Afropolitan

How Banke Kuku Built a Global Fashion Brand From Lagos Worn by Gabrielle Union

Nov 5, 2025
Guest
Banke Kuku
Banke Kuku, founder and creative director of Banke Kuku Textiles, shares her journey of establishing a luxury fashion brand in Nigeria, worn by celebrities like Gabrielle Union. She details her pivot to e-commerce during COVID to save her business, emphasizing the importance of maintaining local production. Banke discusses the challenges of quality control, the essence of integrity in African fashion, and how her textile training influences her designs. Her resilient mindset and commitment to creating community impact set her apart in the global market.
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ANECDOTE

From Cushions To A Caftan

  • Banke started her fashion line after a customer asked to wear her home-print cushions as a caftan.
  • That single caftan grew into a capsule collection launched in December 2019 and became the brand's foundation.
ANECDOTE

24-Hour Pivot Saved The Brand

  • When COVID closed shops, Banke had invested everything and pivoted to e-commerce overnight.
  • She photographed all stock in 24 hours, launched a simple website, and dollar sales saved the business.
INSIGHT

Choosing Local Production As Investment

  • Banke kept production in Nigeria to build community, skills, and long-term industry capacity.
  • She accepted higher costs and unpredictability as an investment in local growth and brand identity.
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