From baby bibs sewn as gifts to lampshades crafted in lockdown, Kala Paul-Worika took a hobby and spun it into a growing brand. By Kala X – as seen in Somerset House and John Lewis – is her way of bringing African print into your everyday, not just saved for special occasions. This is how Kala adds Afro chic to your wardrobe and living room.

What is By Kala X and why did you start it?

By Kala X is a growing business providing Afro chic in the form of quality handmade clothing and vibrant home decor. I’m afraid the name is quite literal, but they are basically made by me, Kala, with lots of love!

How does your heritage and upbringing shape the brand?

My brand is influenced by my Nigerian heritage and east London upbringing. Growing up, I usually only wore African print to parties and other special occasions – from head-to-toe! I want anyone, regardless of their background, to feel great wearing African print fabrics every day and not just for special occasions.

My children are of mixed heritage – Nigerian and Jamaican – so creating a brand where different cultures, backgrounds and styles are embraced and complemented was very important to me. For example, I love to wear African print with denim, or you’ll see me in a By Kala X skirt and a slogan t-shirt.

How did you learn to sew pieces and how has your process evolved along the way?

I learnt to sew at secondary school, but signed up for an evening course with my sister which gave me the confidence to purchase my own sewing machine and start making baby bibs and cushions as gifts.

I’ve become more confident with drafting and amending my own patterns as time has progressed. When it comes to my clothing line, it’s always been about giving staple wardrobe pieces an African print makeover, while my home decor line has progressed from basic cushion covers to oversized frill cushions. My motto is ‘go big, or go home’!

What was the first product and how has the range grown from there?

I first started doing baby bibs for friends who were starting to have babies, so the brand really started with baby clothes. Then, it was cushion covers and accessories, followed by adult clothing. The lampshades were a lockdown addition.

Where do you source fabrics and what is your design and production process?

I’m currently sourcing the majority of my fabrics from Nigeria. Every season, I aim to introduce at least two new fabrics in both the clothing and home decor collections. Once I make the items, I usually organise a mass photoshoot before uploading it onto my website. This can be quite a long process, so during this time, I’m also previewing new items to customers at my in-person events. 

Tell us about your lampshade workshops. What can attendees expect and why did you want to teach people to craft their own African print decor?

I’m a huge believer in sharing skills, so my workshops – lampshade and African print rag wreath – are a great way for me to keep up this ethos. People taking part can expect a relaxed vibe, laughs and to walk away feeling proud of what they’ve been able to achieve in two hours!

As a business owner, what keeps you going when things get tough?

It’s really important to have a good network of fellow business owners who completely get what you’re going through and can give you a pep talk or advice when you need it. Sometimes all you need is someone to remind you of all the things you’ve achieved so far, even when you feel like you’re failing.

What’s been your proudest moment?

Seeing my creations in places like Somerset House and John Lewis are still ‘pinch me’ moments. I was among a group of Black-owned businesses selected by My Runway Group to take part in their pop-up at Somerset House for two years running.

Last year, during Black History Month, I joined a selection of businesses curated by Fashion Meets Music to take part in a two week pop-up in John Lewis in Stratford Westfield. I often have people tell me my home decor would be perfect in places like John Lewis, so this was a huge achievement for me.

“Seeing my creations in places like Somerset House and John Lewis are still ‘pinch me’ moments”

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Balancing my time between making and things like marketing. I think when you’re a creative, your happy place is always going to be the crafting, but you have to remember to tell people about all your amazing products!

What’s a milestone that you want to achieve with the business?

For me the ultimate goal is to go into wholesale – I’d love to see By Kala X being stocked in boutiques across the country.

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