We recently connected with Muyiwa Togun and have shared our conversation below.
Muyiwa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
The name of my company was coined out of my mother’s name. She goes by the name “Olaroyeke” which is how I got the name “Roy Urban Kollection” by picking the “ROY” in the middle of her name.
Muyiwa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Muyiwa Togun, Founder and CEO of Roy Urban Kollection (RUK), an African textile, art and fashion manufacturer and brand. I am a self-made artist, textile & fashion designer, pulling inspiration from my Yoruba roots and my lived experience as a Nigerian youth navigating poverty, systematic oppression, and assimilation into a new culture as a recently immigrated resident to the United States.
The idea for RUK evolved during a difficult period in my life. I was working as an IT professional in Nigeria when I was laid off unexpectedly and went through a period of intense unemployment which left me homeless and sinking into poverty. I always held a passion for art and used this period to master traditional Yoruba fabric making, and growing Roy Urban Kollection into a production team of artists, tailors, and operations specialists. Since inception, RUK has participated in numerous fashion and art events globally and were featured in Philly’s 2020 Fashion Week @philly_fashion_week, African Fashion Designer of the year 2021 @afdaworld, Black Music City 2021 and 2022 award shows @recphilly, the recipient of the Comcast Rise Award 2022 @comcast and the Philadelphia Textile Exporter Award 2022 (Philadelphia Award Program).
Looking forward, we aim to expand our African textile production and training programs in the United States with a focus on providing technical and income-generation skills, and wellness through fun, light and color. Our training program has assisted many to branch out into the textile industry as entrepreneurs and fashion designers and it is intentional about partnering with women and youth-led organizations, artists, entrepreneurs, and individuals simply interested in the textile arts.
Extending the cultural practice of African textile making within the diaspora and across borders is how we will continue to honor the legacy of our ancestors while serving our future, young and female generations through community development and cultural preservation.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
Yes, I manufacture my products and I started this in 2008. I was exposed to the craft due to the town I grew up from (Osogbo) where batik & adire (tie & dye) textile making is what they are popularly known for.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Don’t micromanage, sometimes you need to lead by example instead of giving directives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.royurbankollection.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royurbankollection/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royurbankollection
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluwamuyiwatogun/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/roykollection
Image Credits
Rawbutmeaningful