We recently connected with Dupe Adedeji and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dupe, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I have 2 orphanages and 3 widows empowerment centers in Nigeria and that makes me go multiple times in a year. I love fashion a lot and its just something that comes to me naturally and I love wearing African clothes so much that people will ask me where I get them from. I decided to open an African boutique because its something I can easily do at my own pace considering my health challenges and I can also use some of the proceeds for helping the kids in our orphanages and our widows center. Since I go to Nigeria so often, I’m able to bring back the authentic fabric sewn in whatever style I tell my seamstresses. My mission here is to sell beautiful authentic African attires to people and be able to use part of the proceeds for ministry to the orphans, widows and the destitute.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Dupe Adedeji, married to my husband Bishop JD Adedeji and we have 3 children,2 boys and a girl. Originally from Nigeria, I came to join my husband the U.S.A, New Jersey, in 1996 after our marriage in Nigeria but we eventually moved from New Jersey to San Antonio in January 1997. I started Tudis African Boutique with my husband in 2018 as a pet project after we shut down our community mental health centers in San Antonio and McAllen, Texas. Meanwhile, In 2012, I had been in a medical accident that left me paralyzed on my left side for years and when some sensation came back, it came with pain that never went away, headaches most of the day and dizziness with sudden movements.
My husband is a pastor of a local church here in San Antonio and we also operate 2 orphanages and 3 widows centers in Nigeria, so we go couple of times in a year to oversee them and also have yearly medical missions. when on those trips, I bring back so many attires and wear them always. This made a lot of people started asking questions about the fabrics because they are very beautiful and well made. I love fashion so much and shopping for them is a hubby, so we decided since I’m unable to work anymore because of my health issues, I can try a boutique at my own pace.
I started helping people plan for their wedding outfits in 2002 and have done many since then, also have been involved in many programs for Black History Month especially fashion shows and Dreamweek events. I design clothes for everyone, men, women and kids. I sell authentic and one of a kind styles to all and that is one of the things that makes my boutique different from others. People love to come in and shop because I love meeting new people and my customer is just the best. As a pastors wife, I love to interact with women and so many of them have come in to shop and ended up sharing their problems with me which I’ve been able to give my advise to them and some have become good friends with me. I do a lot of sip and shop for friends, families and coworkers in my boutique.
Tudis is a one stop shop for all your African fashion, we do head wraps, makeup, sell lace fabrics, authentic Ankara fabrics and ready to wear Ankara for men, women and kids. Men’s African formal outfits are available too and we sell beautiful jewelries as well. The best part is, we have one of a kind outfits, so you don’t see others out there wearing the same thing you have. Tudis is on Facebook as Tudis African Boutique and on instagram as Tudisafrica and tudisbeauty.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When we started Tudis, we were just coming out of a business that we had to shut down, so there was no money and no bank will fund the business. I started with all the outfits I had in my put away in luggages in my garage that I had never worn before and started selling them. I had over 100 pieces that I never wore before and I used the funds to buy new ones over and over again. That was how I’m able to fill my boutique with all the goods I have there today, this takes time and a lot of discipline.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

word of mouth and social media are 2 important tools that’s worked for me. I stay in my boutique myself so I have direct contact with my customers, they always come back and tell other people too. I’m not computer savvy, but I try to put out as much as I can without photos shopping them

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tudisafrica.com
• Instagram: tudisafrica. and tudisbeauty
• Facebook: Tudis African Boutique
• Twitter: TudisAfrica
• Youtube: Tudis african boutique
• Yelp: Tudis African Boutique

Image Credits
Duran photography Art Hosley Interiordesignsmeetsfashion Nichelle Hosley