Faith, Fashion, and the Fight for Survival:
Kibonen’s Inspiring Journey
Experience the exhilarating highs and crushing lows of a designer's journey, from a $300,000 contract to the heartbreak of unpaid work — and the resilience that turned it all around.
Pre-Order Offer
For a limited time, pre-order Kibonen’s memoir, "Fashioned for Purpose: A story of hope - from the homeless shelter to New York Fashion Week," at an exclusive early-bird price of $14 (30% off the retail price of $20).
Reserve your copy now and be among the first to experience her unforgettable story.
About the Book
Fashioned For Purpose is a memoir which chronicles the life of a designer and entrepreneur who has experienced the extremes of extraordinary highs and devastating lows. The tone is conversational, engulfing the reader in a journey of hope from the lowest ends of homelessness to the heights of showcasing at the New York Fashion Week.
From receiving $300,000 contract to design garments for a major international event to being left unpaid for her work and investment, Kibonen’s career has been an illustration to tenacity in the face of crushing adversity.
Nine months before her designs hit the runway at New York Fashion Week, she was living in a homeless shelter.
Kibonen holds nothing back, sharing how despite adverse challenges, faith and an unwavering belief in a vision have caused her to persistently turn heartbreak into strength and setbacks into stepping stones.
This memoir offers a raw and honest look at the ups and downs of building a fashion career, the struggles behind the glamour which people see, and the victories born of grit and determination.
Some lessons are learned by experiencing success or climbing on the shoulders of those who have gone ahead. Other lessons only get etched into our systems after mistakes have been made.
Kibonen’s story is spiced with an intertwining of all these; presenting what is hopefully a balanced diet for the reader.
This is not just a book for fashion lovers or entrepreneurs – it is for anyone who has faced setbacks, struggled to hold on to their dreams, and found the strength to rise again.
What's Inside
From a modest childhood to the hustle and bustle of the corporate world
The stark transition from homelessness to New York Fashion Week in less than a year
The thrill of landing a $300,000 contract—and the heartbreak of not getting paid.
Candid reflections on the emotional and financial toll of chasing a dream
Lessons on faith, tenacity and finding purpose in the face of adversity
Why Pre Order Now?
Save 30% with the early-bird discount.
Receive an exclusive bonus chapter, "The High That Changed Everything and the Low That Followed."
Receive an exclusive invitation to a VIP live online event with Kibonen!
Exerpts
“A major turning point in my life came when this guy with whom I was supposed to get married suddenly got engaged with another lady. I returned back to Maryland a heartbroken, jobless young woman in a land which was supposed to be flowing with milk and honey.”
“I wanted to get into fashion school but was told by someone that such studies were only meant for those who were not brilliant enough to get into business school.”
“There was no doubt in my mind that Africa was the next destination for trends. Actually I believe Africa has always been a source of inspiration and it was about time the world started looking at African Fashion from the African’s perspectives.
I wanted to be that designer who represented African concepts in the world of fashion. As if to test my resolve, one of the professors and member of jury who had stepped out for a bathroom break told me before going back in that he hoped I was not going to present some ‘Dashiki fashion’!
I was not just shocked, but also felt slightly insulted. What was that supposed to mean? Anyways, I channeled the pent-up energy towards my desire to go in there and educate whoever was on the jury about African Fashion.
Which is exactly what I did when my turn came.
The questions asked after my presentation opened just the right doors I needed to talk more about African fashion.”
“As I walked majestically in that crowd, a young man came towards me and said, “I think you have something to tell me”.
My initial reaction was to ignore this crazy person who seemed bent on bothering me. He however kept up, insisting that he believed I had a story for him.
The man claimed to be owner of the Humans of New York blog, so I decided to at least give him a little bit more attention although my gut feeling that he was lying.
We both walked out of the fast-pace crowd to the side where we could better indulge in a conversation.
When he took out his phone with a cracked screen, I became even more convinced that I was dealing with an imposter, but it was already too late to call it off.”