Five Christian Designers to Keep on Your Radar
By Zoë Azaryah
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The Creator. This is the first unique facet God chose to reveal to the world of Himself. Elohim. He carefully chose to introduce Himself to us as The One Who creates. Although, as we know, He didn’t just stop at creating, but He designed beings who reflect His ability to create, designating a unique and exceptional grace to do so to us – the only beings made in the image and likeness of God Himself!
This God-given privilege allows us to express Him authentically as we draw inspiration from His very heart and mind! Having just said our goodbyes to the first fashion week season of this year, our focus on fashion as an expression endures. For this reason I’ve spoken to five Christian fashion designers to gain insight into their perspectives on expressing their God-given creativity through the art of designing!
The Brand Changes
Let’s dive right in, starting with the founder of the Christian clothing brand The Brand Changes, Anesu! Anesu started her journey with fashion whilst battling anxiety where she received the vision from God for her recently launched clothing brand The Brand Changes. “More than just a clothing brand, we want to change the way people view themselves from the inside out.” Notwithstanding the difficulties of her experience balancing both her spiritual and physical obligations, Anesu opened up about her trials, “Combining my love for God alongside a passion project has been an overwhelming experience.”
However, she has refused to let these challenges obstruct her and continues to focus on her goal to spread the gospel through the online presence of her brand, continuously aiming to build a faith-based community worldwide. With a journey that began battling anxiety, Anesu explained how the deliverance of God has played a vital role in her life, mentioning one of her favourite verses, Psalm 94:19, which remains close to her heart as she continues to navigate her calling.
Check out The Brand Changes here: https://www.thebrandchanges.com/
Ahava Tahora
Ahava Tahora, meaning “Pure Love” in Hebrew, is a brand focused on inspiring women to express modesty from within, glorifying God by doing so. Founder and designer Shynell discovered her love for fashion at a young age, but ultimately decided to pursue a career in sports, which resulted in her attending a sports college. However, it wasn’t long until her passion became lost in sports and found in fashion and consequently she journeyed on to study fashion in college. “Fashion for me is an expression. Now I’m in Christ, it’s still the same, just with Christ in the centre”, Shynell shared with us. The vision for her brand Ahava Tahora - originally named JINSUI was born in 2019 after receiving it from God, “The Holy Spirit gave me the name Ahava Tahora which means pure love in Hebrew. I knew then, Ahava Tahora would be led by God. Jesus is pure. Love is God. Jesus is love. God is pure.”
Having learnt the importance of having faith alongside trusting in God’s timing, Shynell desires to witness Ahava Tahora being worn all around the world to the glory of The Lord. As she journeys, she holds on to Exodus 35:35-36, Proverbs 31:22 & 2 Samuel 15:28, revealing about the latter “I hold it very close in my heart. I feel like the wilderness is where God inspires me. I hear His clearest instructions. I’m focused!”
Ahava Tahora is still in its pre-launch stage, but you can keep up with the brand’s journey here: https://www.instagram.com/ahavatahora/?igsh=YzAzd3JiZGowOWo5#
Abena Agyei
Next is the bespoke fashion designer Abena Agyei, the founder of Between The Cracks by Abena Agyei and Abena N. Agyei, also known as Agyei Designs. Described by Abena as “a gift God was waiting to give me”, she shared with us how she has found fashion to be a medium used to express God to those He has called her to minister to. Abena communicates this through her creations, which began at the time the Holy Spirit inspired her to learn how to sew and design amid a season of drought and stillness “. . . since then it’s been me, The Holy Spirit, design & fashion.”
Abena describes her journey in fashion so far as “unexpected, testing and spiritual”, and after realising the need for a healthy environment both physically and mentally to create, presenting God’s presence through her art in the best way has remained her priority. Abena has an expansive vision for her brands, telling us, “I see both of my brands in many places, but instead of announcing it I’d rather you just wait and see.” As she continues to excel in her craft, she holds onto her verse for this season – Psalm 46:5.
Explore Abena N. Agyei here: https://www.abenaagyei.com/
Tashee
Next up on our radar, we have the New York-based Natasha Lambkin – founder of Tashee and Natasha The Brand. From a young age, Natasha always had an interest in fashion. So much so she eventually decided to pursue a career in fashion design after sketching outfits for her first day in her junior year of high school. Her love for fashion transcended into her senior year, where she successfully launched a sole proprietorship in which she specialised in designing prom dresses for her friends, albeit without the modest faith-based concepts she currently aligns with.
Natasha gained a deeper revelation on modesty after graduating from college at The Fashion Institute of Technology and went on to become a model, which shifted her perspective as her relationship with God grew deeper, causing her to bid farewell to modelling and venture into fashion marketing – eventually going on to start her faith-based luxury lifestyle clothing line, Tashee. “I have found that fashion is an outlet for expressing God's vision for my life by honouring my body and my design aesthetics. I do that by consulting Him on what I should wear each day and allowing Him to guide me with my designs. The most important lesson I've learned is to seek God's approval before my own. That is how I honour God through my dressing and business”, Natasha told us.
Already having garnered cover features in leading magazines such as Vogue, Elle and Elle Arabia whilst also winning the Brooklyn by Faith Culture & Leadership Award in 2019, additionally receiving a commendation from the president of the borough of Brooklyn for Tashee’s contributions in design and fashion, Natasha envisions her brand continuing on the trajectory of success – aiming to become a global empire while spreading the gospel and winning souls. As her company embarks on a rebrand, which is scheduled for the end of March, she holds on to key scripture Matthew 5:14, seeking to “continue to be a light no matter how long it takes and how hard the journey may be.”
Discover more of Tashee’s work here: https://tasheeinc.com/
Amarachiamans
Amarachi’s journey in fashion has been an incredible expression of God’s favor and guidance. It all began at the age of 17 when God led her to sketch designs, then further directed her to study textiles and fashion design – shifting her path from pursuing professional tennis, “Around this time period, God would wake me up and I would sketch designs and from there he gave me clear instructions to study textiles and follow the path of studying fashion design at university. This was a major transition for me, in my earlier years I was set on playing professional tennis.”
Although major, Amarachi chose the path of obedience and testifies of the goodness of God, as 10 years since then God has continued to inspire her designs, connections and creative direction – miraculously opening doors for her throughout her journey, “He has just continued to open so many doors with ease, and it has been 10 years now of seeing His faithfulness in fashion.”
For Amarachi, fashion is a way to express God’s vision, “Fashion for me is a creative tool in which the narrative or story told is one that God wants to be expressed in season.” This understanding inspired her brand, Amarachiamans, along with the slogan “Storyteller: A Form of Communication”.
Amarachi continues to carry a deep appreciation for the vision God has given her to steward and aims to reflect God’s creation in everything she does – likening her journey to Noah building the ark while trusting God’s vision to unfold, “In totality, I believe His vision for my life is to be the evidence of His creation here on earth and everything I do, say and create should express that.” Amarachi recognizes the ease she has found on her journey stems from her obedience to following God’s will for her life, and has also picked up some other vital lessons throughout her journey; she has come to an understanding that she must not limit herself but must move with faith by trusting in God’s favour.
Looking forward, Amarachi envisions her brand launching impactful campaigns in which she hopes to continue to testify of both the goodness and narrative of God. She also desires to host Amarachiamans’ first of many fashion shows while expanding globally in fashion education and mentorship. Anchored by Philippians 4:13 and John 5:19-20, Amarachi continues to walk in obedience, allowing God’s vision to manifest through the gifts He has blessed her with!
Experience Amarachiamans here: https://www.amarachiamans.com/
It has been truly inspiring hearing from these incredible designers about their stories, gifts and talents, all of which they continue to serve God with, glorifying Him while doing so. I hope their stories have ignited you to express your creativity through fashion, or any alternative outlet The Lord has blessed you with to manifest Himself through you! Consider supporting them on their journeys as they continue to venture through their ministries while expressing God through their crafts – leaving a lasting impact which transcends fashion!