Sabina Fayemiwo is the visionary founder of GWÉMÉ, a fashion and art house rooted in faith, cultural elegance, and the celebration of women.
With a professional background in strategy consulting and public sector advisory, she has spent years guiding senior leaders and institutions through transformation, structure, and long-term value creation. This rare blend of disciplined execution and creative intuition now shapes her newest venture, GWÉMÉ, a brand she is building with clarity, intention, and depth.
Her love for fashion began in childhood, watching her grandmother at the sewing machine, which sparked her love for beauty and fabrics. Though her career path led her into consulting and public service, building systems, solving problems, and leading teams, the creative whispers never left her. Eventually, she chose to embrace them fully, giving birth to GWÉMÉ.
Through GWÉMÉ, Fayemiwo seeks to celebrate women as God’s masterpiece. Her designs are elegant yet functional, deeply meaningful yet versatile, created to accompany women through real-life moments with confidence, grace, and inner strength.
In this exclusive interview with IFEOMA OKEKE-KORIEOCHA, she speaks on why the world of high-stakes consulting was the perfect training ground for the world of fashion. In this candid conversation, Fayemiwo peels back the layers of the GWÉMÉ philosophy, revealing how she navigates the delicate balance between commercial scalability and spiritual stewardship. From the meticulous engineering of her “functional elegance” to her mission to transform African craftsmanship into a global movement, Fayemiwo invites us into a sanctuary where style is not just seen—it is felt.
What inspired you to start GWÉMÉ, and how does your background in strategy consulting influence your approach to fashion?
I grew up surrounded by what I call hobby tailors. My grandmother and my mother loved to sew, so creativity and clothing were always part of my environment. That love stayed with me. As I got older, I would walk into stores and find beautiful outfits that I could not wear. They either did not reflect my faith or my personal values, and when they did, they often felt uninspired or boring. GWÉMÉ was born from that gap. My background in strategy consulting has deeply shaped how I build the brand. I am very detail oriented, practical, and excellence driven. I pay attention to structure, quality, process, and sustainability, not just aesthetics. I think about longevity, scalability, and how every decision ties back to purpose. Fashion, for me, is not guesswork. It is intentional design, executed with discipline.
You describe GWÉMÉ as a “cultural movement”. Can you elaborate on what that means to you?
GWÉMÉ is a connection to my African roots and a bold expression of the beliefs that have shaped who I am. It is about telling an African story with a global language. Through fabric, form, and craftsmanship, I am expressing heritage, faith, identity, and womanhood in a way that resonates beyond borders.
Calling it a cultural movement means it goes beyond clothing. It is about reclaiming narrative, honoring craftsmanship, and reminding women that depth, beauty, and meaning still matter in a fast moving world.
How do you balance your faith and values with the commercial aspect of running a fashion brand?
I see myself as a steward of the gift, the dream, and the execution. My values are drawn directly from my faith, and they guide how I build the business. From how decisions are made, to how artisans are treated, to how customers are engaged, I am intentional about integrity, care, and excellence.
I believe that when God’s love is embedded internally in process and culture, it naturally radiates outward. The commercial success then becomes a result, not the driver. Profit matters, but purpose leads.
Your designs are described as “elegant yet functional” and “deeply meaningful yet versatile”. Can you walk us through your design process?
We are clothing God’s masterpiece, and that is no small task. Inspiration comes in different forms. Sometimes it is a quiet whisper, sometimes a clear vision, and other times a deep desire to meet a need I see in women.
I think about the woman who is becoming, as well as the woman who has already embraced her boldness. I ask how I want her to feel. Confident, Covered, Free, Seen.
From there, I sketch, sample, fit, and test. I ask hard questions. Does it stand the test of time? Where can it be worn? How does it move with her life? Meaning is important, but so is wearability. A piece must live beyond a single moment.
What role do you think fashion plays in empowering women, and how does GWÉMÉ contribute to this?
Empowerment starts with how a woman feels when she gets dressed. Clothing can either shrink a woman or strengthen her. When a woman feels comfortable, confident, and aligned with herself, it shows in how she speaks, moves, and shows up in the world.
GWÉMÉ contributes by designing pieces that affirm identity rather than compete for attention. The goal is not to overwhelm the woman, but to reveal her. The clothing becomes a quiet confidence, not a costume.
How do you see GWÉMÉ evolving in the next few years, and what are your goals for the brand?
I see GWÉMÉ evolving into a global brand rooted in African craftsmanship, with a strong physical and digital presence. Beyond fashion, I envision a broader ecosystem that includes art, community spaces, and deeper investment in artisan development.
The goal is to build something enduring. A brand that grows responsibly, trains artisans, creates jobs, and becomes a reference point for thoughtful design and meaningful storytelling.
You’re building GWÉMÉ as a “sanctuary for women who seek depth over trend”. Can you tell us more about the kind of community you’re trying to create?
GWÉMÉ is for women who are tired of noise and constant performance. Women who value meaning, faith, culture, and growth. The community is one of reflection, confidence, and shared values.
It is a space where women are reminded that they do not have to rush or conform to be relevant. They can be grounded, intentional, and still powerful.
What’s the most important thing you hope women take away from wearing GWÉMÉ pieces?
I want women to walk away reminded of who they are. That they are seen, valued, and beautifully made. That they are God’s masterpiece, not in theory, but in how they feel when they wear the piece.
If a woman feels more herself after wearing GWÉMÉ, then we have done our work.
Collaboration with artisans seems core to GWÉMÉ’s ethos. What’s the significance of this approach, and how do you find the right artisans to work with?
Artisans carry history, skill, and soul in their hands. Working with them is a way of honoring heritage and preserving techniques that might otherwise be lost. It is also about dignity, fair value, and mutual respect.
I look for artisans who care deeply about their craft, who are open to collaboration, and who share a commitment to quality.
The relationship is not transactional. It is a partnership. Together, we create pieces that carry story, skill, and spirit.
