Bonga-Chop Designs is an online boutique focusing on sustainability with a fondness for nostalgia and a bit of geek. Run solely by artist and designer Kendra Bonga, each piece is handmade from recycled fabrics. Her business idea began with a trip to the thrift store where she found a Star Wars bed sheet.
Being a bit of a nerd and a huge Star Wars fan, she decided she had to make a Star Wars dress for herself. She soon discovered she wasn’t the only one with a desire for unique clothing and she began making dresses to sell within a week. Kendra is a self taught seamstress and pattern maker with a background in science and mathematics. “Even though I don’t use my degree directly in my occupation, the problem solving skills I learned in college are essential in my present business. Teaching yourself to sew takes a lot of patience and a lot of frustration” explains Kendra. “If I hadn’t gotten used to that in school, I would have given up long ago”.
In two and half years, Bonga-Chop Designs has expanded to include clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. Each item is made individually and quality construction is always a focus. Readymade items are available in her Etsy store, www.bongachopshop.etsy.com, and custom requests are always an option. |
