CBS Mornings Features Besida Founder, Sophia Danner-Okotie

God's Best

If you don't know, Sophia's enthusiasm for Besida is contagious."Our idea of what's great is nothing compared to God's best," she said at the end of the CBS interview with hosts Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Tony Dokoupil. Besida is more than just a fashion label; it impacts the lives of those who make the clothes and those who wear them.

Sophia spoke to CBS Mornings about her desire to create a sustainable clothing line using African prints and designs handmade by local tailors in Nigeria. She felt that there was a lack of African-inspired fashion in America. Her solution was to launch her brand, Besida, which means "Destiny Determines All" in the Itsekiri language of Nigeria. Besida is making a name for itself in the fashion industry, and our tailoring team is a big part of that.

What She Wore
Sophia wore the signature Flora Reversible Wrap Skirt and Wrap Blouse during her CBS Mornings interview. With this reversible piece, you get twice the wardrobe options for the same price. By flipping your set inside out, you can transition from a romantic date night look to a casual weekend brunch outfit. It's not only convenient, but it's also environmentally friendly. Why limit yourself to one look when you can have two? Shop the look here

News Career
Before launching Besida, Sophia had aspirations to be a national news anchor. She worked as an on-air reporter at 13 WMAZ in Macon, GA. But then Besida happened, and she realized she needed to do something she was passionate about. Although she has no formal training in fashion design, Sophia wished to create something that would reconnect women with their roots, while also introducing Africa to the rest of the world.

Building Connections

Our founder believes that African-Americans in the United States can easily connect with their roots through clothing. She recognizes the power of prints and how clothing can be used to express culture and heritage. Besida has inspired people to return home and reconnect with their roots, and the company has even given away trips to Africa to help people do so. The first winner will be traveling to Ghana in April.

Catch the interview here:

Check out our latest designs to see the power of African prints and designs here and start expressing your own culture and heritage through fashion.