Meet CAMAM Brand Ambassador - fashion designer Kibonen Nfi

The Cameroonian American Chamber of Commerce (CAMAM) is delighted to launch its ‘Making of a Star’ promotional campaign, featuring CAMAM Brand Ambassador Kibonen Nfi the founder of the New York City-based Kibonen NY fashion label.

Kibonen’s fascinating journey alongside her unique talent, ambition, commitment to success and entrepreneurial spirit make her an ideal brand ambassador of CAMAM.

About CAMAM

The Cameroonian American Chamber of Commerce (CAMAM) is a member-based nonprofit organization advocating for private sector development in Cameroon particularly through promoting active engagement from members of the diaspora in the United States. We aim to intensify international cooperation, improve knowledge sharing, and promote initiatives that can lead to more inclusive economic growth.

CAMAM currently boasts a membership of over 60 companies, organizations and individuals.

About Kibonen Nfi

Kibonen delved into fashion in 2009 when she came up with the ingenious idea of revolutionizing the royal regalia of the Tikar people of the Bamileke and Bamenda regions of Cameroon - the ‘Toghu'.

She further developed her aesthetic vision by creating pieces that do not only represent the Cameroonian tribes, but garments wearable and appreciated by the ultra-modern client – constantly gaining inspirations from the African tribes and global trends, she represents her inspirations on her textile designs which she prints on luxurious fabrics as well as on the construction details, shapes and silhouettes.

Kibonen is aimed at providing a ready to wear sportswear line catering to the client who is confident in luxurious quirkiness, who is comfortable with trying new and different things and is capable of traveling the world at the comfort of their current locations with what they wear.

A child of all Africa as Kibonen considers herself, she has successfully showcased her talent at the Art Institutes Mercedes Benz fashion Week NY SS15, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa SS12, SS13 and following her successful showcase at AIMBFW SS15 she was called to showcase her collection again in at MBFWA SS15.

Kibonen has been featured on BBC, GQ SA and the New African Woman Magazine. Her work has been in exhibitions at the National Museum of African Art – Smithsonian Institution.

In order to further develop her skills so as to best articulate the needs of her clients, and transform her natural talent to a money making establishment, the African Fashion International Awards Nominated Emerging Designer of the year 2013 is a Fashion Design graduate from the Art Institute.

A serious career in fashion is unfathomable in Cameroon, but this ideology is gradually changing thanks to pioneers like Kibonen, who takes it upon herself to cultivate and mature this untapped industry using her experience and knowledge from learning abroad.

Sustainability in fashion is key, to Kibonen who thinks of Cameroon as a country and Africa as a whole is endowed with abundant talent, unbelievable design aesthetics, with amazing and beautiful people yet huge populations live below the poverty line.

This was another gripping factor that urged Kibonen to further develop her skills and use the business of fashion to eventually help create employment in Cameroon, paying employees a fair wage that will not only aid survival but allow them to improve their standard of living.

Watch the video below to get an idea of what CAMAM campaign is about.