Page 44 - September 2019

Donellia Chives, Ngome Lifestyle

Where Culture Meets Community

story by NAKEISHA DAWSON-THOMPSON
D onellia Chives was born and Boutique located at 711 Bladen St

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