This story has been brought to you by us, WorldRemit, in partnership with Rootencial. Rootencial is a social initiative celebrating the roots and potential of African and African diaspora communities, while also aiming to create opportunities for them.
Our story is of Ade Hassan – the perfect example of someone who’s really fulfilled her potential by creating a business based on her skin colour.
Ade always knew she wanted to become an entrepreneur. But it wasn’t until 2014 that she decided to make a remarkable career change and quit her finance job to follow her dream.
For years, she couldn’t find the right match in tights and underwear for her skin tone. Her frustration at the lack of diversity and colour representation for darker skin tones in women’s lingerie and hosiery led her to decide it was time to promote ‘a different kind of nude’.
It was a transformative moment, encouraging Ade Hassan to launch Nubian Skin in 2014, using the strapline - ‘Empowering Women. Embracing our Colour’. She’s been so successful with her business and gained worldwide attention. Her garments have even dressed renowned celebrities such as Beyonce and her dance crew during her 2016 World Tour.
Josefina Bonsundy-Nvumba, Founder of Rootencial, interviewed Ade Hassan about how it all started, her background and the lessons she’s learned along the way.