Ify Ubby

Olive Ankara

Founder, Designer and Creative Director

Ify’s Corridor

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Nigeria – Venice, Trieste Italy – Singapore

About

Born and raised in Venice, Italy, Ify’s love for Italian and African fashion blossomed early in her childhood, for which her Nigerian family takes most of the credit. Within a tight-knit African community in Italy, she was exposed to the many facets of West African culture, from its traditions and folklore to the meaning behind its vibrant colours. Before starting OliveAnkara, she completed her studies with a PhD in Human Molecular Genetics at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Trieste, Italy. She first moved to Singapore to further her career with a Post Doctorate in Molecular Carcinogenesis at the National Cancer Centre in Singapore.

Her pivot into the fashion industry started when she noticed the absence of African culture in Singapore. She took on the responsibility of bridging this gap with the creation of OliveAnkara in 2017, which also rekindled her love for Italian fashion. OA’s first collection launched in June 2017 and turned heads with a combination of storied Ankara (African wax print) fabric with Ify’s own designs, a reflection of her own mix of cultures – Italian craftsmanship and Asian and African designs.

Driven by passion and her love for diverse cultures, Ify has centred her slow fashion brand around two core values: female empowerment and sustainability.

Education

Post Doctorate in Molecular Carcinogenesis at NCC Singapore (2019) – PhD in Human Molecular Genetics obtained in Italy (2013).

Highlights

Scientific publication in 2019 published on Oncogene part of Nature Journal

10 years in Singapore, business owner, and black lady boss!!!

Fun Fact

If I could have any superpower, it would be to speak any language so I could connect with anyone in the world.

Say YES.
Say yes to opportunities.
Say yes to exploration calls.
Say yes to coffee dates.
Say yes to free panels and resources.
Say yes to introductions to others.
Say yes to all of it.

When you’re learning and starting out, say yes to everything. Don’t get too sucked into thinking you’re too good or not too good for things, the best opportunities often come from the work done in the trenches.
It took a while to get here, but I made it to a place where I am confident in who I am and what I am doing. That’s especially necessary when you are doing things a little differently when you’re going against the current. But confidence means, that even when I fall short, I know that falling is temporary, part of the process, and tomorrow is another day. There will always be obstacles, just remember that you can jump over, push through. If I’ve got this, I promise you – you’ve got this too.

Ify on Achievement