Costume designer and stylist Sekyiwa Wi-Afedzi is cool in that hard-to-describe, effortless way that fashion girls just are. Born and raised in Ontario, Sekyiwa works with her design partner Brooke Wilcox on Gabby Duran & The Unsittables, a live-action Disney show filmed in the Vancouver area. Seki recently went on maternity leave, however she was gracious enough to sit down with us a few weeks ago and share how she got her start in fashion, what trends she is seeing and why working for women is a game-changer. Sekyiwa is a babe because of her incredible style, her warm, friendly energy and her relentless work ethic.
What does ‘Babes Supporting Babes’ mean to you?
To me, being a babe is being the kind of person who gives people the opportunity to pursue their goals and provides the tools and access to do so, regardless of the connections or privileges they might have.
How did you get into the world of costume design and styling?
Originally, I had the goal of being a business
After graduation, I got into the fashion industry doing strategic business projects, but I wasn’t happy — I was constantly looking at the clock in my office, and I wasn’t feeling fulfilled professionally. At a fortuitous time six years ago, a couple of huge shifts happened in my personal life — and
I had done some styling working previously, and an opportunity came along for me to do a costume design job in Revelstoke, BC. I was immediately interested — years before I had done some modelling, and I remembered being significantly more interested in what was going on behind the camera than being in front of it. It required me signing up on the spot, moving to a small town for a month and making peanuts — but I LOVED IT. I loved every part of it, from costumes to cameras, to what the grips were up to. After that, I started saying yes to every design or styling opportunity that came along — and I mean everything. It was a lot of hard work and I spent a ton of time being underpaid, or not paid at all, which is hard in a town as expensive as Vancouver. But it was worth it, and now I’m at a place where people have started to approach me about projects, and I have the choice of where I work and what I want to work on. I owe my current success to a combination of very hard work, great timing and being willing to take a big chance.
What new trends are you noticing in your industry?
More and more, there are female department heads who are making the big decisions on set, which is really exciting. I’ve also noticed that when women are in charge, there tends to be way more emphasis on a healthy work-life balance. I especially value this now as a new mom.
What book do you believe everyone should read?
Roots by Alex Haley. It’s gonna take a minute, but I promise it’s worth it.
What city feels most like home to you?
Vancouver feels like home. I put the work in here — it’s not the easiest place to meet people or develop a network, but I’ve been here on and off for almost 15 years. It’s also an incredible place to be if you want to work in the entertainment and film industry — there is a ton of opportunity.
Are you a work-by-yourself kind of person, or a person who loves working surrounded by people?
I’m a little bit of both. I like to get to the office early, because I like to be the first person there; that first hour settling in with coffee and quietly getting ready for the day is my special time. But I also enjoy working with people, and I don’t mind working long hours, which is part of what the film industry is all about — there’s a special camaraderie that forms with people when you work together for long periods of time. I actually worked a 12 hour day the day before I went into active labour.
Is there anything you wish would come back into fashion?
You know, it’s funny, I think everything comes back at some point; as a stylist, I see cyclical trends all the time. I believe that we don’t need to wait for other people to bring certain items of clothing ‘back’ — bring it back yourself! I spent a ton of time in my 20s giving way too much of a shit about what people thought of me, and now I wear whatever the hell I want.
What is your version of a “power suit”?
If I want to project power, I play up my height. I always do
Who are your mentors? What have they taught you?
While we work in completely different industries, my Mom is my touchstone and the best mentor I’ve ever had. She was widowed at 29 years old with 2 kids under the age of 3, and yet she managed to provide a comfortable, culturally-rich childhood for us while also thriving in her own successful career. It blows my mind when I think back to that time and how she pulled it all off.
It’s hard to quantify all of the things my Mom has taught me, but most of all she has always emphasized the importance of education, being disciplined and enjoying work, because if you work long hours (as many successful people do) it’s important to love how you spend your time.
Who is your favourite supermodel?
My old-school favourites are Christy Turlington and Veruschka. They are both otherworldly. More recently, I adore Ajak Deng and Adesuwa. I have actually messaged with Adesuwa before, she is half Nigerian and I am half Ghanan, so we have a West African connection. Our chat was a major fangirl moment for me.
If you could fly anywhere in the world tomorrow for 24 hours, where would you go? No jet lag, obvs!
Ghana. I’ve been before — I went for the first time when I was nine years old, when my Mom took a sabbatical from work and took us there for a few months. It was important to her that we understood my Dad’s culture, and I will forever be grateful to her for providing that experience early on.
What is your karaoke song?
I Can’t Go For That by Hall and Oates.
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Rosario Dawson or Zoe Saldana.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is from my Mom — she always told me to think before I spoke. There are a lot of times when I am frustrated in professional and personal situations and I want to fly off the handle, but I always want to leave a conflict-filled situation knowing that I behaved in an above-board manner. It’s hard to take things back.
Who is your current celebrity crush?
I have a few. Obviously, Idris Elba, duh, ever since The Wire. More recently, I would say Alex Olson — he’s a skateboarder and has incredible style. Skate culture is something I’ve always really identified with.
If you could see any live act in the world right now, who would it be and at what venue?
I would see Solange at The Guggenheim in New York City. I’ve actually seen her before in a unique setting — it was at a private event at the Rennie Museum with only about a hundred other people. She walked right up to me and sang about three feet away from my face, and it was a mindblowing experience. Her new album is transcendent.
What are three things we would find in your fridge at all times?
Cranberry juice, dill pickles and a block of sharp cheddar. My fridge can sometimes be pretty sad….film industry problems, you know?
What do you think prepared you more for ‘adulting’: school or life experience?
Hands down, life experience. School was great, and I’m a proponent of education. If I went back to do another Masters degree, I would pursue economics, just for the sheer joy of going to school. But I think there’s a certain isolation in academia, and it’s hard to apply skills in the real world without being in the real world.
If you could leave your career with one legacy, what would you hope it is?
When I saw Ruth Carter win the Oscar for Costume Design this year [for her work on Black Panther], I was completely inspired. It’s a lofty goal, but screw it, I’ll put it out there — I would love to win an Oscar for Costume Design. What an incredible legacy that would be.
What words or phrases do you most overuse?
“To be honest.” It’s out of control how much I say this phrase…I’ve already said it about 10 times during this interview! (Note from the Editor: Sekyiwa has indeed said this many times during our chat, and it’s been completely adorable.)
What public figure do you admire the most?
Michelle Obama. I know it’s kind of a cliché answer right now — I mean, who doesn’t love Michelle, especially after Becoming came out. But the reason I have to mention her is that I’m breastfeeding right now and I’ve been listening to it in chunks on Audible when I’m up nursing my little guy in the middle of the night. I would also love to meet her mom!
What person or organization would you love to collaborate with and why?
I take my duty as a West Coast citizen pretty seriously. It’s a precarious time for the planet, and I work in an industry that contributes to a ton of pollution, of which I am
I also feel very connected to East Vancouver, and particularly with all who self-identify as womxn in Vancouver’s downtown lower East Side. The Portland Hotel Society has been doing the tough work with the communities in that neighbourhood for years.
Keep up with Sekyiwa on Instagram @seki_wi and @seki.and.brooke.costumes
Introduction written by Alexis Sheridan.
Photography by Ryan Pugsley.