Hemma creates fresh, elegant collections using authentic hand-woven Kente, a textile rich in African royal tradition. Kente began to flourish in West Africa in the 17th century and still remains prominent representing social prestige, luxury, and cultural sophistication. Each garment is uniquely handmade from intricately hand-woven Kente imported from Ghana. By incorporating the same techniques used to dress Ghanaian nobility for centuries, Hemma allows each client to exude royalty. By investing in quality pieces that last a lifetime, the lives of Ghanaian school children are also impacted. A percentage of all proceeds will be donated to a West African middle school where the designers instructed classes.

Friday, April 30, 2010

LOVE-ing This Sandal

For all those girls who want more than the just the casual, everyday flip-flop, Ruthie Davis and Fiona Paxton have come together to bring you the Love Sandal. These ornamental sandals give a girl that princess feeling we always long for. Pair them with Hemma's Sena Dress or a pair of our Badi Shorts for the complete royal treatment.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Vogue Africa Concept

Photographer and make-up artist Mario Epanya envisions a day when Vogue Africa is gracing newsstands across the world. In an interview, Epanya said, "...I think having an edition of Vogue Africa will bring into the light, THE AFRICAN CREATIVITY, the world will be amazed by it.... trust me". Well Hemma could not agree with him more! Who would you like to see gracing the pages of Vogue Africa in a Hemma original?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Coco & Breezy

At Hemma, we love innovation, check out two fellow young innovators - CoCo and Breezy specializing in luxe shades and apparel.

Nina Ricci's Gravity Defying shoes

Nina Ricci's 8'in.heels are also taking fashion to new heights!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Shop Hemma at Darling!

Love the Asante blazer in blue or the Sena Dress? Pick up your Hemma original today at Darling located at 1 Horatio Street and 8th Avenue in the West Village. Darling is a beautiful boutique with a gorgeous garden known for its chic and whimsical dresses. Check out at virtual tour of the boutique and shop Hemma now at Darling!

Hemma Hits the Fashion for Heritage Show

The Fashion for Heritage show's designers all had one thing in common - innovation. The show was full of surprises from see-through frocks to cocktail dresses baring metrocard trim. Throughout the night we tweeted our favorite looks on the runway. Follow us on twitter!

Ten Minutes with Cindy & Edna of Hemma

FBE Online Mag for Young Entrepreneurs - Hemma in Essence!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Fashion Lens Forward - Hemma

Running with Heels, Shoes Inspired by NYC Skyline

H.Williams is a hot new shoe line that draws its silhouettes from architecture. The Reuda bootie from her spring 2010 line was inspired by the NYC skyline. Her pumps and bags have been featured in Glamour, Vogue Italia, Vogue Pelle, COLLEZIONI ACCESSORI and others. Check out the 2010 Hemma Collection now inspired by African royalty with a NYC twist.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

LUCKY MAGAZINE - Give Back! Throw Your Support Behind Educating Students in Ghana





















While studying in Ghana, Edna and I volunteered as teachers and Photography Club advisors at La Yahoushua Junior Secondary School in Accra, Ghana. We witnessed the economic hardships faced by young children in Ghana, many of whom worked long hours to assist their families. In Ghana, an estimated 40% of all elementary aged children lack the resources to attend school. The enrollment rates drop even further for secondary aged children, as an alarming 60% of them are unable to afford a basic education. Numerous primary and secondary schools, including La Yahoushua lack basic resources such as restrooms and up-to-date learning materials.

To address this issue, we created The Hemma Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that affords educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged primary and secondary school students in Ghana by providing academic scholarships. The foundation also aims to improve the quality of education by granting financial assistance to underfunded schools. By donated funds for learning materials and after school programs, The Hemma Foundation strives to improve quality of education received by Ghana's youth.

A percentage of every Hemma original sold is donated to The Hemma Foundation. Now the public can directly donate to La Yahoushua through Hemma's official website!

Pick up a copy of LUCKY's Magazine's May issue highlighting Hemma and The Hemma Foundation today!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Stay on Top of Bazaar Magazine's Trends for 2010 with Hemma

BAZAAR magazine recently posted it's 20 TOP TRENDS FOR 2010 online, and it's number one pick was Mixed Prints ! "...This season anything goes," they wrote, "mix and match your most colorful pieces and let your imagination run free." Posted along side their statement was a How-To picture featuring Dries Van Noten's collection, but I would have rather preferred to see Hemma's daringly chic use of kente patterns. Hemma + this trend = Picture Perfect! What Hemma piece would you stylize for this summer's trend?

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Lanvin's African Influence

During Paris' fashion week, Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz drew upon African styles and textures in order to create a dark fall 2010 collection. "Massive amulets, rough hewn fabrics, muddy hues and tribal feathers" are all symbols of the designer's African influence. However, upon interview Elbaz admitted to never actually visiting the African continent - except virtually. Cindy Gaston and Edna Bissoon of the Hemma line not only visited Africa, but also taught at a school for a period of time before launching their collection! If you enjoyed Elbaz' incorporation of African style into the fall 2010 collection, you should check out Hemma's designs and textures, which are influenced by African royal tradition.


What is it about the tribal inspired aesthetic that has influenced so many designers in the contemporary fashion scene ?

Monday, April 5, 2010

Hemma featured on LUCKY'S BLOG

M for music, Donna for Debut Fashionwear

Madonna recently announced the newest addition to her teen clothing line - sunglasses. What better counterpart to the Dolce&Gabbana collaboration than chic eye wear from the original pop icon herself. Like Hemma's premier in LUCKY magazine, the line will debut in May. The glasses will be sold at D&G stores, as well as in the chain "huts" of the manufacturer, Luxottica. Who knows what could be next on her list. --- Would you wear Madonna's sunglasses to go with your spring outfits?

Friday, April 2, 2010

Donate for HAITI!! Donate for GHANA!!

The Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation, Inc. is seeking donations from people to aid victims of disasters and support people in need within and outside of the United States. Currently, they have raised 20 million dollars worth of products for the survivors of the Haiti catastrophe, but are still in search of much more generosity. So donate for HAITI!
The Hemma Foundation is also seeking donations to educate the middle school students at La Yahoushua in Accra, Ghana. Better the lives of victims of HAITI & Better the lives of children in Ghana while your at it! Click the "Donate Now" button on the Charity page of Hemma's official website. As little as $15 can provide the school fees needed to send one child to school for a full year!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

EduCongo's Power of One Campaign-Better the Lives of Childern in Need Now!

A nonprofit organization called EduCongo is campaigning for the better lives of underprivileged children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In attempts to educate children, sponsor infrastructure of the sponsored school, and ensure stability and self reliance of the children, EduCongo is beginning the EduCongo's Power of One Campaign.

Hemma also benefits education in Africa by donating a percentage of each garment purchased to the school where the designers taught in Ghana, West Africa. Learn more about the Hemma Foundation in the May issue of LUCKY Magazine and at the Charities Section of Hemma's official website. You can now donate directly to La Yahoshua!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Hemma Graces the Pages of ESSENCE!

The April issue of Essence just arrived on newsstands with an editorial spread with everything you need to stay on top of the trends this spring. Innovative frocks with prints and patterns inspired by African tradition is a great addition to spice up your wardrobe. The spread features two HEMMA originals - the Green Coast Corset and Asante Jacket! Cindy and Edna give their tips on how to mix and match patterns and prints this season while reviving items in your closet in the Stylist Notebook.

Asante Blazer in Black & White

Get the latest tips on how to mix and match patterns and prints while reviving garments in your own wardrobe from stylist and designers of Hemma Cindy & Edna!

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Wait is Over! Hemma Now Available at Albertine

The wait is finally over! You can now see and feel the luxe authentically hand-woven kente in chic silhouettes Hemma offers this spring at Albertine!

Albertine, a boutique located in the West Village, features exclusive Hemma garments not offered anywhere else.

Shop Hemma today at Albertine!


Albertine, 13 Christopher Street, New York, NY, 212-924-8515

Friday, March 12, 2010

GaGa Should Be Wearing Hemma

Lady Gaga and Beyonce premiered their "Telephone" video Thursday night and everyone went insane. Next-to-nude women dancing in prison cells, making out, and... murdering people? Several music free, acting scenes featuring Gaga, Beyonce, or Gaga and Beyonce preceded, interrupted, or concluded the main feature- the song "Telephone." At one point, Gaga sported a leopard-print body suit while cat dancing in front of a truck, proving that animal print is coming back in a hard way. Isn't that what Hemma advised when featured as guest stylists in April's Essence Magazine premier of the 2010 collection? Foresight is the key to success.

Do you think Gaga's overtly sexual and borderline violent themes are too much or too fun?

Turkish Vogue

Tired of magazine subheadings that compare celebrity sex lives and gossip? Bored of the same celebrities being featured on every magazine lining the racks. I mean, you get enough of them starring in every Hollywood movie already, right? Vogue's Turkish edition, which came out this week, featured a cover free of Hollywood celebrities and all of the distracting subheadings. It's clean, professional, yet stylish. Much like Hemma.

What do you think about this magazine cover layout in America, would it survive?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Michelle Fashionista!

Michelle Obama was made an official fashionista this week when her Inaugural Ball dress, designed by Jason Wu, was put on display in the Smithsonian First Lady Museum. Her only faux pas? She wore Prabal Gurung to the event, while she stood next to designer Wu himself. While you may not be able to get your hands on the prized Wu dress Mrs. Obama wore at the inauguration, you can still feel like a member of the elite class in Hemma's classic and chic dresses. The material, Kente, was worn by royalty in Ghana for centuries. Shove that in a glass box, Wu!

What do you think about all the fashion press coverage Michelle is receiving? Were former first ladies considered as fashionable as Mrs. Obama? Why not?

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Anvil Westwood?



Anvil Knitwear is a USA-based company, established in 1976, aimed at providing sustainable business procedures from manufacturing up to distribution. In 2007, the company launched a campaign of eco-friendly, organic materials. And, in 2009, Anvil teamed up with Vivienne Westwood in order to design and promote a limited edition t-shirt for the U.N. conservation effort "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation." Philanthropic efforts such as Anvil's pave the future for the fashion industry. Realizing this, Hemma has gotten a jump-start on this endeavor and produces eco-friendly products, as well as making donations to the school at which the founders of the company worked while in Ghana.

Could you imagine what could be accomplished if all industries donated some of their profits toward philanthropic causes? Do you think it would make a large impact on global hunger, poverty, or other important concerns?

Friday, March 5, 2010

Shopping For A Cause

Who doesn’t love Oprah? Oprah is auctioning off items from her personal closet to benefit her Leadership Academy for Girls, Hemma loves this idea because just like Oprah we also support the youth education in Africa.

New York Fashion Week Highlight: Greenshows

While the New York Fashion week received a lot of press, its eco-friendly counterpart might have slipped by you. The Greenshows, a collection of designers and their trends that utilize environmentally friendly materials or production techniques, took place in the East Village of Manhattan. Some writers in attendance noted the, "All-natural dyes, knit details, and interesting, experimental fibres," that swept down the runway. Organic fibers were also an enormous part of the show.

With the rise of the "green" movement in New York City and elsewhere, do you think that environmentally friendly products and procedures will one day overtake traditional design and manufacturing techniques? Would you prefer a greener wardrobe?

Victoria's Got A Secret

Buying used and refurbished goods can be intelligent on environmental and economic levels, buying used (and dirty!) underwear may not be so smart. Victoria Secret was tested by secret shoppers who dirtied their underwear and lingerie items and then returned them to the store. The store simply put the items back on the shelf! With Hemma's handmade and handwoven production techniques, each piece being completely one of a kind, you won't have to worry about any products being... soiled.


Do you think it's correct of large chains like Victoria's to resell dirtied items, even if they are recycling?