Chioma Amegashie followed her dreams and launched an online store called Mosaic. Mosaic is a true journey for those of exquisite and discriminating taste. With unique accessories for both home and outfit, Mosaic fills a need for that unique and very special gift..or just the need to pamper yourself with a special, handcrafted gift. Jamati caught up with Chioma to learn more about her desire to fulfil our cultured cravings.

Jamati: What was it that helped you decide to set up your own shop?

It was the right time to launch MOSAIC, my e-commerce company, when as a seasoned department store buyer, I was uninspired by current retail. I saw a huge void in the marketplace for a platform that highlighted unique global pieces, reflecting today’s world.

Today’s consumer is inundated with numerous choices, from “brick and mortar” stores, to catalogs and e-commerce, which has changed the scope of modern retail. I wanted a unique shopping experience that combined individual, signature style with elements of my own heritage and showcased unexpected treasures across all cultures. I wanted an edited, one-stop destination that truly reflected the lifestyle of the modern global sophisticate across their wardrobe, home and for gift-giving. MOSAIC was founded to offer an innovative shopping platform that celebrates exceptional global artistry and craftsmanship, giving these design masters a voice in the marketplace.

Jamati: How do you determine what pieces to purchase?

My selection is global lifestyle-inspired. Crafting one’s signature style is not only reflected in your wardrobe, but transcends into your home as your sanctuary and the gifts you share. It truly embodies all aspects of your life.

As a buyer for over twelve years, I have access to great selling information and industry contacts. I focus on fashion growth categories such as footwear, handbags, jewelry and home and gifts. Each MOSAIC piece is selected based on how well fashion meets function with a distinctive point of view. When a customer purchases a MOSAIC item, they are guaranteed a unique piece that commands attention.

Jamati: What was your vision for your shop? Was there a special need you wanted to fill or was it just something you had always wanted to do?

I have always wanted to own a business that reflected my love of beautiful product. My vision was to pull together “distinctive global chic”, a fashion collective with influence from talented international artisans. MOSAIC brands my own sense of style, inspired by my career and journeys across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and North America. My goal is to connect our niche customer, who is sophisticated, professional, traveled and conscious, with signature, well-crafted items to build her wardrobe, to accent her home and for gift-giving.

MOSAIC is the passport to our changing world. We scour vibrant international meccas to hand-pick unique items of unparalleled quality, decadent materials and modern design, focusing on the strength of an international destination’s artisans to offer the best in global chic.

The MOSAIC sophisticate beats to one’s drum but sets her own standards…a global tastemaster. From beautiful, hand-crafted footwear from Spain by Coclico and Pura Lopez, to unique home accents and gifts of distinction like German-based Taschen global travel books, everything is bought with the global lifestyle in mind.

Jamati: How did you end up in your profession as a buyer? Is there special education that one needs to get into that line of work?

In all honesty, I stumbled into a buying career. While frequenting career fairs during my senior year in college, I was not overly enthusiastic about most entry-level marketing positions that I had encountered.

The light bulb finally went off after a great discussion with executives from Hecht’s Department Stores (now Macys). Buying blended my passion for beautiful product and travel with my business acumen. It offered immediate responsibility managing millions of dollars. I could use my strong analytical ability to be creative and hone my entrepreneurial spirit.

I quickly enrolled in a retail management class and have not looked back. I moved to Minneapolis right after graduation to work for Marshall Field’s Department Stores (now Macys). In 2000, I relocated to the Bay Area in my quest to learn vendor operations and worked for global retailer Esprit de Corp in San Francisco. Thereafter, a five year buying stint with Mervyns honed extensive strategic management, product development and global sourcing experience to finally launch MOSAIC.

Retail can be an extremely lucrative industry, especially for women. To be a buyer, a college degree is required. Successful buyers typically have a business-related background; however retailers scout talent across a multitude of degrees to drive diverse opinions. Major retailers also offer intensive eight to twelve week training programs, which prepare you for success. Strong math and analytical skills and a strong eye for trends are essential.

Jamati: Have you encountered unique challenges in trying to purchase goods from Africa? What regions seem to be easier to tap into and why?

As a buyer, I have seen first-hand how the global consumer market has changed the scope of economics in China and India, significantly changing the lives of their citizens with training and employment. Unfortunately, Africa has largely been excluded, due to the lack of infrastructure and strategic business partnerships, and branding stereotypes. The retail industry primarily sources out of South Africa, Madagascar and North Africa, particularly Morocco, as infrastructure and established relationships with multinational companies are already in place. This leaves out a lot of potential players across many African countries.

As a Liberian woman, I am committed to actively scouting distinctive talent across Africa that fit MOSAIC’s brand aesthetic. Sourcing has been a struggle, especially if you are not in the trenches. Temporarily, I am buying one-of- a-kind items through my travels. Long-term, I am still solidifying the right strategic partners to source and produce new items to enhance my selection. Just finding information about potential suppliers through personal contacts and the internet has been one of the larger frustrations. It is wonderful to see platforms like Jamati providing us with a voice and access to other Africans in the diaspora. Kudos to you!

My long-term goal is that my passion for discovery takes me to every African country. Each nation is so unique, with its own distinctive style and culture. MOSAIC is positioned as the premier platform to highlight that in the US.

Jamati: Your pieces are exquisitely unique. How do you know where to look and what is it about a piece that makes it worth putting into the MOSAIC collection?

Inspiration is everywhere. I scout product in everyday life, whether browsing through my favorite magazines or while people-watching at a public venue. I read a lot of international trend and travel reports to keep abreast of emerging talent and key destinations. Always passionate about travel, I especially find inspiration attending global fashion/trade shows to personally experience the pulse of a location.

MOSAIC’s collection seeks to celebrate exceptional global artistry, to connect and to inspire. In my commitment to masterfully highlighting selected artisans, each item is personally hand-picked because it is an unexpected treasure.

Jamati: You mentioned that you create stories with your pieces. What stories are you trying to create?

The design inspiration behind each of MOSAIC’s pieces makes for an interesting story. Whether a journey through the Andean Forest inspires the leaf motif on a SURevolution cuff or ancient Tibetan currency inspires the artwork for handcrafted note cards by the Tibet Collection or studying Dinka jewelry- making in Sudan inspires a hammered brass bracelet, I love sharing these stories with my customers.

All of my selected pieces are meant to evoke the senses. I create product stories by pulling together complimentary items to showcase a trend or complete a look. I want my customers to come away having travelled in a sense, or experienced a bit of that story for themselves through their purchase.