Adura

Growing up as a first-generation Nigerian in the San Francisco Bay Area exposed me to many cultures and profoundly shaped my worldview. Today, these cultural threads continue to influence my pursuits, love for design, and passion for living life in color. I like to say fashion was my first language, and from an early age, I knew a creative path where I could forge my own way was in the cards.

My father was an entrepreneur who ran a renowned travel agency in Oakland, specializing in curating experiences across the African diaspora. As a child, I remember the dreadful feeling of watching him leave for business trips to Nigeria, Trinidad, and beyond. There was also the thrill of awaiting his return with gifts: colorful towels, West African delicacies, and my favorite, custom-made clothing from fabrics like Ankara, Adire, and Swiss lace. I attribute my entrepreneurial spirit and grit to him, along with my deep love for seeing the world.

To pursue my creative ambitions and gain hands-on experience in the fashion industry, I moved cross-country from the Bay Area to New York City in 2012 to attend Parsons School of Design. There, I completed my Bachelor of Business Administration and immersed myself in the relationship between fashion and commerce. More importantly, I discovered how to use both as vehicles for change in solving real-world problems such as economic disparity and sustainability.

These experiences culminated in my founding of Alako, where my sole mission is to foster community among women from diverse backgrounds by celebrating individuality, bold color, and conscious design inspired by my cultural heritage. I’m proud to share that to date, I’ve bootstrapped Alako from the ground up, investing my own finances and allocating resources to produce our first collection. Despite the formidable challenges of launching this business, it has taught me resilience and reaffirmed my passion and commitment to my craft.