IN Ethiopian folklore, legends speak of the beautiful Queen Makeda, known popularly as the biblical ‘Queen of Sheba’ who bore a son for King Solomon of Judea.
Revered as the mother of the nation, Makeda’s legacy has imomortalised her as a woman of

immense beauty, leadership and majesty.
And so it was that when aspiring entrepreneur, Aisha Haynes sought inspiration for a name for her boutique, which would feature her and other designers’ Afrocentric clothing, no other name seemed fitting.

Located on the corner of Albert and Regent Streets, Makeda houses authentic African fabric and readymade clothing; and since its launch in July, via an extravagant fashion show, has served local fashion enthusiasts with an interesting variety of style.
But according to Aisha, who, by profession, is an Economic Geologist, her passion as a fashion designer has lived with her from a very young age; and the opening of Makeda goes beyond just penetrating the market. “I was always very intrigued by African fashion and fabrics and meshing them with modern style, and I

would create my own pieces when I was younger,” Aisha said.
“I felt that there was a need for it in Guyana, because there was nowhere here that you could go to get authentic fabric, accessories or clothing,” she told The Buzz.

TAKE THE LEAP
With the encouragement of family and friends, Aisha said she decided to take the leap and launch her own store that would provide what she felt was missing. “I wanted it to be cool and trendy; I also wanted it to be cultural and educational, so even people who don’t know much about African fashion, or the brand that comes with it, can still be allowed to express themselves in something authentically African,” she said.
Among the selections are clothing designed by Aisha herself, clothing from other local designers

that fit the African theme, as well as clothing from African designers from around the continent.
Aisha’s affinity with African culture stems from years of doing community work and participating in other projects affiliated with the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA). “I became involved with ACDA from a very young age, because my mother was involved with them. I did a lot of children’s programmes, and we worked in a lot of depressed and marginalised communities, conducting peer counselling and workshops and I became committed to the cause,” she said.
And as the years went by, she came to appreciate the organisation for its non-religious, non-political, non-hierarchical structure. “How it is established, there are committees, so you can be a part of it, based on your interests,” Aisha said. “And that makes it easy to fit in and do what I wanted to do without being defined or labeled in any particular way,” she added.

AWARENESS
The young businesswoman believes that being more aware of one’s cultural identity not only helps people to develop as individuals, but also allows them to understand and respect other cultures. It is the goal of helping people to be more aware of their African heritage so as to foster appreciation that she hopes Makeda achieves. And it seems that in the months since its launch in July, that she has thus far been successful.
“It was definitely worth it to see how excited Guyanese are about the clothing. I was actually surprised, because when I first launched, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am so excited to see the positive response from people, and there is such a diversity of people who come into the store, so I am excited to see that steady interest,” she said.
Soon, she plans to bring in a tailor from Ghana, and will also seek to have annual fashion shows, much like the one held for the launch in July, which attracted a large gathering of persons.
And as the store grows, she also will also endeavour to continue bringing fresh ideas of how to incorporate African prints and styles into everyday wear, so as to ensure that the appreciation of the African culture continues to be promoted.