Ade Hassan Nubian Skin Founder

BDO: How long did it take for you to create this line from start to finish? Tell us more about the process!

AH: I came up with the idea just over four years ago. After a lengthy period of thinking about the idea and figuring out the right time to start, I put the wheels in motion in May of last year. I had several ideas in the past and a few that I looked into moving forward with, but ultimately when this idea came into my head, it truly stuck. I realized it was something I needed and was so essential, that it had to be something other women of color would want.

The biggest hurdle to overcome at the start was finding a good quality manufacturer. As a new and small business, a lot of manufacturers simply didn’t respond to queries, and others were looking for incredibly high volumes, so it was tricky. Once you actually secure a manufacturer, it’s always a battle to manage expectations.

Over a year’s worth of research went into the color selection alone. No fabric will match anyone’s skin tone exactly, but the aim of having “a different kind of nude” is for women of color to have lingerie and hosiery that looks close to their skin color and disappears under sheer or light colored clothing. After a lot of talks with makeup counters and artists and testing on countless women, we decided four colors would cover the majority of our target market.

BDO: Could you tell me more about your background? Did you study business or are you a self-taught entrepreneur?

AH: Before starting Nubian Skin, I worked mainly in the financial services industry. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and I’ve always wanted my business to be fashion related. When I took 15 months off work several years ago, I decided to take sewing and pattern cutting classes, which I really enjoyed.

BDO: What kind of feedback have you received from customers so far?

AH: Our feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. I’m honestly so grateful. We have been truly overwhelmed by the support from different communities of color and the mainstream media. It’s been wonderful to see how supportive so many women have been, and it’s amazing to get emails from women across the world just saying, “Thank you.”

Note: Nubian Skin is based in London but delivers worldwide.

For more on Nubian Skin, visit www.nubianskin.com and follow @nubianskin on Instagram.

Nubian Skin Founder Ade Hassan Redefines The Word “Nude” With New Lingerie Line - Page 2  was originally published on blackdoctor.org