From Passion Project to Paper

Story by: Heaven Taylor-Wynn

Chineme Ogbuefi, 19 Her products can be purchased online through her Etsy store or through her instagram account @chiwrapz.

Chineme Ogbuefi, 19, is a senior nutritional science student at the University of Florida. She founded Chiwrapz, a company selling authentic, Nigerian head wraps, back in August of 2017. She wanted to give people the chance to express themselves through their headwraps. Her products can be purchased online through her Etsy store or through her instagram account @chiwrapz.

Alinda Saintval, 21 She accepts requests for commissioned pieces through her instagram @artstrokes_.

Alinda Saintval, 21, is a senior visual arts studies student at the University of Florida. Art is not only what she does, it’s who she is. She aspires to work for herself and one day illustrate children’s books. She accepts requests for commissioned pieces through her instagram @artstrokes_.

Where it started

For 21-year-old Alinda Saintval, art is quite literally life. A young woman who sometimes faces challenges making time for her personal art says there’s always a way.

“There is no balance. I’m just winging it,” the visual arts studies major said.

She spends almost every waking moment creating, whether it’s for her personal portfolio or assignments for class. Luckily for her, it doesn’t feel like work.

“I’m always willing to lose sleep over completing a painting. It’s somewhat a therapy.”

It all started back in her childhood when her cousin Andre brought home a painting of an angel baby kissing another on the cheek. She said "I remember saying people can do that?”

From then her passion for art flourished. She’d developed a knack for details and drawing better than other students when the opportunity presented itself. Her cousin bought her a set of drawing pencils and a sketchbook. Fast forward two years and she’d turned to painting. It was kismet.

When it all first started she was painting for likes, molding her pieces into what she thought others wanted to see. All of this on the contrary from what the members of her Haitian household believed would warrant financial success. Her mom has since come around to the idea of her daughter working as a freelancer after witnessing what she’s able to earn from commissioned pieces thus far.

Chineme Ogbuefi, on the other hand, says she’s always wanted to start a business. She visited the country of her heritage, Nigeria, last summer and a friend asked her to make some head wraps for her. The friend later suggested researching the market for the product. She borrowed business advice and strategies from her dad who’s well-versed in the arena and shortly thereafter Chiwrapz was born.

“I have always worn head wraps but I didn’t really think it was something people would like to wear,” she said.

What are you going to gain from it?

For both young entrepreneurs the obvious, of course, is some extra cash to meet some unmet needs or to splurge. Either way, it’s no secret that college students are more often than not strapped for cash. For Chineme, there’s more fruit to be reaped from her hours of labor.

“It gave me the courage to talk to people,” she said. “I walk up to strangers handing them my business card and even follow random people on social media.”

She’s building her network, growing more confident in her product and giving back to her homeland. As a Nigerian-American, Chineme has not only helped herself, but also some of her relatives. She works with her aunt who gets the fabric direct from Nigeria and a tailor who also gets a cut of the profit.

Alinda’s work helps her to further her ultimate career goal-- to not work for someone else, ideally illustrating children’s books. She says her lifestyle requires an immense amount of dedication. A not-so-traditional social life, Alinda says she hardly sees other people except for when she’s on campus headed to class.

“Otherwise, I’m cooped up in my room,” she said, “paintbrush in hand and netflix or music on play.”

Being that as it may, she’s taken advantage of this opportunity to work on her social and leadership skills. An introvert by nature, the artist doesn’t make a point to meet new people but always makes new friends when presenting her work.

“The ultimate goal is to create what I desire and move the hearts of others with my creations,” she said.

The purpose in her brands center around a latin principle Duende which means to the ability of art to deeply move a person. Alinda has admittedly grown in the last three years into an artist who she says has more eyes on her than she’s ever expected. She’s built a following of more than 1,300 people on her Instagram account where she posts her painted backpacks, graduation caps, canvasses and more.

Looking to the future

Although Chineme is currently studying nutritional science at the University of Florida, her post-grad plans look a little different.

"After I graduate Chiwarpz is going to be my number 1 priority,” she said.

She’s got an abundance of ideas and plans that she hopes to implement for this endeavor to really take off.

Through nutritional science, she aspired to ultimately help people by working in the public health field. Not all is lost however given that her company encourages good work ethic and has created some opportunities for people in Nigeria.

Alinda means to stay true to her work and create things she’s always proud of regardless of how many people are receptive.

“I don’t want to count on commissions and creating other people’s ideas. I know to stick to what moves me first before I present it to an audience,” she said.

A word for aspiring entrepreneurs

To those thinking of starting their own business, these ladies have a few words of wisdom.

- Just do it like Nike.

- Be open minded and know that in college people often want to support but are sometimes unable due to funds.

- Don’t sell yourself short. Find your demographic and work with it. Look for events to possibly display your work to get eyes on it; that starts a crowd .

- Don’t be afraid to market yourself. Both of these ladies use social media to their advantage to find clientele and update followers about what to expect.

- Most importantly BE PASSIONATE!