Women’s History Month 2023 Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories

Donellia Chives

Donellia Chives was born and raised in Beaufort, SC to L.C. and Gloria Chives Jr. Donellia grew up in town limits of Port Royal where she earned her early childhood education in the Beaufort County School District, she graduated from Beaufort High School in 1996. She furthered her education, receiving an Associates Degree in Fashion Design from American Incontinental University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Donellia has three beautiful children (Emperor, Heaven, Nasira) who inspire her to continue to share her passion and gifts with our community and the world. Donellia is the Owner/Proprietor of Ngome Lifestyle Boutique. Ngome Lifestyle is the quintessential Afropolitan style boutique for Royals. Exclusively curated Africa & global inspired clothing and accessories. Where style is unapologetically Royal. Donellia’s mission is to provide the premiere Afropolitan boutique experience, “To inspire you to be your authentic and royal self.”

Donellia’s passion is to help conscious creatives tap into their InnerG by activating their Inner Greatness, awakening their Inner Goddess, and navigating their Internal GPS (gifts, purpose, & superpowers), “Cultivating our InnerG is everything. Understanding how we move as creative beings, while KNOWING our InnerG is currency is the REAL bag!”

Ngome Lifestyle was established in 2015 as a Pop-Up shop in the Beaufort Arts Council Building.

When asked what inspired her interest in fashion, Donellia states “I have always loved fashion and have looked up to my mother and grandmother, who were both very fashionable women. My mother exposed me to the Southern twang of fashion, whereas my grandmother exposed me to the Northern style of fashion. I have learned what I love about fashion from these two women in my life.” Donellia felt compelled to learn and apply her Gullah culture in the work that she does in the Boutique as well as in the community.

Donellia is also the curator of Africa Fashion Week Lowcountry; which was pioneered by herself, Cynthia Stuart and Mahoganee Amiger in 2015. This annual event is held in Beaufort County to bring awareness and celebrate the history and fashion that comes from Beaufort’s deep-rooted history in the Gullah community that inspires the culture and fashion from Africa.