| Iyeshatu Thelma Manga |
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Iyeshatu is a fashion designer and media professional whose career spans over 18 years in advertising, marketing and communications. Iyeshatu, known by many as the “African Queen” is the owner and chief designer/stylist for Red Ribbon Jeans. Iyeshatu, whose grandmother was a celebrated seamstress in Freetown, was motivated to sew from a very early age. Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Iyeshatu immigrated to the U.S. in 1981. She entered the fashion world in Los Angeles in 1983 as a runway model. It was in 1984 that she made the transition from model to designer and during that same year, she launched her first collection. Her initial foray into fashion design was put on hold, when she got a call to pursue a career in film production. In 1987, Iyeshatu earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Radio/Television Film Production & Management from California State University in Northridge, California. She enhanced her degree by taking up extension courses for Media Buying at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). Further studies include fashion design at the West Valley Occupational Center, and pattern making at the Venice Skills Center. Whereas Iyeshatu began fashion design as a hobby, she has since designed for celebrities and dignitaries all over the world. Iyeshatu has a unique style of African couture with a hint of western influence. Her fashions are very flattering and unmistakably elegant. She combines African prints, knits and woven fabrics which include chiffons, laces, linen, mud cloth, organza, silks and tie dye to create fabulously, unique dresses. She is very detail oriented because she knows detail is what distinguishes one designer from the other. Her goal is to make every woman who wears her outfits feel like royalty. |
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