Meet GES Delegate: Archel Bernard
Name Archel Bernard
Twitter handle shopbombchel
Country of Origin Liberia
Organization Name The Bombchel Factory
Organization Website www.shopbombchel.com
Brief Description of Organization The Bombchel Factory is an ethical African fashion wonderland based in the heart of Monrovia, Liberia where we train disadvantaged women to sew our contemporary African styles for sale. Tribal print clothing can be found on every runway and in many stores, but not much of it is made on the African continent. We aim to change that and the conversation about our country by training women who are eager to earn a living through fashion. We are excited to make women around the world look beautiful in creations inspired by our homeland and made in our homeland. We are in the business of offering a hand up instead of a hand out, and our company is steadily growing strong because of it.
What inspired you to start this organization? After Ebola ravaged the region, I had to close my Monrovia retail location, as no one was shopping. When I came back I knew I had to find a way to never have to leave again. I needed to expand production so we could outfit women around the world. The Bombchel Factory is passion and necessity.
What is the next big step you hope to help your organization reaches? I’m ready for us to be worn by celebrities. We already dress some of the best looking, most socially responsible women in the world! I want us to become the go-to brand for fashion icons who care.
What has been your biggest obstacle as an entrepreneur? We’ve done a good job of turning our challenges into our assets. I couldn’t find enough tailors to make clothes for our store, so The Bombchel Factory trains our most loyal employees. Right now we are focusing on how to market to customers overseas, even though it’s hard to travel to and from Liberia. Isolation is something we don’t have the power to fix.
What advice would you give other emerging entrepreneurs? Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. Overcoming those unique challenges will really be what makes your company special!
