Banke Kuku, founder and creative director of Banke Kuku Textiles, reveals how she built one of Africa’s most recognizable luxury fashion brands, worn by Gabrielle Union, Lupita Nyong’o, and Beyoncé, from her living room in Lagos to global runways. In this exclusive episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, Banke opens up about the brutal realities of building a “Made in Nigeria” brand, surviving COVID after investing every penny, and redefining African luxury for a global audience. She explains: ◼️ How she pivoted overnight during COVID to save her entire business ◼️ Why she refused to move manufacturing abroad despite the challenges ◼️ The hard truth about funding, quality control, and integrity in African fashion ◼️ What investors actually look for when backing creative entrepreneurs ◼️ Why staying patient, purpose-driven, and ethical is her biggest competitive edge If you’re a designer, founder, or dreamer building something out of Africa, this episode will inspire you to create with courage, resilience, and authenticity. Follow Banke Kuku Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankekuku/ Website: https://www.bankekuku.com Subscribe to Afropolitan Podcast For more unfiltered conversations with the world's most insightful Africans. Stay connected with Afropolitan: Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website: https://www.afropolitan.io Join the Network State: https://afropolitan.io/join 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter This episode is sponsored by: VBan — The borderless banking app built for Africa’s digital workforce. Use the code AFROPOLITAN to sign up: https://vban.com Inverroche Gin — South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche.com Risevest — A digital wealth-manager connecting you to global, dollar-denominated investments in US stocks, real estate & fixed income. Use this link to sign up: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo by Afropolitan — Book 1-on-1 calls with Africa’s boldest thinkers. Visit https://convo.vip/ to connect with leaders like Tunde Onakoya, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:38 The Rise of Nigeria’s Fashion Industry & Creative Economy 02:20 From Home Interiors to Founding a Fashion Label 04:55 Launching Her Brand Right Before the Pandemic 06:50 How She Pivoted to E-Commerce Overnight 09:30 Selling Pajamas Online to Save the Business 11:00 Building a “Made in Nigeria” Luxury Brand 13:40 The Harsh Realities of Manufacturing in Africa 16:30 Balancing Global Quality Standards with Local Talent 18:50 Funding Her Fashion Startup Through GT Bank & Grants 21:00 Lessons on Integrity, Leadership & Hiring the Right Team 23:00 What Global Investors Look for in African Designers 25:45 How “Made in Nigeria” Became Her Global Advantage 27:30 Pricing, Perception & The African Luxury Dilemma 30:00 Behind the Gabrielle Union Collaboration 33:00 Is Nigerian Fashion Overpriced — or Undervalued? 34:45 The Banke Kuku Woman: Confidence, Class & Culture 37:30 Taking Nigerian Fashion to Global Markets 40:00 The Psychology of Patience, Faith & Growth 42:00 The Doha Partnership & Middle East Expansion 43:30 Moving From London to Lagos — Culture Shock & Adaptation 45:00 Inside Her New Collection “Savannah” & Its Story 47:20 The Future of Fashion Investment in Africa 49:45 Protecting African Craftsmanship, Culture & IP 51:00 Building Her New Luxury Flagship Store in Lagos 52:30 Customer Experience, Culture & Patience in Business 54:00 Her Favorite Signature Pieces & What They Represent 55:40 The Strangest Custom Requests From Clients 57:00 The Afropolitan Toast: Creativity, Legacy & Resilience 59:00 Rapid-Fire Questions + Closing Reflections
