Some might question why Nigerian Kunmi Otitoju gave up a thriving career in the tech sector to enter the iffy world of fashion and fashion accessories for that matter.
Nigerian-raised and world-educated, Otitoju says she wanted to follow her passion — she’s loved designing and working with materials since nursery school!
Raised in Lagos, Otitoju went on to study in the U.S. She earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and a master’s degree from Virginia Tech. She went straight into the tech field, working in the technology division of ICF, a Virginia company that specializes in government consulting.
She’s also completed internships at Goldman Sachs (technology division) and at FAST Search (now Microsoft Development Center Norway) in Oslo.
The travel bug bit and Otitoju moved to Paris to further her studies. While she was in Europe she decided to pursue her first love — fashion design. She attended art school in Barcelona in 2009.
Two years later Otitoju launched her company, Minku Leather Goods, specializing in handbags. What sets Minku apart is not only Otitoju’s organic designs but her use of aso-oke fabric. Pronounced “ah-shaw-okay,” aso-oke is a hand-loomed cloth woven by the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria. It is most often woven by men and used for men’s gowns (agbada), women’s wraps (iro), and men’s hats (fila). Minku’s bags are priced from $60 up. She has also added a few other products to her line such as jewelry.
AFKInsider spoke with Kunmi Otitoju, founder and creative director, Minku.
AFKInsider: What inspired your company?
Kunmi Otitoju: I started Minku Leather Goods in 2011. It was inspired by my enjoyment of working with leather and with aso-oke, a dense, hand-loomed fabric worn by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. So far, it has been funded through bootstrapping.
AFKInsider: What were some of the challenges you had when funding the company?
Otitoju: I think we have had the typical startup funding challenge of having to manage funds to keep the company going. For Minku, raw materials take up the core of the company expenses, so that has been an added factor.
AFKInsider: I love the designs. Why did you decide to use aso-oke fabric?
Otitoju: Thank you! I have loved aso-oke fabric since I was about 5 years old. When I moved to Spain for studies, I took some with me, because they were just so beautiful and I wanted to use them for something. The idea of lining the bags with aso-oke came through experimentation. After the first few ones, people loved them and it became clear I had to continue.
AFKInsider: Your products are sold in Barcelona. Where else are they sold?
Otitoju: They are mostly sold online, though we have worked with stockists in Barcelona, San Sebastian, Spain, and Lagos. Through the online store we ship internationally.
AFKInsider: What are some of the obstacles of doing business in Nigeria?
Otitoju: I do business between Nigeria and Spain, so I am able to avoid some of the key obstacles like non-constant electricity. But when I am in Nigeria and have a work deadline, it is quite a challenge to plan my tasks around the hours of electricity supply we get.
AFKInsider: How does Nigeria encourage young entrepreneurs?
Otitoju: The current administration started a nice incentive for entrepreneurs called YouWIN, whereby they seed-fund hundreds of business ideas they receive annually from Nigerian youths who apply. It is helping many people get their businesses up and running, and giving Nigerians courage to defeat unemployment.
AFKInsider: What are your goals for Minku?
Otitoju: To meet our orders, (our goal is to) take part in Barcelona Fashion Week in the summer, and continue running a happy brand! Long term, (our goal is) to keep doing the same things as in our short-term goals, but bigger and better.
AFKInsider: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
Otitoju: I enjoy conceiving new designs, shopping for leather and aso-oke, and creating with my hands.
AFKInsider: What advice would you pass on to other Nigerian entrepreneurs?
Otitoju: Don’t give up, and hone your intuition because it will be your guide.
