Donellia Chives
Ngome Lifestyle
Where Culture Meets Community
story by NAKEISHA DAWSON-THOMPSON
Donellia Chives was born and raised in Beaufort, SC to L.C. and Gloria Chives Jr. Donellia grew up in town limits of Port Royal where she earned her early childhood education in the Beaufort County School District, she graduated from Beaufort High School in 1996. She furthered her education, receiving an Associates Degree in Fashion Design from American Incontinental University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Donellia has three beautiful children (Emperor, Heaven, Nasira) who inspire her to continue to share her passion and gifts with our community and the world. Donellia is the Owner/Proprietor of Ngome Lifestyle Boutique located at 711 Bladen St in Beaufort, SC inside of the Black Chamber of Commerce Building. Ngome Lifestyle is the quintessential Afropolitan style boutique for Royals. Exclusively curated Africa & global inspired clothing and accessories. Where style is unapologetically Royal. Donellia’s mission is to provide the premiere Afropolitan boutique experience. To inspire you to be your authentic and royal self. Ngome Lifestyle was established in 2015 as a Pop-Up shop in the Beaufort Arts Council Building.
When asked what inspired her interest in fashion, Donellia states “I have always loved fashion and have looked up to my mother and grandmother, who were both very fashionable women. My mother exposed me to the Southern twang of fashion, whereas my grandmother exposed me to the Northern style of fashion. I have learned what I love about fashion from these two women in my life.” Donellia felt compelled to learn and apply her Gullah culture in the work that she does in the Boutique as well as in the community.
Donellia is also the curator of Africa Fashion Week Lowcountry; which was pioneered by herself, Cynthia Stuart and Mahoganee Amiger in 2015. This annual event is held in Beaufort County to bring awareness and celebrate the history and fashion that comes from Beaufort’s deep-rooted history in the Gullah community that inspires the culture and fashion from Africa. This years’ Africa Fashion Week Lowcountry was held on August 25, 2019 at the Black Chamber of Commerce building. The theme for this years’ event was “Year of the Return.” According to the website, “The Year of Return, Ghana 2019, which is a major landmark spiritual journey inviting the Global African family, to mark 400 years of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia.” The launch allows for Africans in the Diaspora to return to Ghana, to unite Africans on the continent with their brothers and sisters in the diaspora.
The Year of Return exhibit will be available for viewing, along with many other African pieces at The Gullah Art Gallery located at 711 Bladen Street in Beaufort, SC until September 30, 2019. All who are interesting in viewing/learning the history so richly deposited in this community are encouraged to visit the Gullah Art Gallery and Ngome Lifestyle, which has many items for viewing and for sale. Ngome Boutique has a range of authentic African clothing, accessories and lifestyle products.
