A clothing designer, a stylist, a model, a manufacturer, a math whiz, a runner, a songstress, a soloist, a flautist, a teacher, a mother, a Kenyan-American, a dynamic woman, Soila Konchellah has had a full life of diverse experiences. Born in West Palm Beach, Florida to a Maasai father and African-American mother, Soila spent her early life in the small town of Belle Glade, Florida, with her parents and three sisters. She has had a life filled with travel and engaging education, that developed her penchant for fashion, math and music. She majored in math at Florida A & M University, where she also was a member of the Marching 100 for four years. There, she was chosen Freshman Section Leader of the Piccolo section, and subsequently became piccolo section leader in the Marching 100 for two years. Known for her superior musicianship and performance, Soila later applied her math expertise and fashion knowledge to a pursuit of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Florida State University, which resulted in her current business, “Konchellah”, custom clothing, specializing in African print couture.
Soila has always had a keen eye for fashion and a very distinct personal style, but it wasn’t until the age of 27, after being asked to create a set of bridesmaids dresses for one of her three sisters, that she decided to completely commit to pursuing her lifelong dream of being a designer. Konchellah specializes in, but is not limited to, gowns for red carpet events, weddings, proms, and milestone birthdays. Soila has a special connection to African fabrics, as it is a part of her Kenyan culture, so designing and creating these gowns is an especially intimate process for her. Before each piece is made, a personal connection is made with the client, and all things are considered – including body shape, style, event, and theme.
Konchellah has been featured on numerous blogs and websites; most notably, on the front page of Essence.com in its 2018 Prom issue. Konchellah was also a featured clothing designer at New York Fashion Week 2018, representing Cantu Beauty in collaboration with artist, Melissa Mitchell of Abeille Creations, in the “Textures on the Runway” fashion show.