Two brothers, one story, from South-East to Paris
From the classrooms of Amsterdam South-East to the streets of Paris, this is the journey of two childhood friends who turned their shared vision, roots, and culture into something bigger than themselves. Meet Danɛ: the cultural streetwear label born in 2023, shaped by West African heritage and the soul of the Black community. A brand rooted in storytelling, empowerment, and purpose.
What started as an idea between Sena and Chico, or as they call it, “brothers since the 3th grade” grew into a fashion label built without a fashion background, but with a message the world needs to hear. Danɛ is more than just clothes. It’s about identity, culture, and turning fashion into a tool for education, change, and community building.
We linked up right in Paris for an exclusive shoot and a real conversation about how it all started, what keeps them going, and what’s coming next.
CREDITS:
Editor-in-Chief: Imani Andrea Mendes
Photography: Nichara Voorjans
Creative Assistent: Lisa
Danɛ
Co-Founder Danɛ: Chico (Angelo Clementina)
Co- Founder Danɛ: Sena (Anes Tuffour)
Chico and Anes - Founders of Danɛ
Okay, let’s rewind a bit. Danɛ feels like it’s bursting with personality. Walk me through how it all began. What’s the story behind it?
Sena: At first, I thought life was linear; school, 9 to 5, repeat. But deep down, I always had this urge to create, to build something of my own and bring my people along. That seed started to grow when I began my internship at Daily Paper at the end of 2019. It was a moment of realization “this is what I want.” I saw what was possible and felt that I could contribute something meaningful to fashion. Creating has always been important to me, and I felt like I never truly embraced that. That’s when the idea of Danɛ was planted.
That drive to create something meaningful and valuable really comes through. And with so many brands already out there, what made you say, “Nah, I gotta start my own thing”?
Sena: I believed I had something to say and a vision that didn’t exist yet. Even without a formal background in fashion, I went back to school to study Luxury Brand Management. My experience at Daily Paper gave me a taste of the industry, and that passion stuck. So when Chico and I linked up, the energy was already aligned. It’s really about doing what fullfills you, what you stand for and not settling for a job that doesn’t bring value to your life.
“My experience at Daily Paper gave me a taste of the industry”
Chico, Before joining Danɛ, what were you up to, and how’d you end up teaming with Sena?
Chico: I’ve always been creative with music, drawing, dance, like that’s my thing. I even had a brass band with some friends, but school never really felt like my place. I was studying Electrical Engineering, but when COVID hit, I decided to stop with school and the band. That’s when I found my way back to drawing and designing. Sena and I have known each other since 3rd grade. Our bond is more than just friendship; it’s brotherhood. I remember this one time, I was preparing for a party called “Blends.” The night before, I quickly mocked up a shirt design, printed it last minute, and sent it around my friends. One of them was Sena, not even knowing he was already working on Danɛ. That was the moment everything started to connect.
“Sena and I have known each other since 3rd grade. Our bond is more than just friendship; it’s brotherhood.”
Sena: Yeah, when I saw Chico’s designs, it just clicked. I had the vision and the first design ready, and we realized that: if we combine forces, we can really build something.
So how did Danɛ go from sketches to shirts on people’s backs?
Sena: Mid-2023, we created our first sketches of pieces: beige with red, green with yellow and a black and white design. We eventually went with the green and yellow colorway. At the time, I was still working as an MC and hosted an event at Amsterdam Open Air.
We were really motivated to kick things off with Danɛ, and our friends had our backs. They supported us by buying our very first T-shirt design. About 10 to 12 of our people were all wearing Danɛ at the event. That moment made us feel like, yeah, we can actually pull this off.
“It felt like the unofficial launch of Danɛ, even though it wasn’t planned.”
Chico: It was beautiful and the energy was unreal. People were dancing, smiling, the vibe and the visuals came together perfectly. Everyone was asking where the shirts came from. It felt like the unofficial launch of Danɛ, even though it wasn’t planned.
Sena: We didn’t even have a website or Chamber of Commerce registration back then. Just DMs,Tikkies, and a whole lot of excitement. Cause it showed us what was possible.
Chico: We found a screen-printing studio in Amsterdam called Vliering Studio. I actually asked them if I could work there to learn the craft. They helped finalize our designs and guided us through production, fabric, fit, like everything really.
“Shoutout to Vliering for real”
Sena: Shoutout too Vliering for real. That’s where we printed our first 50 shirts. That’s when it became real.
The road wasn’t always smooth, right? What kind of curveballs did you guys face in the beginning?
Sena: A lot! No website, no solid payment structure, basically everthing was a bit chaotic at first. But it was all part of the learning process. And our network really helped. A friend helped us source a manufacturer, another helped build the website. Everyone chipped in.
Chico: That "goodwill" was real. Friends helped with photography, coding, logistics. It made a huge difference.
When you two team up, who’s doing what behind the scenes? when it comes to dividing responsibilities
Chico: I’m hands-on. I love building, problem-solving, diving into YouTube tutorials, making the website, and handling the overall production.
Sena: I handle marketing and PR. I come with the vision, and Chico makes it real. I’m strategic; Chico is fast-moving. We complement each other well.
For example with a campaign, I do creative direction and writing, while Chico handles production. It’s a balanced team.
Culture and roots are so woven into Danɛ, tell me about where you both come from?
Chico: I’m from Curaçao and Suriname. My mom was raised in Curaçao. I picked up a lot of Surinamese culture from my friends and environment.
Sena: My roots are in Ghana. I grew up in a full Ghanaian household. Recently I learned that I also have roots in Burkina Faso. But all my family still lives in Ghana, and that connection is deep.
Growing up in the Netherlands with your cultural roots, what was that experience like?
Chico: Growing up in Amsterdam Southeast was a blessing, so many cultures, it never felt like I was “different.”
Sena: Same. You learn to connect with people from all backgrounds. That stayed with us.
How does that cultural mashup show up in Danɛ’s as a brand ?
Sena: A lot. For example, we use West African Adinkra symbols in our designs. Each symbol holds meaning within wisdom, unity and strength. Sharing these stories educates people about our heritage. We're not inventing something new; we’re spotlighting what already exists.
“it’s not just West Africa. We draw inspiration from our full environment; South-East, Curaçao, Ghana, Suriname”
Chico: And it’s not just West Africa. We draw inspiration from our full environment; South-East, Curaçao, Ghana, Suriname. It’s all connected. The message is bigger than geography.
Your slogan is “From the roots to the streets.” What does that mean to you?
Sena: It represents the blend of our heritage and our lived experience, what our parents taught us and what we learned in the streets of Amsterdam. It’s about fusing culture with the urban lifestyle we live.
Chico: Roots, to me, means everything that shaped you. Not just where you're born, but your whole formation. And the “streets” are where you express that through fashion, creativity, community.
Your campaign “Living in Two Worlds” made an impact. What was the message?
Sena: It’s about the duality many of us live, one world shaped by our parents’ expectations, and another shaped by our personal dreams. Our generation is breaking free and choosing passion over pressure. That campaign was about owning your path.
Now, real talk: what did you each have to shake up inside yourself to jump fully into this Danɛ journey?
Sena: I had to push myself out there more. I’m social, but I learned to be more tactical, more intentional with my presence. Also, my mindset had to shift, from a “tomorrow” too “today” mentality.
Chico: I had to learn how to translate my creativity and put my thoughts into words and make people understand the meaning behind what I do.
Okay, and what would you say is the biggest challenge you’re juggling right now?
Sena & Chico: Time.
Chico: We work 40-hour jobs next to Danɛ. It’s a challenge, but we see it as an investment.
And, looking ahead, what’s the dream for Danɛ? Where do you wanna take this?
Sena: We want to expand our use of symbols and cultural storytelling to educate and inspire. There's a lot of wisdom in our roots that still applies today.
Chico: Yes, and to add to that, it’s really about creating connection. We’re just getting started.
“It’s pronounced as “Dah-neh.” It comes from the Ghanaian phrase “Danɛ adeɛ no”
Alright, final ‘fun’ one: how do you say ‘Danɛ’ ? So everyone gotta get it right at the functions!
Anes: It’s pronounced as “Dah-neh.” It comes from the Ghanaian phrase “Danɛ adeɛ no,” meaning “turn it around.” And that’s what we stand for: Change.