Welcome to Jems by Jemima Onuwe
My story.
JEMS is a brand deeply rooted in my personal journey as a Black Nigerian woman who moved to England at the age of 15. The inspiration for this brand stems from my experiences of alienation and the internalised shame I felt as a Nigerian immigrant navigating life in a predominantly white school.
During this period, I often grappled with feelings of being an outsider, an imposter in an environment where I struggled to belong. My final year of secondary school was particularly challenging, marked by instances of casual racism that pushed me toward conformity—an attempt to fit into a mould that was never designed for me.
JEMS represents a reclamation of identity, a celebration of the very aspects of myself I once felt compelled to hide. It’s about rediscovering and embracing my heritage, my culture, and my authentic self. Through this brand, I aim to share these once-hidden parts of my identity with my audience, offering a contemporary perspective on what it means to be a Nigerian woman today.JEMS infuses my personal narrative—the essence of who I am as Jemima Onuwe, a Nigerian immigrant— with my personal styles of today into the designs of my clothing. It’s a story of resilience, self-acceptance ,self discovery and the beauty of cultural pride, woven into every piece.
