UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT •
BLACK STUDENT ASSOCIATION FASHION SHOW
– MAR. 30TH 2017 –
THE FIRST OF MANY
How did I get BREUNOXR started? Well, my fashion journey started in the spring semester of 2012 finishing up my sophomore year, I was in my college dorm room when I received news about grandmother having a stroke back in Uganda. I remember going back home that summer feeling sad, helpless and angry thinking of what I could do to help my grandma and my family through the rough time other than just praying and hoping for the best.
Just a back story, my grandmother, Miss Teresa Nalubega Nsereko, has a huge family of 11 children and she is also a well known seamstress and physical therapist in Entebbe, Uganda. She endorses the African norm of “Education First” but she is a huge advocate of “Creativity, Talent & Business Will Take You Further” which explains why all the 11 children are well educated, talented and very creative, and they also happen to be managing different businesses. But the only thing they never did was to pick up and continue grandma’s legacy.
To make a long story short, my moment of awakening happened when I was watching a Behind-The-Scenes video on YouTube of the Kanye West & Jay-Z Watch The Throne Tour, when suddenly Kanye said something that stood out to me even to this day. He said, “Its Crazy And Its Delusional Before It Comes Into Fruition,” that line is the reason we are here today. Kanye continues to say, “You Have To Always See The End Goal And Everything Else…Just Fill In The Blanks.”
Obviously there is more to the story but hearing those specific lines gave me the motivation and high hopes to embark on this journey by starting and building BREUNOXR, even though I did not know what I was doing at the time. All I knew was that I wanted to pursue a career as a fashion designer and I was going to do whatever it took to achieve that dream. I went to school for Interior and Industrial Design and I have never had any fashion classes but I have managed to teach myself everything about the fashion industry. I have been called crazy and delusional so many times for believing and following this insane dream of mine, but do you know what? They are right, I AM CRAZY, I cannot deny that but I have to be crazy and delusional because this is my life, and plus there is not that many sane people I know that will embark on a journey not knowing what and where it is going to lead them.
“...I HAVE BEEN CALLED CRAZY AND DELUSIONAL...”
“…I AM CRAZY…”
Prior to the UCONN Fashion Show I was asked, How I would know if I was on the right path? I honestly did not have any answer to that question because I was starting to have some self doubt about this journey. But as I made my way across the stage for the post runway designer applause, I saw the faces and I also heard the crowd reactions, right then I knew I was on the right path. It was at that moment I had knew that I gotten the answer to that question. Looking back at the moment sitting in my dorm room receiving the bad news about my grandma and how helpless I was at that time, that moment led me to this moment. And at this point in my life I can now say that I did find purpose and I am not helpless any more. I just want to thank the University Of Connecticut Black Student Association for the opportunity and allowing me share the stage with all those talented designers, models and for my sisters, Charlotte and Clare, thanks for all the help because it was much needed.
And to this day, I still face questions and challenges in the fashion industry, business and life in general that I don’t have answers to but my drive, passion and love for fashion and myself allows me to fill in the blanks.
This was my first of many shows to come.
“...A Single Dream Can Launch The Journey Of A Lifetime...”