MY PARENTS TOLD ME THERE IS NO FUTURE IN ART
Feb 23, 2010
HANDS ON<br><br>The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure,†Francois De Motteville, a French writer, once said.
HANDS ON
BY ELVIS BASUDDE
The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure,†Francois De Motteville, a French writer, once said.
Leilah Nankya, the brain behind Leilah’s Accessories, a jewellery shop on Zainab Aziz Emporium derives pleasure from her work.
At 24, Leilah has dared a territory many ladies merely dream about. She is a fashion jewellery designer who assembles beads, necklaces, earrings, bangles and different accessories. She often gets orders for introduction ceremonies, weddings and also does image consultancy.
Journey to her dream
Nankya’s dream to pursue fine art at university hit a dead end when her parents insisted there was no future in art. They wanted her to do a ‘more professional course’ that would enable her find a well paying job. And so Nankya was forced to pursue a degree in development studies at Makerere University. In her third year, Nankya’s love for art re-emerged. She made jewellery and sold it to fellow students.
As part of her course requirement, she went to Uganda Revenue Authority for industrial training and used the chance to market her products. Nankya’s father later got her a job which she turned down.
Turning point
It came during a fashion week at Arapapa. By then, she had no shop from which to showcase her work and had no business cards either. However after the exhibition, she looked for a shop and made business cards. Consequently, her business expanded.
Nankya’s designs are inspired by the African traditional dress, blended with western fashion to flow with the ever changing trends. She puts creativity and commitment in her work to make every piece sparkle. She does not regret her decision and even her parents are proud of her.
On a good day, she makes up to sh250,000 and sh30,000 on a bad day.
Challenges
It has not been all smooth for Nankya. She says it has been difficult breaking into a tough market but has overcome this by marketing her products in offices.
Nankya also cites instances when guards repel her at the gates. “I play it nice with them and with time they allow me.â€
Not even the sky is the limit for this budding entrepreneur.
BY ELVIS BASUDDE
The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure,†Francois De Motteville, a French writer, once said.
Leilah Nankya, the brain behind Leilah’s Accessories, a jewellery shop on Zainab Aziz Emporium derives pleasure from her work.
At 24, Leilah has dared a territory many ladies merely dream about. She is a fashion jewellery designer who assembles beads, necklaces, earrings, bangles and different accessories. She often gets orders for introduction ceremonies, weddings and also does image consultancy.
Journey to her dream
Nankya’s dream to pursue fine art at university hit a dead end when her parents insisted there was no future in art. They wanted her to do a ‘more professional course’ that would enable her find a well paying job. And so Nankya was forced to pursue a degree in development studies at Makerere University. In her third year, Nankya’s love for art re-emerged. She made jewellery and sold it to fellow students.
As part of her course requirement, she went to Uganda Revenue Authority for industrial training and used the chance to market her products. Nankya’s father later got her a job which she turned down.
Turning point
It came during a fashion week at Arapapa. By then, she had no shop from which to showcase her work and had no business cards either. However after the exhibition, she looked for a shop and made business cards. Consequently, her business expanded.
Nankya’s designs are inspired by the African traditional dress, blended with western fashion to flow with the ever changing trends. She puts creativity and commitment in her work to make every piece sparkle. She does not regret her decision and even her parents are proud of her.
On a good day, she makes up to sh250,000 and sh30,000 on a bad day.
Challenges
It has not been all smooth for Nankya. She says it has been difficult breaking into a tough market but has overcome this by marketing her products in offices.
Nankya also cites instances when guards repel her at the gates. “I play it nice with them and with time they allow me.â€
Not even the sky is the limit for this budding entrepreneur.