News

Love the Way You Look in Love, Iguehi Designs

Published

7 years ago

October 10, 2019

In 2018, I left a promising career in healthcare to pursue my own clothing line, Love Iguehi (EE-Gway-HEE), full time. If you understand what growing up in Oakland in the 1980s as the eldest child to immigrant parents was like — you know that becoming a doctor or engineer was a much more accepted career path. However, as I build my brand as the daughter of an Nigerian artist (James Esoimeme), the switch from a career in healthcare to clothing design now all makes sense.

I am fully American by any standard and I am also fully African; Nigerian, to be more specific. My parents made sure that their culture was passed down to my siblings and I and they reminded us that although we were born in the U.S., Nigeria was our home. I have vivid memories of my parents dressing in their traditional attire with beautiful lace and vibrant ankara prints (ankara is typically 100% cotton fabric with vibrant patterns, often with tribal type patterns made through a wax-resist dyeing technique called batik) as they headed off to weddings, parties and other celebrations in the ’80s and ’90s. The celebrations were always colorful and lively. People ate, laughed and danced the night away as popular Nigerian musicians like Fela, Sunny Adé, and Shinna Peters were played across loudspeakers as the beats vibrated the walls. My parents wore the traditional Nigerian clothing with such pride, but as much as I enjoyed being at the parties, admittedly, I didn’t always feel comfortable in traditional clothing.

I graduated from Oakland Technical High School in the late ’90s and while hip hop culture had provided more acceptance around Afrocentricity, overall I grew up in a time when African American beauty wasn’t broadly celebrated and simply being African or Black came with some negative perceptions.

I made a point to stand boldly in who I was. I was a young Nigerian-American woman who loved and appreciated the duality of being raised in both cultures.

My love for self, my love for culture and beauty, my interest in connecting people to their home, all helped birth Love Iguehi in the fall of 2016.

Love Iguehi (EE-Gway-HEE) is a brand focused on using ankara prints to create clothing that helps infuse people with a rich sense of self-love. I aspire to create versatile, high quality products that foster love and community while celebrating the cultural richness that connects us to each other. By fully embracing my heritage and sharing it with the world, I hope to sew joy, positive energy and the love I felt as a child at those parties into every piece.

I started out making clothing that was all custom made-to-order products and I have expanded the line to include off the rack and ready to wear items for all sizes. My most popular items are our convertible wrap skirts, long duster coats, custom skirts, head wraps and clutch purses. As I continue to expand the line I will offer men’s apparel as well.

Love Iguehi is an Oakland-based clothing brand founded by Iguehi James. Iguehi is a wife and mother of three and a member of New Life Community Church in Oakland. Iguehi is a member of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC) and the recipient of the OAACC Startup Business of the year award. Love Iguehi clothing and apparel can be found online at LoveIguehi.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @LoveIguehi.

Iguehi James

Posts by Iguehi James

Bay Area

UC Berkeley Named Top Public University in the U.S. and No. 7 in the World by ‘U.S. News’

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014. “A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

Published

8 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo by Keegan Houser/UC Berkeley.

The 2026 Best Global Universities rankings evaluated 2,250 research institutions from more than 100 countries

By Lila Thulin

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Berkeley No. 7 in its 2026 list of the best global universities, which assesses more than 2,250 research institutions worldwide.

Berkeley also claimed the honor of top public university in the U.S.

Released on Monday, the list evaluates universities from more than 100 countries on 13 metrics such as global and research reputation (as reported by academics and peers) and number of highly cited scholarly papers.

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014.

“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

The rankings also assess a university’s strength in various subject areas; these assessments are separate from U.S. News’ 2026 Best Graduate Programs rankings released in April.

This year, Berkeley was named in the top three nationally in seven subject areas – environment/ecology, ecology, water resources, physics, computer science, chemistry, and engineering – and in the top five for a total of 17 subjects. Subject rankings are based heavily on scholarly publications and citations as well as reputation.

In September, U.S. News also released its 2026 Best Colleges list, in which Berkeley was also named the No. 1 public institution among American universities.

That honor joins other accolades judging campus to be the best public university in the country, such as those from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

NCBW-OBAC Champions Black Women Entrepreneurs at Business en Blaque Expo

Aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and financial professionals gathered for a day of education, networking, and community engagement. Participants attended workshops and panel discussions covering Business Literacy 101, wealth-building strategies, and entrepreneurship fundamentals.

Published

16 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Oakland Post

NCBW OBAC President Shari Wooldridge, moderator Jennifer Hammock, Eva Allen of Full Belly Bakery, Samantha Wise of Tip Top Shape, Ashley Harvey of Phoenix AI, Michelle McQueen, owner of Town Fare and Lucy Blue, at the "Business en Blaque” Entrepreneurship Workshop and Small Business Expo at Oakland's Executive Inn & Suites. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Oakland Bay Area Chapter (NCBW-OBAC) strengthened its commitment to economic empowerment through its 2026 Sisternomics initiative, offering free financial literacy and entrepreneurship resources aimed at advancing financial independence among Black women.

As part of the initiative, the “Business en Blaque” Entrepreneurship Workshop and Small Business Expo was held Saturday, May 23, at the Executive Inn & Suites in Oakland.

Aligned with the national theme “Resilient. Resourceful. Ready.,” the event highlighted NCBW-OBAC’s ongoing efforts to close economic gaps and expand opportunities for Black women.

One featured session, moderated by Jennifer Hammock, included panelists Eva Allen of Full Belly Bakery, Samantha Wise of Tip Top Shape, Ashley Harvey of Phoenix AI, and Michelle McQueen, owner of Town Fare and Lucy Blue. Panelists shared candid insights on their business journeys, including both successes and challenges.

McQueen and Blue emphasized the importance of maintaining clear financial records. “It’s important to know where you stand financially so you can make adjustments when necessary,” she said.

Ashley Harvey of Phoenix AI encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude to streamline operations and save time. She also stressed the importance of consistency in marketing. “Just put it out there. We’ve got to get over ourselves,” she said, noting that pre-scheduling social media posts can improve efficiency.

Wise echoed that sentiment, highlighting the value of consistent engagement. “I post two to three times a day because people want to be engaged, and your post doesn’t have to be perfect,” she said. She also shared that her faith continues to guide her work and purpose.

Allen spoke to the role of passion and community in entrepreneurship. “Baking is my passion, and it’s great to build community,” she said.

In addition to educational sessions, the Small Business Expo showcased local Black-owned businesses, creating a platform for visibility and support. The event fostered meaningful connections among attendees, speakers, and vendors.

Anita Russell of Working Solutions provided guidance on accessing capital, encouraging entrepreneurs to be prepared and intentional. “Do your homework, know your ‘why,’ and do not marginalize each other,” she said.

Oakland Post

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#NNPA BlackPress

Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps!

Watch the long-form video https://youtu.be/YANxGwD2CjI Don’t get swayed by monthly payments! Always settle the out-of-the-door price first, including all fees. Only then discuss monthly payments, terms, and potential add-ons. #AutoNetwork #CarBuyingTips #CarSales #DealershipSecrets #Negotiation
The post Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

7 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Oakland Post

Watch the long-form video

Don’t get swayed by monthly payments! Always settle the out-of-the-door price first, including all fees. Only then discuss monthly payments, terms, and potential add-ons. #AutoNetwork #CarBuyingTips #CarSales #DealershipSecrets #Negotiation

The post Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.