BRANDS TO KNOW: MAMA BANNA
MAMA BANNA
Banna Eritrea Girmay is the founder and designer of Mama Banna, a streetwear brand inspired by Eritrean culture. Mama Banna pushes the boundaries of traditional East African fashion and offers a modern touch that highlights the versatility of its people and their experiences.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you're from.
BANNA ERITREA GIRMAY: I'm Eritrean American & raised in LA. I started my career off as a lawyer and quickly realized that wasn't it for me. I recently shifted gears and went into fashion full-time, which was what I should have done from the start lol.
SHEER: What was the inspiration behind Mama Banna and how did you decide on the name?
BEG: I noticed a surge in East African artists and creatives and wanted to create a uniform and, more broadly, a space for us to explore and integrate some of our own cultural ideas into those creative processes. "Mama" is a term of endearment used for female elders, who are usually the bearers of culture - Mama Banna hopes to continue preserving and pushing the culture forward like all the mamas before us.
“‘Mama’ is a term of endearment used for female elders, who are usually the bearers of culture - Mama Banna hopes to continue preserving and pushing the culture forward like all the mamas before us.”
SHEER: What was launching Mama Banna like and what challenges did you face?
BEG: I definitely started super small and have been scaling up slowly over time, which I think has helped it feel less overwhelming. Starting a brand is challenging because it requires having your hands in all parts of the business simultaneously, but I've really enjoyed learning the process front to back.
SHEER: How do you approach your design process and why did you decide to pursue streetwear to execute your vision vs other avenues in fashion?
BEG: East African fashion is very much rooted in formalwear, basically what people wear to weddings. I wanted to create something for us to wear on a daily basis - when hanging out with friends, to the bar, on a vacay with the gals. We exist in all these spaces and should have a way to reflect that through our clothes.
“East African fashion is very much rooted in formalwear, basically what people wear to weddings. I wanted to create something for us to wear on a daily basis - when hanging out with friends, to the bar, on a vacay with the gals. We exist in all these spaces and should have a way to reflect that through our clothes. ”
SHEER: How do you stay mentally and emotionally grounded as you navigate your entrepreneurial and creative journeys?
BEG: I love being outside. Walking while listening to a podcast has been a great way for me to take my mind off whatever is happening that day and tap into a completely different world for 30 minutes. Learning new things has always thrilled me, I think I naturally process new information by trying to find connections to things I already know. That process gives me so many ideas creatively and also reaffirms my belief that everything is connected.
SHEER: What is one thing quarantine has taught you this year?
BEG: That the mind is our first home, and like any home one must tend to it.
SHEER: What do you envision for the future of Mama Banna?
BEG: Oh the places we will go! For now, I want to contiunue building a distinct look and aesthetic that reflects the culture.
