LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Abiola Olusola, a Nigerian contemporary women’s ready-to-wear and bespoke fashion brand interweaving minimalism with artisan craftsmanship
Born and raised in Nigeria, designer and fashion brand builder, Abiola Olusola, graduated with a BFA in fashion design from Istituto Marangoni Paris in 2015. She immediately gravitated towards a minimalist aesthetic, femininity, functionality, ease and undercurrents of innate sensuality. Abiola Olusola launched her eponymous brand in 2017, a contemporary women’s ready-to-wear and bespoke line with a distinct juxtaposition of minimalist cuts, sleek architecture and African sub-cultures and craftsmanship.
Lioness Weekender spoke to the talented Abiola Olusola to learn more about her entrepreneurial journey, her latest collection, and her ambitions for the brand in the future.
What does your company do?
Since its launch in 2017, Abiola Olusola the women’s luxury clothing brand has gained traction by critics and consumers alike. Named as one of Guardian Life’s “One to watch” 2018, the brands premier collection was immediately carried by Temple Muse a Luxury retail store in the heart of Lagos. Abiola Olusola continues to work with fabric giant Vlisco and has been selected as one of 5 finalists of Alara Emerge Fashion Fund. In 2017, she showed her SS18 collection at Lagos Fashion design week, In 2018 she showed her SS19 collection at GTB Fashion Weekend. Abiola Olusola has been nominated as designer of the year 2019 by Fashions Finest Africa. Abiola Olusola is dedicated to show casing and working with local African crafts men and women to create and highlight ways in which traditional fabrics and ethos can be part of contemporary living. She is motivated by empowering artisans, producing with sustainability and waste management in mind, carefully crafting each item of clothing from fabric to finished product and pushing the African narrative forward through fashion.
What inspired you to start your company?
Telling African stories through fashion in a modern and fresh way, for women who are subtle, strong and expressive. To interweave African techniques with luxury and celebrate us!
What makes your business, service or product special?
Our point of view.
Tell us a little about your team
We are an all-women team, with three machinists, our head of production is Anuoluwapo, she’s kindness in a tiny package and everyone loves her, our studio manager is Jennifer, our social media manager is Konyinsola and I’m the designer, founder, pattern maker and creative director.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
No, not really, my dad is an engineer and my mum used to teach primary school. She had a few businesses when we were growing up. The journey has been rewarding, challenging, but is been a wonderful learning experience and I’ve met so many people along the way.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Seeing our creations on women and hearing our clients express how much they love the brand!
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Just start!! I didn’t know what I was doing when I started. I studied fashion design but not business, so many people lifted me up along the way. So you have to lean on your community, ask questions, be eager to learn, but you won’t know where the journey can take you if you don’t start! So start with what you have.
To learn more about the Abiola Olusola brand, send an email to: info@abiolaolusola.com or visit the company’s website and social media platforms:
Website: http://Abiolaolusola.com
Instagram: http://Abiolaolusolaofficial
