About ARONSÉ-AMADÉ

After becoming the mother of my third child, my grandmother in Nigeria gifted to me the cloth that would start it all. Then though, I was actually scared of it. When she gave it to me, she told me of the long-held traditional power of the design: whoever wore it will have many more children. Thereafter, I rushed—quickly—to hide it away deep in a box in some corner of our house.

Needless to say, I didn’t have any more children. I only rediscovered the cloth when my grandmother passed at the age of 114. She was strength—my example, my mentor. And I was her Amade, the ancient name she bestowed to me.

It was in the wake of her passing, but also in the vivid memory of her, that Aronsé-Amadé became a conceived thought. I wanted to honor her strength and her belief in the power of design, in telling our individual stories through our personal and unique styles. To her, this was the expression of your inner beauty.

Shortly after, I was faced with more grievous news: my niece had become one of the many victims of human trafficking, a practice rampant in my hometown of Nigeria. Only a few years later, one of her sisters followed suit. Even more stinging was the investigation by CNN’s Nima Elbagir, painfully reminding us of the extent of this no longer personal problem.

I could not ignore it. Amade could not ignore it. And from this responsibility, a new RONSE empowerment girls foundation was born. Our goal is to spread the ancient heritage and rich tradition of strong, tenacious and industrious females of my native Nigeria. Then after spreading, we return. Using proceeds from the sales from ARONSÉ-AMADÉ, we will work to help alleviate the crisis plaguing my home.

Yes—there are already foundations that work to help these girls all around the world today after the trafficking has happened. But I grew up in this environment, and I know firsthand that there is more going on than meets the eye.

These girls are willing participants in being sexually trafficked; only because they are economically and socially disadvantaged and a promise of a deceivingly blissful life easily overtakes these vulnerable girls.

And so, one of Aronsé-Amadé main focus is to fund Ronse Foundation – solely focused on prevention and deterrence of sexual trafficking of young teenage girls and young adults at their most vulnerable and impressionable age. Our money will be used to find these at risks girls, give them skills, teach them how to sew, provide auxiliary educational resources, and in addition continual mentorship and social support of these young girls.

As my grandmother was to me and many other young girls, we want to be their strength, their example, and their mentors. We want to tell their individual stories with a unique style on ARONSÉ-AMADÉ!

Amade, i ron se

A true friend is known in times of great need.