DUMEBI is an artisanal, inclusive luxury fashion brand committed to raising awareness of sickle cell disease.

I'm Barbara, a British-Nigerian designer and founder of DUMEBI, a brand that fuses European elegance with the power of African heritage. DUMEBI was born from my dream of opening a sustainable, handmade fashion house in Paris, with a mission: to promote craftsmanship, inclusivity, and raise awareness about sickle cell disease—a disease I know personally.

I've secured a beautiful space on Boulevard Malesherbes (Paris 8th arrondissement), but I need your help to finalize the entry fees, the renovations, and the opening of the boutique/workshop in time for Fashion Week in September 2025.

❤️ Our commitments

Local & artisanal creation (handmade in Paris using high quality sustainable materials- 100% Silk, Bamboo & Cotton) - space contains an atelier for all our production

Raising awareness about sickle cell disease through events, free creative workshops onsite, podcasts, donations, and partnerships

Inclusive fashion for all women, all sizes - custom made for each client

Transfer: apprenticeships, internships, and mentoring for young creatives

The impact

Each donation not only helps open an independent fashion house, but also creates a space of visibility, expression, and healing for people living with sickle cell disease. Through our foundation - Gideons Treasure www.gideonstreasure.org.uk

Funds will be used for

Entry fees (deposit, agency fees)

Renovation work

Hiring apprentices

Communication & launch

An initial funding level of €15,000 will be used to secure the first urgent payments and open the store.

A little more about me and why this project is so important

My name is Barbara, and I am the founder and creative director of DUMEBI, a luxury fashion house born of determination and perseverance. A British-Nigerian fashion designer, I live with sickle cell disease, a disease that marked my childhood but also awakened my strength.

From hospital beds to sketchbooks, fashion became my light, my therapy, and my way of transforming pain into beauty. Where others saw limitations, I imagined runway shows. In the most difficult moments, I created dresses in my head, dreaming of opening a Parisian boutique celebrating resilience, heritage, and elegance.

But this journey wasn't just mine.

In 2021, I created the Gideon's Treasure Foundation (www.gideonstreasure.org.uk) in tribute to my uncle Gideon, who tragically passed away from complications related to sickle cell disease.

The foundation was created to raise awareness, support those battling the disease, and provide creative outlets for those suffering from chronic pain. Today.

The boutique on Boulevard Malesherbes, Paris, will not only be a place dedicated to fashion, but also a living extension of this mission:

A place where luxury meets meaning, where creativity fuels healing, and where every purchase helps amplify the fight against sickle cell disease.

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