A Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) alumni is fusing basketball and fashion to help people be their most confident selves.
Nyamuoch Terry is a South Sudanese immigrant who grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya. She moved to Kitchener, ON when she was four years old and eventually attended TMU to play basketball.
Terry recently opened up a pop-up shop called Nemo/s Closet in downtown Kitchener and has been gaining popularity on TikTok because of her love of basketball and fashion.
The motivation to blend fashion and basketball is rooted in Terry’s love for making people feel seen and more confident to be able to do great things.
“A phrase that I always say and have been using my whole life is ‘Do you boo.’ A way to remind myself to stay confident, keep going and trust in God. The way I promote this in my pop-up is by interacting with whoever comes through those doors, comments on my videos/pictures and/or DMs,” Terry told Now Toronto.
She also provides fashion consultations, one-on-one styling advice, and personal shopping.
Terry’s love for basketball took her to playing provincially, nationally, and now internationally as a member of the South Sudan Senior Women’s National Team.
“My final year playing college ball at Ryerson (TMU), I started to tap into my love for fashion by styling athletes. For the past few years, I’ve been trying to tap into many creative spaces; modeling, commercials, runway, art, styling, creating, designing. And even after all of that, I always end up coming back to basketball & styling.”
The stylist has hosted paint and sip nights and open mics at her shop to reach different customers.
“Allowing myself to show up as my full self means I’m going to dribble a basketball, shoot paper in a garbage can or dance with random customers. Everything always seems to be one way or another. I rarely see it being both. Why not?” she said.
Terry believes that love and confidence are contagious, and when someone exhibits these qualities, they deserve to feel recognized and appreciated.
“I post pictures and videos of my clients (with their permission ofc) because the one thing that everyone wants is to be seen. As much as I coach, teach and style others, I am also being coached, taught and styled by them,” she said.
Terry’s pop-up shop will be open for the entire month until June 1 on 220 King Street W. in Kitchener.