Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tomide Awe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Tomide thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I was inspired to start Olori by the beautiful cultures of my people. Growing up in Nigeria, I was always surrounded by traditional prints and textiles symbolic of deep roots and stories so dear to my people. I have always admired the art and craftsmanship behind them. By incorporating traditional African fabrics into contemporary designs, my mission is to invite people to experience the beauty of African cultures.

When I moved out of Nigeria, I realized that there is a lack of representation of products of African origin at the world stage. Also, the African story that the media shares and people are accustomed to is one of poverty or lack, which is not one that many Africans identify with. As an African, I know that there is more to Africa and there is so much that the world is yet to see. Our goal at Olori is to begin to change the narrative and showcase African cultures, giving them a place at the world stage and making them accessible to women all over the world.

The seed for Olori was planted when I began to look for ways to share my rich culture with my non-African friends. A few years later, I was inspired to merge my love for fashion and my African heritage with a mission of empowerment. After many months of planning, traveling, and prototyping, Olori was born.

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.

Olori offers gorgeous, Africa-inspired products that showcase and celebrate the beauty of African culture whilst empowering women. Incorporating traditional fabrics into modern design, our products invite women all over the world to experience the beauty and culture of Africa with an emphasis on craftsmanship, heritage, and legacy. Our goal is to build a brand that represents African cultures at the world stage, making them accessible to women all over the world, starting with handbags.

We bring unique, hard-to-access, high-quality African fabrics to the world’s stage. Our unique styles are derived from authentic, hand-woven African textiles made by local artisans in the heart of Nigeria using techniques that have been passed on for generations, thereby inviting conversation and connection to Africa and its diaspora.

Beginning from aso-oke from Nigeria, Olori pays homage to the special traditions around getting dressed for daily and celebratory occasions. Every purchase from Olori not only benefits artisans in Africa, helping to preserve their craft; our production process also economically empowers the local, women-owned businesses in Africa from which the hand-woven fabrics are exclusively sourced. Through our collaboration with our giving partners, such as Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), we power generational impact by supporting the education and empowerment of young girls in under-served African communities.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I listen to podcasts a lot; they are my go-to resource for information on a variety of subjects, especially business related ones. Some of my favorite podcasts are the Starting Up Podcast (this one is mine, but I highly recommend it) and E-commerce Baddassery. I also love books – This is Marketing by Seth Godin is a favorite, and so is Profit First by Mike Michalowicz.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

We primarily keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty through social media interactions and newsletters

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopolori.com
• Instagram: @shopolori
• Facebook: @shopolori
• Twitter: @shopolori
• Other: TikTok: @shopolori

Image Credits
Tomide’s photo by: Emily Kim Olori product photos by : Chloe Jackman, Emily Kim