( ENSPIRE Feature ) How Adolophine Lukabu Sheeleey Honors Tradition And Beauty Through African Luxury
ENSPIRE Contributor: Halima McDoom
Adolophine Lukabu Sheeley is the proud owner of her artisan-forward brand, Adolophine. Based in New York City, the African luxury brand highlights the craftsmanship of indigenous African artists; Adolophine showcases a variety of products such as African clothing, handbags, and home decor. “Our mission is to share the beauty and stories of our beautiful continent with everyone. We want to introduce people to our different tribes, our style, our joie de vivre and bridge the gap between the different cultures,” says Sheeley.
Sheeley understood the power of tradition before she realized the impact of beauty. From a very young age, because of her father’s diplomatic status and her mother’s love for commerce, Sheeley could travel, witness, and learn the truths of other cultures and groups of people. This exposure to the world around her was not only normalized, but it literally carried her into the work she does today. At Adolophine, behind every product lies a story. Artisans specially curated the merchandise–basket weavers, bespoke tailors, shoemakers, jewelry makers–who have been producing goods passed down through generations.
The brand holds its artisans in the highest esteem. Adolophine helps craftspeople to sell their products to a global market, all while teaching them financial literacy. This ensures that they met their creative pursuits with far-reaching recognition and success. This is crucial to changing the narrative that African output cannot be considered valuable; it emphasizes that African items are indeed luxury items and should be regarded. “We are the purveyor of art. We are the inspiration, style makers, and trendsetters. Adolophine is a bridge between the different worlds. We are just shining a light on the beauty and amazing stories on the continent that rarely get shared.”
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