InTucker Magazine

Business of the Month – Alphonse Vizah Designs

Tucked away at 3531 Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker, GA, lies a vibrant studio where fashion is deeply personal and every garment tells a story. This is the home of Alphonse Vizah Designs, a clothing store specializing in handcrafted African designs for all occasions, but its true heart lies with its owners, Comlan and Christine Akakpo-Vizah.

For ten years, this dedicated husband-and-wife duo has brought vibrant style and joy to the Tucker community and beyond. Comlan is the master designer, translating vision into meticulously tailored garments, while Christine manages the day-to-day operations. It’s a powerful partnership built on a shared passion, but fueled by a difficult journey.

“Our favorite part is to see the smiles on the customers’ faces and see people that are wearing the clothes very happy,” Christine said. “When they are happy we are happy.”

Comlan and Christine grew up in Togo, West Africa. Comlan nurtured a love for fashion from a young age, teaching himself to sew before earning his bachelor’s degree in fashion and apparel design in Togo. After marrying, the couple moved to the United States in 2003, hoping to build a new, easier life. “It was not what we expected,” Christine recalled. “We thought it would be easy for us. We had to work harder to pay bills for us.”

To support his family, Comlan initially took a demanding warehouse job, setting his design dreams aside. Then, tragedy struck: a workplace accident cost him two fingers. To compound the stress, he was fired and received no workers’ compensation. Following his recovery, Comlan made a life-altering decision: he would return to his deepest passion, designing clothes from their home.

When a storefront became available on Lawrenceville Highway, the couple seized the moment. That location became the permanent home of Alphonse Vizah Designs. Since then, they have been busy outfitting men and women for life’s big moments, weddings, parties, church services, shows, and even creating stylish maternity wear.

Customers often rave about the craftsmanship. Breanna Blalock, for instance, described feeling “like a queen” in a custom blue and yellow patterned dress, complete with a sequin waistband and puff sleeves, which she wore to an African royalty birthday party.’

“I made an appointment at the store and picked out the fabric,” Blalock said. “Alphonse was very thorough to take my measurements and listen to my vision for the dress design. It was a quick turnaround and they made my experience great!”

Even music artist Bridget Lewis praised his work on a custom top she wore to her single release party: “Alph Wear (Alphonse Vizah Designs) made my beautiful top for my single release “When I Pray” his work is impeccable,” Lewis said. “Show him what you envision he will make it with precision.” Comlan’s designs have even reached the North Pole. Their Instagram page features a fun photo of Santa Claus wearing a Comlan-designed Santa outfit!

While the store has created years of great experiences, the Akakpo-Vizahs have faced bumps in the road, especially the drastic challenge brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a business specializing in clothing for special occasions, the near-total shutdown of social gatherings severely impacted their bottom line.

Christine noticed many places shutting down and saw a sharp decline in customer visits. To deal with the crisis, the company made a smart pivot. They began making fashionable masks that customers loved, selling them successfully online. Along with making a profit, they found ways to give back, donating masks to local hospitals and churches.

Over the past decade, their company has expanded its reach, selling select pieces nationwide through Etsy. Looking to the future, they plan to strengthen their online presence by selling exclusively through their own website and are even considering a slight rebrand to “Alph Viz.”

Ultimately, Comlan hopes to offer free classes to teach others how to design and create their own clothing. The couple loves bringing smiles to their customers one stitch at a time, and they want to expand that feeling of joy to people globally.