Today we’d like to introduce you to Ibukunoluwa (I.B for Short) Thomas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ibukunoluwa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always loved fashion, African or Western and I would wear my African pieces from time to time. The African print is so vibrant and I thought of ways to make it subtle and make it an everyday wear. So at a work summer event, I wore a tunic I designed made with a combination of Chiffon and African prints and a lot of people requested for the website. That was my ha-ha moment and Theos and Tims was born (names derived from the sons’ middle names).
I am of Nigerian descent and also have spent a portion of my life in the US. So I decided to create unique pieces which had a blend of both worlds for every woman and to cut across a diverse clientele.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I still have my full time 9 – 5 job and also have a family with an eight and six years old. It’s hard trying to balance all aspects of your life.
Also, as a first-time business owner, you wear many hats you never thought you were capable of and you have to be resourceful. You learn to be your own salesperson, graphic designer, social media officer, customer service, order fulfillment associate, bookkeeper and so much more. All these takes a toll on you mentally and physically as you have to stay up late nights to complete these tasks.
In the end, you have to remember to stay true to your vision and all the hard work is all going to be worth it.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Theos and Tims – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Theos and Tims started with the love for fashion, engulfed and embraced in African prints. I am of Nigerian descent and also have spent a portion of my life in the U.S. I wanted to create unique pieces which had a blend of both worlds and for every woman. Our aim is to cut across a diverse clientele. Our unique pieces and concept with a subtle touch of African prints set us apart from other African clothing themed stores.
Theos and Tims started with creating our crochet and chiffon beach cover-ups with a touch African prints called Ankara. Ankara is a finely print material made of cold wax and is tailored to suit all body types, it has a coolness of cotton which accentuates all skin tones.
Then we added our summer rattan bags which also has a touch of prints too. The winter is also not left out with our customized head warmers and headbands with a touch of our beautiful prints.
Our goal is to create more unique pieces for every woman and leave our customers satisfied through all seasons with a complete outfit or accessory to make them stand out from the crowd either on a beach or during the cold season.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My family and I moved from the east coast some years back and I can say the calm environment, food and beautiful weather is enough to fall in love with this city. The fact that we don’t have to dig through snow in the winter is pure bliss. We are very happy to call Houston our home.