Fashion often shines the spotlight on the designer’s craftsmanship and the finished garment. But long before that, someone has to supply the thread, buttons, zippers, trims, fabric, and other materials that bring it to life.
For Dede-Nakoh Bimpong ’17, this industry, which had its roots in the informal sector, became her place to build. For more than 40 years, her mother dedicated her life and career to fashion design. This exposed Dede-Nakoh to fashion long before she took over her mother’s sewing supplies business. In 2024, she rebranded it to Makola Eba, a Ga expression for “Makola has come to you.”
As a relative newcomer to the industry, she struggled to understand what building a business in it could look like. She was also curious about what she could do to improve her business. For Dede-Nakoh, this meant learning from those who already knew a great deal about how the business operated.
Conversations with experienced traders in the informal sector revealed that they had their own form of business intelligence developed outside formal education. For example, she was intrigued by how the traders could remember every customer and their preferences. Dede-Nakoh also learned the value of relationships, cash flow management, patience, and humility through these interactions.
Her formal education in business administration also equipped her with the technical know-how to grow and manage her business.
“I don’t see them as opposites,” she explains. “Experience tells you what works, but then the education will explain why it works and how to improve it.”
