Celebrating beauty in all shades and sizes.
Jamela Acheampong founder of Kahmune talks about reformulating the “nude” palette in the fashion industry and celebrating the diversity of human complexion.
Photo: @kahmune
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when someone talks about “nude tones”? After being unable to find a pair of shoes that matched her skin tone, Jamela Acheampng realized that the “nude” term had been, for a long time, associated with the a beigeish hue. She bought a pair of white pumps, some paint cans and mixed them until she got her exact shade of “nude”, this is how Kahmune was born.
More than a fashion brand, Kahmune (pronounced as “commune”) is a sustainable and ethical project meant to celebrate the diversity of human complexion through a high-end shoe line redefining a new “nude palette” with ten skin tone hues.
We The Cool Magazine talked with Jamela about her beginnings, inspirations and recommendations for upcoming entrepreneurs.
Tell us about yourself. When did you discover that you wanted to become a business woman?
I've always known I would be my own boss but it wasn't until I came up with the idea of founding Kahmune that it felt like a reality. My goal is to create the world’s first luxury marketplace for skin tone footwear and accessories. We design all of our products in 10 skin tone hues in order to provide all women with a true nude option.
“For too long we’ve all been forced to settle with just beige being nude.”
How did you come up with the idea of Kahmune and the necessity of creating nude shoes that matched all skin tones?
We’re constantly bombarded with images and products that only fit a few complexions. From bras to bandaids to tights, it’s pretty ridiculous that in this day and age “nude” or skin tone products are attributed to a specific shade. When I came up with the idea for the brand I was shocked by how hard it was to find products that matched my dark complexion. Why were my needs as a consumer not being met? I noticed a huge gap in the market in terms of nude footwear which is how Kahmune was born. I bought a pair of white pumps and painted them to match my complexion. When I tried them on and looked in the mirror I knew I had to recreate the same feelings of pride and satisfaction I got that day for as many women as possible.
Photos via @kahmune
What has been the greatest challenge you've faced in this entrepreneurship journey?
I think first and foremost being a sole founder creates its own challenges as I am literally responsible for everything! I've had to learn the hard way that not everyone has your best interests at heart. If you want something done a certain way you have to speak up, and be vocal and sometimes hold peoples’ hands to make sure things get done the way you want them to. When it comes to startups time is literally the equivalent of money and they both tend to run out quite quickly!
What do you think has helped you succeed in your career?
Oh gosh I wouldn't call myself a success… yet! I do agree that I have been successful in what I've set out to achieve and I am grateful for that. I'm extremely driven and can be stubborn so in a sense I have a "failure is not an option attitude." I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this brand succeed.
We know you care about the quality of your shoes as much as you care about them being sustainable. Can you tell us more about this?
Each shoe is handmade by artisans with decades of experience. There are over 20 individual steps that go into making our shoes. I'm not a huge fan of fast fashion and I feel that we all need to do our part to protect the environment as much as possible. Our leathers are dyed using techniques that minimize the impact on the environment. Our leather scraps are recycled. Our boxes are recyclable and made from recycled materials. The only plastic we use is our heel tips. We are proud to be not only a sustainable but an ethical brand.
How do you see Kahmune in the future and what message would you like others to perceive from the brand?
We'd love to be a one-stop-shop for nude products. I think we’ve played, and will continue to, a pivotal role in starting a conversation about skin tones and complexions and how they are represented (or more often not) in fashion. I think Kahmune will make skin tone products a lot more accessible and our imagery is going to help normalize darker complexions. I feel strongly that we will play a pivotal role in redefining luxury, a market that is typically extremely exclusive and not marketed to people of color.
What would be your advice to inspire other people to start their own project?
It won't be easy but it will be worth it! Once you find what you’re good at and what makes you happy stick with it! If you love it enough you will make sure you succeed! Even if you can’t start big, start small, but make sure you start! NEVER be afraid to ask for help and try to enjoy the journey as much as the destination.