Nikki Billie Jean: The Next Gen of Style Setters Taking Over the District

D.C.’s got style. With everything from cute streetwear to tailored suits, plenty of people turn heads just walking down city streets. But who’s making their clothing, helping them decide what looks good and dreaming up the latest in fashion? It’s the designers of the city, the tailors, the entrepreneurs. Here is one of the 14 must-know figures in fashion from the DMV. Check out our October Issue for the full coverage.

Founder of Nikki Billie Jean + All Things Ankara

District Fray: Tell us about All Things Ankara.
Nikki Billie Jean: All Things Ankara is a multi-faceted fashion and entertainment brand dedicated to African Ankara print fashion, consisting of an online blog publication, an e-commerce retail shop with innovative Ankara designs, an e-commerce retail marketplace for Ankara print designers worldwide and special events celebrating Ankara print fashion culture. We are a community for everyone that supports, wears and buys Ankara print fashion.

What do you want people to take away from the platform?
It is not limited to only Black people. Many people ask me questions like, “Is it ok for non-Black people to wear Ankara clothing?” My answer is, “Yes, it is ok.” When it comes to cultural appropriation, non-Black people just need to be respectful. I understand why Black people get upset when non-Black people wear Ankara print clothing. But just because someone non-Black is wearing Ankara print clothing does not automatically mean they are culturally appropriating.

All Things Ankara is a pretty broad brand with an online publication, shop, marketplace and events. How do you manage all the different aspects?
I take it one day at a time. But I have come to learn that you can do anything, but you can’t. So, I am currently working on building a team. Many entrepreneurs like myself tend to wear many hats. And it’s important to have a team to spread out the workload to have a strong brand.

What do you think the cutting-edge in fashion looks like right now?
In the Ankara print fashion industry, the type of clothing that will always cut edge will be Ankara print gowns.

nikkibilliejean.com // @nikkibilliejean; allthingsankara.com // @allthingsankara

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Aviva Bechky