A fifth-grade student from Queens, New York, Ufele wanted to relieve the pain from bullying by her classmates due to her body size. Her solution? ChubiiLine, a line designed to “empower everyone that [has been] bullied.” (Ufele)
The transition wasn’t hard for the young designer to make; for years, she had perfected her craft creating clothes for her dolls, practicing her needle-and-thread to pursue tailoring, design and detail. Debuting in 2015 at Unique Blend Models Fashion Week, the Chubiiline runway show has since been highlighted and showcased alongside other indie talents with multi-designer shows in NYC and Atlanta.
The brand is intended to be worn by everyone: “kids, straight [sizes], plus-size women, and men,” Ufele says. Currently, ChubiiLine is solely available on its own website, but according to a representative of the line, it is possible that the line will be carried in brick-and-mortar stores very soon.
We can’t wait to see what this rising star is capable of in the next few years, and how thrilled we are to see how young designers take fashion to effect positive change!