Always on
This project successfully funded on 29th December 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
OBA COUTURE MANUFACTURING IN THE UK!
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Aim
Join us in taking African luxury fashion to the UK! Creating jobs, training artisans, and celebrating African heritage through OBA Couture.
Expanding OBA Couture to the UK: African heritage, sustainable fashion, global stage.
My journey from a dream to take Made in Nigeria leather goods to the Global stage.
I am Olubukola Abosede Asafa, Founder and Creative Director of OBA Couture. It all began with a dream to create great quality leather goods in Nigeria that could compete with other well-known international brands. Fourteen years later, OBA Couture has grown into a luxury brand known for elegant footwear, handbags, and garments that have reached clients around the world. Along the way, we have trained and empowered artisans in Nigeria, creating opportunities for skill development and financial independence.
About OBA Couture
OBA couture leather goods are made using age-old craft techniques, skilfully handmade by artisans. OBA means King in the Yoruba language, and it is also an abbreviation of my name, OLUBUKOLA ASAFA. OBA products last very long because we know that part of the answer to a sustainable future is to make quality products that last.
A percentage of profit from the sale of our products goes to the Heritage Children Foundation Africa, so every product bought can make a difference for a child without food and education.
My Story
My journey began in 2005. While working in a media company, I followed my dream and passion for fashion on the side, making and selling embroidered linen tops. After completing my MBA degree, I decided to follow my passion in fashion fully and build a business instead of going back to a regular job. This time, I started selling imported, ready-made shoes and bags. After a while, I knew there was more I could do. I loved fashion, and I also loved working with my hands, so when I felt God leading me in the direction of shoe-making and bag-making, I knew it was time to start.
After doing some research I discovered Nigeria could boast of having some of the best quality leather in the world, but the people who made leather shoes and bags in Nigeria at that time never acknowledged that they were made in Nigeria instead they claimed to be ‘Made in Italy’ because at that time made in Nigeria shoes and bags, had a bad reputation of being of very substandard low quality. I knew it was time to make a difference.
Why manufacture in the UK?
Now we are ready to take the next step: Not only expanding OBA Couture into the United Kingdom but also manufacturing there. London is a global fashion hub, and establishing a presence there means greater visibility for African creativity, more job opportunities for artisans, and stronger global representation for sustainable fashion.
What We Need and How We Will Use It
We are raising £30,000 to make this dream a reality. The funds will go towards
- Setting up a UK production studio- We will secure and equip a small production space in London or Milton Keynes where local artisans can work.
- Purchasing specialised machinery and tools.- High-quality machinery is essential for producing durable, luxury shoes, bags, and garments.
- Sourcing sustainable premium materials locally.- We will purchase ethically sourced leather, textiles, and accessories, ensuring our products remain eco-friendly, luxurious, and built to last.
- Hiring and training artisans- We will recruit and train talented artisans, empowering them with new skills and fair wages. We will expand our artisan network between the UK and Nigeria
- To introduce OBA Couture UK to the world, we will host marketing and brand launch events, create promotional content, and run campaigns that celebrate African excellence in fashion.
This project will empower local artisans with sustainable livelihoods, because we will create job opportunities for both local and African artisans. Training them in shoemaking, bag-making, and garment construction, giving them practical income-generating skills that promote long-term financial independence.
Beyond employment, our artisans will gain continuous training in production management, quality control, and business literacy. These transferable skills will empower them to eventually manage their own projects or start their own businesses.
We are committed to fair compensation and ethical production. This means artisans earn predictable incomes, work under safe conditions, and have financial security.
OBA Couture will serve as a model of African Entrepreneurship through our training initiatives. We will mentor emerging designers and artisans, helping them navigate the business side of fashion, budgeting, cost control, innovation, fostering financial independence, and entrepreneurial resilience.
From a dream to take made in Nigeria to the global stage to building a luxury Nigerian brand that celebrates African craftsmanship, OBA Couture has always been about showcasing excellence, and our goal has never changed. Join us as we showcase African creativity on the global stage.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made