As the Cinnamon & Pearl launch on Sunday 21 December is only two days away, we cannot help but contain the excitement. But first things first, let’s meet Cinnamon & Pearl and find out a little bit more about the label.
An international fashion company whose garments are strictly made in Nigeria, Cinnamon & Pearl is the brainchild of Creative Director, Ugonna Ibe, developed a technique using Ankara and Organza, which she coined Akanza™, in order to establish a unique and distinct approach to the treatment of Ankara.
Here we talk to Ugonna to find out more about the label, her inspirations and what we can expect from Cinnamon & Pearl in 2015.
Tell us a bit about your background and the history behind your label?
My name is Ugonna Ibe and I am the Creative Director of Cinnamon & Pearl (CP). I have always had a love affair with the arts; everything ranging from sketching to painting with acrylic and oil, but my interest in fashion was sparked by watching my mom develop a clothing line for which she created her own prints. I made the decision to start in 2012 after being frustrated with what the shops had to offer, I wanted to create a brand that had a range of styles for different occasions and at a reasonable price point. A year later I showed my first collection at the Africa Fashion Week New York (AFWNY).
What inspires your designs in general and what was the inspiration behind your new collection?
I love more contemporary designs, but I appreciate the way our culture has adopted Ankara prints as a way to connect with our fashion roots. We wanted our latest collection to incorporate Ankara while staying true to our CP aesthetic. We developed a technique using Ankara and Organza (we coined it “Akanza”) in which we take a unique and distinct approach to the treatment of Ankara and create a signature technique that sets Cinnamon & Pearl apart. Our new collection is inspired by early romance and we expressed this using soft colors such as baby pink, mint green and powder blue – the addition of the black Jamila dress represents lust and sexiness in a new romance.
Why the name Cinnamon and Pearl?
I believe that there are two sides to most women when it comes to fashion. There is the spicy, bold, daring side – “ The Cinnamon woman” and then there’s the romantic and exciting side, which we can all agree, can be likened to the “Pearl girl”. Whether you’re Cinnamon, Pearl, or a little bit of both, there’s always something perfect for you.
How would you describe the CP woman?
The CP Woman is confident in her personal style and knows that she is the most important element of a well-executed look. So our only aim at Cinnamon & Pearl is to provide special pieces that accentuate the uniqueness in every CP woman; her confidence, elegance and impeccable taste.
Any celeb clients/fans so far?
Well Osas Ighodaro is our girl! and we’ve dressed Toke Makinwa for Moments with Mo. Follow us now that we’ve launched to see how far our fan base grows!
And who would you like to dress in the future?
We’ve got our eye on so many cute people! Like Eku Edewor, Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay and so many more.
Where can fans buy your designs?
We are excited to announce that CP will be launching on Konga.com very soon! For now potential clients can send requests to
What’s next for Cinnamon and Pearl in the new year?
Next year we’ll be releasing four collections. We’ve lots of things in store for next year, we’re going to be a pretty interactive brand in 2015!
What makes Cinnamon and Pearl FAB?
The CP label is FAB because it is complete. Each piece can stand alone without additional adornments but still gives room for our customer’s personal style.
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