Episode 12: I am here for a higher purpose

Nita’s creativity, intelligence, experiences and insights inspire Aria on the daily. She’s been a great friend for a decade and a half, and provides care and goodness that nurtures the people around her.

MansaWear owner and fashion designer Nita Brown was born in Ghana. As the daughter of a diplomat, she left for her first overseas trip at the age of seven, traveling to the Czech Republic. Nita completed her secondary schooling in Ghana, received a B.A. in History from Columbia University and an M.B.A. in International Management from Georgetown University. She speaks Ashanti (Twi) and French. 

Brown’s passion for fashion was ignited by her mother. She grew up surrounded by the constant interactions and discussions of her mother and her couturiers about fabric choices and current styles. Her mother’s innate eye for color, quality fabrics and tailored looks influenced MansaWear’s structured pieces, bold colors and varied fabric prints. MansaWear designs and manufactures tailor-made and ready-to-wear clothing using vibrant colors and bold pattern Ghanaian prints that provides maximum versatility, flexibility & economical. It’s about being uniquely you and the art of the mash-up. That is mixing and matching your Ghanaian-inspired MansaWear outfit with items already existing in your closet to create endless styles for daily and special occasions. Her goal is to create an enduring branded clothing line using high-quality Ghanaian fabrics and tailoring sensibilities. 

MansaWear is a permanent fixture at Rochester Fashion Week, where Nita debuts each year’s fabric and style collection. MansaWear is sold at Memorial Art Gallery’s museum shop, or at the full-fledged retail site www.mansawear.com or in person at 367 Park Ave, Rochester. MansaWear has been featured in numerous media outlets including, the Rochester Business Journal, The Democrat and Chronic and Chanel 8 CBS’s Be Inspired Show and twice on News 10 NBC’s Spotlight segment.

During her spare time, Ms. Brown runs, raises funds for building and supporting schools for the FST Sisters, a community of nuns based in Ghana. She is active at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, where she has served on Parish Council and now assists as a lector and communion minister.

Links and Resources

MansaWear: https://mansawear.com/, https://www.facebook.com/MansaWear

Ghana: https://www.ghana.gov.gh/

Columbia University: https://www.columbia.edu/

Georgetown University: https://www.georgetown.edu/

Rochester Fashion Week: http://www.fashionweekofrochester.org/

Keywords: education, anti-racism, parenthood, parenting, Black History, African American History, business, art, fashion, politics