about chacha
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Hello! I'm ChaCha, a fashion designer and educator. I specialize in teaching courses on fashion product development, covering areas such as apparel construction, pattern making, draping, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on design inclusivity. I’m passionate about guiding designers through the creative process, from concept to completion, and sharing the art of clothing construction.
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Side note: I have an incredible sewing group on Facebook called Sewing with ChaCha N'Kole. CLICK HERE to join! You'll thank me later!
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I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design and working as a remote researcher at Iowa State University. Before joining Iowa State, I held faculty positions at Syracuse University, the University of Delaware, and Moore College of Art and Design. Additionally, I served as a visiting professor at MBA Mode Institute and Charthess Fashion School in Ghana. I hold an M.S. in Fashion & Apparel Studies from the University of Delaware and a B.S. in Fashion Design from The Art Institute of Philadelphia. My research centers on advancing business innovation in the fashion industry while improving apparel fit and design for marginalized consumers, including plus-size individuals and those with physical and cognitive disabilities.
At the Moore College of Art & Design's Leadership Conference, I have spoken on creating opportunities and elevation through collaborations. I am a firm believer that we can only achieve long-lasting success when we work together. A vision of successful partnership through art led me to open The SEWcial Cafe, LLC in 2018, a creative coworking space for female fashion designers and crafters, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation. I received the exceptional entrepreneur award from the Women's Business Center at True Access Capital for providing education and resources to members of The SEWcial Cafe to assist in growing their fashion businesses in 2020. But unfortunately, we closed our physical location four months after the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the Moore College of Art & Design's Leadership Conference, I have spoken on creating opportunities and elevation through collaborations. I am a firm believer that we can only achieve long-lasting success when we work together. A vision of successful partnership through art led me to open The SEWcial Cafe, LLC in 2018, a creative coworking space for female fashion designers and crafters, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation. I received the exceptional entrepreneur award from the Women's Business Center at True Access Capital for providing education and resources to members of The SEWcial Cafe to assist in growing their fashion businesses in 2020. But unfortunately, we closed our physical location four months after the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I believe my true calling is bringing people together through art and education.
Okay, so what am I doing here? I'm here to share my story that continues to be written. I'm documenting my current projects, student projects, design resources, and more. Thank you for visiting, and I look forward to providing you with creative content!