Women in Design
Women in Design: A Conversation with NeKeia McSwain of NeKeia + Co.
If you’ve stopped by Ngala Trading at 200 Lex (suite 406), you’ve probably come across NeKeia McSwain’s stunning collection of artisan lighting, furniture and accessories. Featuring elements such as braided leather detailing, polished brass accents and hair-on-hide surfaces, her most recent collection is a follow-up to their first collaboration, which included chandeliers crafted with cascading hand-cut leather trim. McSwain believes that fashion and design go hand in hand, and these creations express that notion. Sustainable, ethically made, and reflective of South Africa’s environment and the artisans who crafted them, the pieces speak to McSwain’s multi-disciplinary design approach as principal at NeKeia + Co.
As president of The Black Interior Designers Network, McSwain is a dedicated advocate and activist, championing diversity in the industry and identifying business development opportunities for Black interior designers.
Q: What is your earliest memory of design?
A: My earliest memory of falling in love with interior design was accompanying my mom on her weekend rituals to find antiques and one-off items to add to our home decor.
Q: What woman in design—or in any creative category: fashion, art, architecture—do you admire most?
A: Fashion and design have always worked in tandem, in my opinion. They both inspire each other and balance out any aesthetic perfectly. Solange Knowles is tackling this era of bold aesthetics in both the fashion and interior sector.
Q: What mantra would women benefit from while following along their creative path?
A: ‘The trends will follow you as long as your taste proves.’ —Keia
Q: How have you seen the industry landscape change for women over the years?
A: I’ve been fortunate enough to be a crucial puzzle piece in the evolution of women-owned businesses and brand makers. We are taking the world by storm and just getting started.
Q: Are there more opportunities for women to cross over into various sectors of the design industry?
There will always be more opportunities for women to cross over into various sectors. The permission isn’t for granting, it’s for taking—remember.
Q: Can you share a moment or project that made you feel particularly empowered as a woman in design?
A: Creating my second line of luxury lighting and furnishings manufactured in South Africa with male partners will always be empowering in this industry. It enables me to create from a soft space while letting my femininity take a front seat.
Q: How do you stay inspired and push the boundaries of your own work?
A: The ability to exist in a space doing exactly what I love is inspiration enough. It allows me to push the boundaries of my own work simply by watching women who have come before me.
Q: What are some of your favorite women-owned showrooms found at NYDC?
A: Cliff Young Ltd. has to be one of my favorites being both woman and family-owned.
