Today we’d like to introduce you to Nana Bandana.
Nana, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started sewing as a hobby when I was five. My mom taught me how to sew because I wanted fancy Barbie clothes and us being refugees from east Germany on the west side of the then separated Germany, we didn’t always have the means to afford fancy things. I was really into Gymnastics and Ballet at that time so sewing was definitely only a hobby, I wanted to become a professional dancer and be on the stages of this world. I injured my knee badly when I was 14 and couldn’t dance any longer. Fortunately, I had my creative side to fall back on and from then on it was always fashion.
I got my first own sewing machine and a dress making doll and would create in my free time. In school I had one hand in my school and the other in my sketch books. The year before graduating high school I signed with ESMOD Berlin to start fashion school after graduation. I was super ecstatic to be a student of that school unfortunately my expectations were not met and I ended up leaving after the first year. If something is not for you, it’s better to leave before it gets too uncomfortable and, in my case, I just didn’t fit their little boxes. I focused on what I wanted to do and applied for an Internship at the womenswear brand Reality Studio in Berlin and got accepted immediately. Seeing the quality of my work and my specialty in show pieces my first boss catered right to my talents and opened many doors for me.
I got to create my first sneaker with her and her boyfriend who was then the creative designer of Onitsuka Tiger, the shoe was released in a limited edition at Colette in Paris and through that I met my mentor MDot! She was working on a female sneaker line called BOOJI in 2009 and helped me to get my visa for the USA. I moved to Brooklyn and created apparel for her brand while being pregnant with my daughter. After having her I got sick with gallstones and had to take some time off to have surgery and recover.
Once I was back, I decided it was time to start my own brand and I came up with Y.B.N.B. a high-end streetwear brand for women. After working from Berlin for three years and participating in all European fashion weeks, being nominated for an award in London and featured in British Vogue I got called back to the United States and decided to settle in LA this time. LA has been the perfect place for me to grow as a designer. I can apply my versatile skill set to the maximum and I have worked my way up to be able to work on TV and Movie productions or make custom pieces for celebrity clients. Over here my show pieces really get to shine and I love that.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think any road is ever smooth but my dad always told me there are no obstacles and to see everything as a challenge for the next level. The most important thing is to always believe in yourself, there are so many people out there who will try to kill your dream because it won’t always work right away and success never comes overnight, at least not if you want it to last. The biggest struggle for me was leaving fashion school, naturally I’m not a quitter and I legit asked my mom for permission even though I was 21 at that time. To this day, I run everything by my mom, she’s my greatest confidant and I know she would always have my best interest. The only advice I could give is to always flow and not force, what’s for you will happen as long as you do your part.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Y.B.N.B. stands for Young Bold Naughty Bitche$$$ but is also the abbreviation for Yarah Bravo and Nana Bandana. Yarah is one of my best friends and my daughters’ godmother and the idea for the brand came from both of us wanting to collaborate on some fashion pieces. We stand for female empowerment and always want our customers to feel confident in our clothes. Unfortunately, Yarah has been battling a sickness for a long time and can’t be a vital part of the brand but I keep creating with her in my heart at all times.
Specializing is extra ordinary pattern work and prints that always make a statement our pieces are for the bold. We have never folded to the standards of the industry and have always been pro female and pro black. We see the world as our international playground and are proud of our heritage. We are proud that as a female owned business we have taken it this far, from the European fashion scene to the red carpets of Hollywood, we have come a long way. One of the main aspects that sets us apart from other brands is the fact that we always deliver on the highest level in every aspect. From in house design, to quality fabrics sourced mainly in Italy to the environmentally friendly packaging and the local manufacturing. We keep the level high.
What were you like growing up?
I was always the odd one, my mom called me her world despiser the minute I was born because I came out with my legs first and basically birthed myself. I was never a stereotypical girl; my interests always went both ways probably because I had a big brother and he dragged me everywhere he went. I loved dancing and gymnastics but I would also go and play soccer with him or shoot BB Guns. I was always in my own bubble, my mom loved that about me because I would always find something to do with myself. I was always creative there are paintings from me at my parents’ house from when I was four.
In school, most of the teachers couldn’t stand me, I was always the rebel, never doing anything the way they asked me to do it. I was never a group or clique person; I have one best friend that I’ve had since 8th grade and we were always together. Still are super close even though she lives in Germany and I’m in LA.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ybnb.me
- Email: info@ybnb.me
- Instagram: @ybnb
- Facebook: Y.B.N.B.
- Twitter: @ybnbitche$$$
Image Credit:
Amelia Muqbel for the Barbie
Nana Bandana
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