Today we’d like to introduce you to Faridah Koledoye.
Faridah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Atlanta for college and I believe that being so far away from home (Lagos, Nigeria) enabled me to envision myself more clearly and try a lot of new things. I believe my independence, perseverance, and creativity has played a huge role in all the accomplishments I have reached so far.
As I was finishing college in 2016 and began applying for jobs, I got interested in writing and sharing personal stories. I shared a piece with the New York Times which led a lot of women to open up to me about their struggles in the workplace or in school. I never expected any feedback and my mind was totally blown. I realized then, that my words could positively impact people and make them feel less alone in their struggles.
The NYT moment encouraged me to start Girls Who Strive, a website and movement, with the aim to share more issues that women and girls go through in their lives. I also dedicated time to founding a non-profit in Nigeria to empower children and women to live better lives.
In 2017, I came on board Adedammy Designs as a marketing and business development coordinator. Adedammy Designs is an African Inspired fashion line for men and women. I’ve always enjoyed the arts and my work for Adedammy Designs fuels my creative side. Alongside marketing, I manage our Instagram and plan promotion and website content.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been easy, I’ve grown a lot and I still have a lot of growing to do. I struggled with time management (I have a full-time job) and anxiety. I do a lot outside my job and balancing it all was really hard for a while. I also struggled with doubt.
Adedammy Designs & Girls Who Strive – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Girls Who Strive- a website blog, focused on female empowerment. We are known for our easy to read articles which detail reality and the hard to talk about issues women face. I’m most proud of the feedback I get from women, telling me that reading something I wrote made them understand uncomfortable situations more or provided them with clarity. I think what sets me apart is the authenticity of my writing.
Adedammy Designs- we design and produce African inspired clothing, for the modern woman and man. We have some of the best prices for the quality provided. I’m proud of how much Dami (CEO & Founder) and I have created from the ground up. We also provide styling services for fashion shows.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It’s hard to say. I’m still learning so much. One of the proudest moments was when I was contacted by one of my mentors (Enid Draluck) who inspired me to keep my vision. When I first started my blog, I had no idea it could help others!
For Adedammy Designs, it was definitely when we were able to cross over from volunteering at shows to getting paid for our time.
Pricing:
- Off -shoulder tops – $40
- Head wraps – $20
- Men’s shirts – $50
- Wrap tops -$30/40
- Dresses – $60-100
Contact Info:
- Website: girlswhostrive.com
- Email: faridahkoledoye@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/adedammydsns?igshid=1lkrrk69d1pxi
- Other: Adedammydesigns.com
Image Credit:
Jagabanilomo (for the first and second photo)
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