Born to a Ghanaian dad and a Caribbean mother, Chantelle and Daniele Dwomoh-Piper are gradually becoming a force in fashion circles. The twin sisters are featured in this month’s edition of ‘Elle South Africa’ which is one of the many they’ve been featured in. In the feature on them, questions on their inspiration and decision to set up are played on. Read the full piece on them here.
“So what do you do when you’ve just graduated from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology? If you’re Danielle and Chantelle Dwomoh-Piper, you start a fashion label and blog: DPiperTwins and kick off a career that so far has led to appearances on TV shows such as CBS’s Rachael Ray Show, NBC’s Today Show and ABC’s Good Morning America as well as invitations to participate in several fashion weeks, including in their hometown, New York.
Danielle and Chantelle embrace their roots – their mom is Caribbean and their dad Ghanaian – with a bold combination of traditional prints in contemporary styles. They blog about fashion, food and their travels to provide followers with a window onto their world as models and brand ambassadors. Among their most popular blog outings were the one on the launch of their Ankara print beanies in a flurry of colours and combos. The post and lookbook visuals were a huge hit and translated into record sales.
Equally popular were the posts about their visit to the village in Ghana where they had grown up. The twins took gifts for the children there, saying, ‘We are blessed to have a talent that enables us to impact the lives of others in a positive way.’ It’s this connection to their heritage and the country where they were raised that intrigues their fans and keeps them coming back. ‘That connection is precious,’ Danielle says. ‘And it’s even greater when you learn to combine that which makes you different with your talent to create a business.’
Their goal is to follow in the footsteps and build on the work of their favourite designer, Kofi Ansah, a founding member of the Federation of African Designers and a pioneer who had helped put modern African design on the international stage. That said, like true New Yorkers, Danielle and Chantelle can’t live without their Salvatore Ferragamo heels and Chanel flats. And then there’s the obligatory stack of David Yurman bangles. But, with an Instagram following already pushing the 20 000 mark, it’s their Ghanaian-inspired designs they want to grow globally, especially back home in Africa.”
