MEET QUEEN ADELINE COLLECTION
FOUNDED BY
QUEEN AllOTEY-PAPPOE
LOCATION: Lowell, MA
@queenadelinacollection
THE INTERVIEW
Written by Anne Muise, Boston Women’s Market
BWM: Can you tell us a bit about what led you to create Queen Adeline? What are your aHa! Moments?
Queen: First and foremost I am a storyteller. My superpower is “bringing the story of color to life.” Growing up in Ghana, West Africa, my favourite scene was the market scene with women of all hues selling all kinds of wares in their vibrantly colored printed textile clothing. My aHa moment was when I realized every waking moment should be a memorable time for you and that your clothing had a huge impact on how you felt! The energy and vibrations from these hard working women was hard to miss. It brings you alive. I created Queen Adeline to bring this energy to my customers. Vibrant women's ready to wear and couture using high quality 100% wax cotton print textiles and other biodegradable fibres sourced from Ghana. Sustainable statement pieces, wearable art, very practical and functional for today's woman and her styling needs, for the myriad roles she plays in society just like the market women in Ghana. Clothing featuring bold designs, color, patterns and lasting style. It is a celebration of the colorful art and vibrant culture of Africa that is my heritage and the cornerstone of my creative journey.
BWM: Can you talk about what influenced you to focus on sustainability when it comes to your fabrics?
Queen: My father used to say life is meant to be lived here on earth and not in the grave. I concur! Like the African women from back home, I want every woman who wears my clothing to feel great and come alive. Alive and empowered to make their life statement on their own terms! When I came into the fashion industry and realized it is the second largest source of pollutants in the environment, the emphasis on “Fast Fashion” resulting in cheaply made clothes that are designed to be worn and tossed, the industry's carbon footprint on our environment is alarmingly devastating and sometimes at the cost of the human lives involved. I decided I didn't want to be part of this problem. Queen Adeline was born. I wanted to design clothing for women who want to make a different kind of fashion statement. She wants to vote with her purse. Committed to Sustainable fashion: Slow fashion (making purchases that last) Eco fashion (reducing carbon footprint) Ethical fashion (fair treatment of garment workers) She wants to look great and have fun with color, but not at the expense of the environment or the vulnerable. She wants a wardrobe with a new type of timeless classic, one which is beautiful, well-made, ethically and sustainably crafted, and versatile for year round wear, Queen Adeline’s promise. My use of Biodegradable fibres in my work is very important to this promise. I jokingly tell my customers I want my clothing to be one with the earth should it find itself in the ground for lack of proper post consumer disposal, as most of our clothing ends up in landfills. Also the use of textiles from Ghana is a way to support the local textile economy and the women involved with the industry.
BWM: As your business grows, how have you continued to manage the growth, while also finding time and ways to invest in yourself?
Queen: I believe you can only give what you have. In order to bring the best to my brand and my customers I make sure to carve out time for continued growth and development for myself as well.
I make annual personal goals of growth and development to ensure I can meet the growing needs of my brand. I believe you never stop learning.
BWM: Our Members are often just beginning to grow their business, and many are interested in learning from other successful businesswomen. What key pieces of insight have you learned from launching your businesses?
Queen: The most amplified message you hear as a startup is that of business knowledge and market research, that is great. However I believe you should go beyond this to hone in on your emotional intelligence. What do you know about your product/ what is your story that can connect with your potential customers on a deeper level? Hone in on that! That will be your differentiator. Find ways to tell them that story and bring them along with their stories to connect, never discount that emotional intuition!
BWM: With the business acumen you have now, what's one piece of advice you wish you could tell yourself five years ago?
Queen: As you grow personally and your business grows you will discover more of your potential and grow leaps and bounds, just trust the process and do the work. It takes time, but diligence pays off.
BWM: We think the stories of failure are just as important as the stories of success. Can you talk about a time that you failed in an entrepreneurial venture or objective? How did you face and overcome this failure? What was the lesson learned?
Queen: I lost some revenue to a wholesale account because I didn't grandfather my terms and conditions for payment and so when they decided they weren't going to pay me for the balance owed, I had no recourse. This was the first money lesson I learnt in my business. It set me up to negotiate and clearly state my terms for any contract I went into thereafter.
BWM: Do you have a favorite go-to business tool or resource you can recommend to our members?
Queen: Intuit Quickbooks for bookkeeping, it helps when tax season comes around.
BWM: In the name of celebrating other women, what are some of your favorite female brands or shops, local or otherwise?
Queen: @carry117 @boldskinbabe @twostylishsistershandmade @iloverorys @margoscreativelife @kh_photos @fusiondolls @wennevildesigns @indigoofgroton @lifeasamaven
BWM: Can you talk about the "Buy a Mask, Give a Mask" product you created to give back in the COVID-19 pandemic? How did you decide to pivot your production? How has the pandemic affected your business and your mindset as a businessperson?
Queen: I am a changemaker, My mission in life is to empower people to realize their ultimate selves and live their best lives. Community is always a great place to start. When our collective human community was hit with this pandemic, I just had to look within to see what way Queen Adeline could contribute to this communal effort to flatten the curve and yet sustain the business. I began making masks for donations to the frontline workers. My customers offered to pitch in for my donation. It was only natural to give others the opportunity to give back to the community together with the business. So I launched the buy-a-mask-give-a mask campaign. Together both my customers and the business found a way to sustain each other. Our common story.
PRODUCTS WE LOVE
HEEKA KIMONO
Queen’s handmade Kimonos are vibrant layering pieces for summer. Made with 100% Cotton Wax Print Fabric.