With a particular interest in fashion, tourism and lifestyle, Maryam Dimson is a 23-year-old entrepreneur from New York City. She recently graduated from Pace University with a degree in Hotel Hospitality and Tourism Management. And to put the skills she learned to good use, she founded Gold Coast Apparel NYC.
Gold Coast Apparel NYC is heavily influenced by culture. On the name, Maryam explained that her family’s roots are from Ghana, which is also known as the Gold Coast hence the first part of the name. They are based out of New York City, and it is a city that showcases the hottest fashion trends and is the melting pot of world culture.
The mode of operation at Gold Coast NYC Apparels is to visit a particular region to collect designs based on the native and cultural patterns. Upon returning to New York, Maryam then uses the collected patterns and designs to design new apparel styles. According to her, the brand’s first collection will heavily feature West Africa, specifically Ghana, Nigeria, and Mali. “Not only do we feature clothing that represents the region, but for every region, we go to customers to learn about the highlighted counties and unique facts about the countries as well,” she explained.
Gold Coast NYC Apparels is on a mission to create an affordable, fashion-forward, and sustainable brand that embraces countries and traditions. According to Maryam, “We want to make the world’s hottest styles…with a twist! Regardless of shape, style, or gender, we want our brand to be for everyone! We want to introduce the world to the beautiful continents of the world and its culture, so the brand’s tagline is ‘Influenced by Culture’ because we are all influenced by culture. It shapes the world, and it shapes who we are, and people should embrace that.”
The brand targets very fashion-forward and trend-conscious people because this is the audience that pays extra attention to owning the most up-to-date and fashionable clothing and accessories but at an affordable price. Those looking for the next best thing will find it with Gold Coast NYC’s masterstroke of incorporating cultural attires into their clothing.
Maryam points out that the concept and ideas behind Gold Coast Apparel are unique and not, like many other African-inspired fashion and designs. At the same time, she re-educates people in the counties on the significance of some of these fashion items and trends. “I am creating trendy clothes like those sold in Fashion Nova, Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing, but I’m adding a cultural touch to it,” she concludes.
Ahead of the official launch, Maryam believes she is creating a brand for the future—a brand that is set to redefine the fashion industry for years to come.
The brand is set to launch in September and you can follow their Instagram page or Facebook for updates, sneak peeks, and more.
