shop specializes in custom-made African clothing made of kinte cloth for men, women and children/ she said. Purity Ruchugo looks through har book of African fabrics and designs aha has In stock. Tha book Is mada of klnta cloth. I hand-made African accessories, | crafts and clothing in her new store. ; Ruchugo came to the United { States in 1986 and lived in i Charleston, S.C. where she sold her j designs in flea markets. Shortly | after moving to Winston-Salem ear \ lier this year, she opened her own * uuMiiissj^iiV tack xfrMrteaw prints and customized designs was I obvious in this city" she said. "Peo ple would tell me they had to travel to another city to buy imported African crafts, jewelry and clothing. i Ruchugo also sells tie-die dresses and jumpers made of different fab rics and designs. "The kinte cloth is most popular because it represents the national fabric of Ghana, West Africa. The cloth is hand woven and it is the most highly prized and most expensive fabric among the , African people.Pfcople wear k with pride. It is made by the Ashanti, Ewe and Togo of Ghana," she added. The fabric is available in hand woven and non-handwoven textures ?:>?!! ?jj| Many people pa r?*nta Ww liiiHi 11^? ?? promises by manufac mms to pW^8eS by M*WI IfatfMtewyinW *!??*g**m im m m* wm^mm lVBN ^PPS^i9p^i::W^W!Sv WOM mm althooah tbe W> Of tr sate coammer pro aboat implied warranty I - wift thi?i? *""? chase service ?j?^fc:w?i?iiiw-TW!r tuiowic %i?tt?rjrott oeMiiervicecoow^w, HEO&ss&sm Of yoor poflph?es. To decide fc .tofsfel . | Si Hi * salcspetRMi and can be designed in any color or pattern a client desires, said Ruchugo. "I have access to a full line of materials, textures and designs to fit the needs my cus tomers." Although the handwoven kinte cloth is very expensive, I have the kinte print design in a cotton material that is reasonably priced," she said. "If there is something I don't have, I offer my clients alter natives. I have a lot of patterns to choose from." Ruchugo says she prefers her customers to come in and pick out the patterns they want. At that time, she discusses the design they are looking for and makes the garment for them. She designs and sews most of her merchandise except for the straw baskets and wooden carv- _ ings that her mother sends from Kenya. "My mother makes the bas kets from the leaves of coconut trees." Accessory items made of kinte cloth include neckties and bow ties ~ for men with matching cummer bunds, anklet and arm bracelets, ear rings, scarves, hats, belts, cosmetic bags, pocketbooks, and bookbags. Ruchugo also makes Kitenge dresses, African wedding gowns and after-five attire for her cus tomers. "I would rather make some thing that a person really wants," she said. Ruchugo has been sewing since r ~ ^ >? VH Ruchugo models a popular kinte cloth drass and hat daalgn that ara favorites with custom ere. Umoja Mplngo African Crafta Is located at 1215 East Sprague St. she was a child. She attributes her interest in sewing to her mother, who is very creative. Ruchugo says she has plans to market her merchandise to specialty shops in the surrounding Piedmont Triad area. "I would like for these designs to be available to everyone because they are different and spe cial," she said. "When you put on something that's made of African prints, there is a special pride that goes along with it too. Owning a piece of Africa is the feeling that most people get out of wearing the traditional designs." Although she has not reached the point of market ing her designs to different manu facturers, she is hoping to expand the business by hiring more people to work as seamstresses. "Some times, 1 am so busy trying to get orders out for choirs, and making - special outfits for customers howev er, I haven't turned anyone away so far, she added. "Usually, my cus tomers give me enough time to make their outfits." Ruchugo says she would like to see her designs in "just about every major store" some day, but until then, she plans to continue cus tomizing her designs. Never pay rent _ again. ? i ii iioumwo i in in i! ii r i ,TT.V - . *>. .:???; ?* ? 9 . ?. J P\ aeSSSEiy *?? ooooaooooi ooa aoaati* aaoa YVhy rent when you can own? Imagine that. No more rent checks. No more putting hard earned cash in someone elses' pocket. What's your alternative? Buy a H U D Home . Often for as little as your "first-and-last-month's rent," you could have the down payment for a HUD Home. Just add normal closing costs and fees, and you're ready to move into your own home. Ask a real estate professional to tell you more about HUD Homes, and show you HUD listings. For a free brochure filled with helpful advice on choosing, buying, and enjoying a home, call 1-800-767-4HUD. HUD Homes. The Smart Move. fftft Tg} ?1991 HUD
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Aug. 20, 1992, edition 1
12
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