Nita Brown, the owner and designer for MansaWear is originally from Ghana and based her company in Park Ave. Rochester, New York after working for Kodak. Growing up, Nita was always surrounded by fabrics, tailors and fabric makers: “I think I started everything because of my mother, we would always make our clothes.” When she moved to Rochester she struggled to find a building for her store. She joined a running club and while on a run came across the Park Ave. building that is still her store today, “I needed to put my store a place where people walk so they can see it.” Her production process takes place in Ghana, as her seamstresses and fabrics are located and manufactured there. Nita sends measurements, fabric type, style guides and video details on how the garment should be created, it is then made in Ghana and sent to the store for custom clothing for each customer. Nita started participating in Fashion Week of Rochester as a table selling and promoting her company. She then moved to the runway where she prepares new styles every year to best promote her unique style.