‘I blend our rich cultural heritage with fresh, relevant designs’

Bukola Akin-Akindoju is a vibrant shoemaker and entrepreneur known for her unique leather and fabric accessories. A graduate of the University of Lagos and Sheffield Hallam University, Bukola mentors women and young girls, empowering them with creative skills. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including the Inspirational Student Awards and African Fashion Brand of the Year nominations. In this interview, she shares her inspiring story with Esther Ijewere.

Childhood Influence on Bukola’s Journey
A strong family legacy of craftsmanship and business acumen deeply influenced my childhood. Growing up, I was surrounded by stories of my great-grandmother’s artistry in creating calabashes, earrings, traditional Yoruba ornaments like akun, ileke, and tattoos in the Idanre Community. My great-grandfather was a hunter; my dad sold the animals he hunted, using the proceeds to support the family. My grandmother was a timber contractor, farmer, and fashion designer using a hand-operated sewing machine. As a child, I loved drawing, often recreating scenes from our hometown, Idanre, in Ondo State.

I also participated in my father’s in-house competitions called “My Special Touch,” where I often won by polishing his shoes the best. Watching my father build his business empire inspired me, instilling in me a profound respect for tradition and a keen sense of business. These experiences shaped my decision to combine my love for fashion with my family’s entrepreneurial spirit, leading me to establish Ara Ide. Shoemaking became my primary focus, despite exploring other crafts like macramé, crocheting, card-making, bead-making, and bag-making. The field was predominantly male-dominated, making it a unique challenge and an opportunity to break conventional boundaries.

Inspirational Figures 
Femi Oluyebi, Creative Director of Femi Handbags; Folorunsho Alakija, Businesswoman and Philanthropist and Nike Davies-Okundaye, Founder of Nike Art Gallery and Cultural Centre

Interest in Blending Traditional Nigerian Elements with Modern Fashion
I always wanted to bridge the gap between our vibrant cultural heritage and the need to create something new and relevant. The unique prints of adire, the intricate weaving of Aso Oke, and the bright colors of Ankara are incorporated into our shoes, bags, and other accessories, creating a unique sense of style. The authenticity of Nigerian leather adds to these designs’ appeal. I have a deep love for culture and storytelling and see design as a way to tell these stories. I created a distinctive blend of tradition and modernity by merging these cultural elements with contemporary fashion trends.

Balancing Traditional Craftsmanship with Innovation at Ara Ide
Balancing traditional craftsmanship with innovation at Ara Ide involves working closely with skilled artisans who use techniques passed down through generations. This hands-on experience has been invaluable in understanding and preserving these time-honoured methods. We also use advanced technology for quality control and durability testing, ensuring that African materials remain a key part of our designs. This approach allows us to blend tradition with innovation effectively, creating unique designs that respect our heritage while staying relevant.

Initial Challenges
Starting Ara Ide presented several challenges, including the lengthy business registration process and difficulty sourcing quality materials, particularly metal components for our shoes. Establishing a market presence and attracting customers in a highly competitive market required significant effort, especially with limited funds for advertising. To overcome these obstacles, we focused on building strong relationships within the industry and strategically invested in marketing. Upholding high standards of quality and attention to detail in our production processes helped us build a strong reputation and successfully attract customers.

Community Empowerment through Initiatives like Sisi Akada
The Sisi Akada project has greatly influenced our approach to business and creativity. By turning old denim into new bags, we learn to be environmentally friendly and find ways to reuse materials, making our business greener and more sustainable. Training girls and women to make these bags highlights the importance of investing in people. The project also reinforces our commitment to being fair, responsible, and ethical in all our business practices, inspiring us to find new ways to support and strengthen the communities we work with.

Fashion’s Role in Preserving and Promoting Cultural Identity
Fashion is a powerful medium for preserving and promoting cultural identity. At Ara Ide, we see fashion as a bridge between tradition and modernity. Our collections showcase the beauty of traditional techniques while engaging with a modern audience, preserving and promoting our cultural identity.

Community Impact Achievements at Ara Ide
One of the achievements I’m most proud of is the impact of our “Sisi Akada” programme. This initiative began with the simple idea of teaching young girls, teenagers, and women how to repurpose old jeans into stylish and practical bags. The training sessions were transformative for many participants, providing valuable skills and opportunities to contribute to their families’ incomes. The proceeds from the sale of these bags were used to install solar panels in the community, providing a consistent and sustainable source of power and significantly improving the quality of life.

Being a Woman of Rubies?
Being a woman of Rubies means having a passion for making a real difference and helping others. Like a ruby, I strive to shine brightly and be strong in my efforts. Through my work with Ara Ide, I aim to bring positive change, inspire others, and show that even small actions can have a big impact. To me, being a woman of Rubies encompasses resilience, creativity, and leadership, qualities I am committed to embodying in everything I do.