Ngozi Murphy: ‘House of Abia is a brand built from resilience, creativity, and faith’
Ngozi Murphy’s journey into fashion was not straightforward, but along every step of the way, she expressed herself through style, creativity and tailoring. On a mission to empower women to express their individuality through their clothing, Ngozi shares the story of House of Abia.
My name is Ngozi Murphy, founder of House of Abia. I have spent the last decade leading and managing cross-functional teams in the travel and tourism industry, and in recent times, made a detour into tailoring, fashion and lifestyle.
These past months have been quite interesting and eventful as I featured my collection at the Dublin Independent Fashion Week, I exhibited at the Black History Month hosted by APNI and eBay at eBay Headquarters, Blanchardstown, and was recently shortlisted in the top six Best Sustainability Projects in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Business Award, 2025.
I obtained my BSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture because I planned to own a farm feed production company. Through associations and exposure, I learnt how to manufacture soaps, candles, perfumes, air fresheners and founded a corporate cleaning company. After BSc, I attended a Business School and received a contract to facilitate entrepreneurship at a college of Health and Technology, and Maritime Academy in Nigeria.
I moved on to manage a travel agency and eventually established my own. I earned a qualification as a certified Travel and Tourism Consultant (International Airport Travel Association, Montreal, Canada, where I offered luxury travel services and managed private jets) and learnt fashion designing, for the love of fashion and to be able to make my clothes on the go.
Creativity has always been part of my story. From a young age, I loved making things with my hands, from homemade cleaning and fragrance products to candles and perfumes. I was always drawn to creating beauty and value from simple materials.
My journey into fashion wasn’t straightforward. I started in the travel industry, then tried different ventures, from running a travel business to even trying poultry and fish farming. But through every phase, I always expressed myself through style, making my own clothes and wearing my designs with pride.
After a traumatic, life-altering event, I turned to sewing as therapy and purpose. What began as survival became transformation. I taught myself to sew intensively, fell in love with the process, and realised this was what I was meant to do.
Tailoring gave me a new purpose, and House of Abia was born, a brand built from resilience, creativity, and faith. So no, I didn’t always know I wanted to be a designer but I believe the path was leading me here all along.
The ethos
House of Abia exists to celebrate elegance, confidence, and beauty through fashion that tells stories, blending African heritage with luxury craftsmanship and sustainable design. I love dressing busy, successful and ambitious women; women who need to stand out and look instantly put together.
Our mission is to empower women to express their individuality with grace and pride, wearing pieces that honour both the past and the planet. At House of Abia, every design begins with purpose and respect for the fabric, the environment, and the woman who will wear it.
We believe true luxury is not about excess, but about intention, using leftover fabrics from iconic brands like Dior and Chanel, and pairing them with vibrant African prints to create timeless pieces with soul.
Our design philosophy is guided by:
Sustainability: Creating beauty responsibly by giving new life to leftover luxury fabrics.
Cultural fusion: Merging African artistry with global elegance, every stitch a story, every print a connection to heritage.
Empowerment: We design for women who lead with confidence, style, and purpose.
Craftsmanship: Celebrating slow fashion, handmade details, precision tailoring, and artistry over mass production.
Timelessness: Designing pieces meant to be cherished, not just worn, blending modern versatility with enduring sophistication.
The stock
House of Abia stocks luxury, handmade womenswear and accessories that blend African prints with leftover fabrics from luxury brands like Dior and Chanel, creating timeless, sustainable fashion pieces.
Our ready-to-wear line is made from sustainable, high-quality fabrics in limited quantities and premium African prints, which are elegant dresses, skirts, blouses, trousers, etc, designed for everyday sophistication.
We also create bespoke outfits tailored to individual clients who want something truly unique and statement pieces for special events, weddings, red carpets, or celebrations. Each piece is measured and cut from scratch and handcrafted.
We offer fashion education offerings too, like a six-hour alteration class (online and in person), teaching sustainability and garment care. We also offer alteration services.
The logistics
The idea for House of Abia was born from people (family, friends and strangers alike) asking me to replicate the pieces I have made for myself.
My not attending a formal fashion college blurred the fact that it’s a capital-intensive venture. When House of Abia was registered as a business, my major concern was fabrics that I would be proud of. Hence, the use of premium up-cycled fabrics from reputable luxury fashion houses. This experience has taught me resourcefulness. I began small, creating beauty from what others overlooked. I used what I had, where I was, and focused on perfecting my craft.
That’s actually how my sustainability philosophy was born – not from a trend, but from necessity. I learned that creativity thrives under constraint. You don’t need massive funding to start; you need vision, consistency, and the courage to begin with what’s in your hands.
Today, that same mindset shapes House of Abia: turning limitations into innovation and setbacks into art.
The best business advice I’ve received has been: “Start where you are, use what you have, and keep showing up even when no one is watching.” That advice taught me to focus on progress, not perfection, to build slowly, sustainably, and intentionally. And that’s exactly how House of Abia was born and continues to grow.
My most useful learning since setting up a business has been to be patient with yourself, the process and the business. Continue networking and connecting with people, building deep and meaningful relationships.
The brands and designers to know
I’m drawn to pieces that tell stories, handwoven textiles, upcycled fabrics, intricate beadwork, and heritage-inspired silhouettes. I’m keeping an eye on AI-assisted fashion design and ecoinnovations in fabric recycling, because the future of fashion is definitely creative and conscious. I am always open to new opportunities and collaborations with our locally established and upcoming designers and to collaborating with international designers and stylists. My favourite fashion and design accounts to follow are Zafur, Virtue Shine of Emerald and Wax, and AOIFE. I also love August Night, Lerelle Beauty, and Pochette. My best fashion purchase has been my sewing machine.
The legacy
The proudest moment so far has been House of Abia featuring among the designers at Dublin Independent Fashion Week 2025. We were also nominated and made the Best Sustainable Project, DLR Business Awards 2025 finalists. I am optimistic about the future and what it means for House of Abia.
I am optimistic that House of Abia will be remembered for timeless elegance, intentional luxury, and the celebration of African heritage. I want any person who wears our creations to feel that the piece carries a story, a soul, and a commitment to sustainability. More than fashion, I want my brand to leave a lasting impact, inspiring women to express themselves with confidence, to honour their roots, and to embrace style that respects the planet. In short: House of Abia is not just clothing; it’s storytelling, craftsmanship, and empowerment woven together.
I would love to see women who embody confidence, elegance, and individuality wearing my designs, from influential figures in society, in fashion, culture, and entertainment, to everyday women who lead with style and purpose.
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