She Had 24 Hours to Save Everything (What Banke Kuku Did Next Changed African Fashion

Picture this: March 2020. You’ve just invested every penny into your fashion business. Hired tailors. Opened your dream store.

Then the government announces: “Nigeria shuts down in 24 hours.”

What would you do?

Most would panic, mourn or strategize. But Banke Kuku shot every product she had—bags, headbands, pajamas, fabrics—and built an e-commerce size overnight. Next morning, she woke up to orders flooding in. She was being getting sold out in dollars!

While established brands were paralyzed, she was on Instagram live selling silk pajamas. That’s when she discovered the truth that would reshape African luxury: “The constraint isn’t the enemy. It’s the competitive advantage.”

Today, Banke’s pieces sell from Doha to Dallas. Celebrities like Gabrielle Union wear her designs. And collectors treat her like art.

But here’s what stopped me cold in our conversation: “I could produce in China. Get my 1000 pieces perfectly packed. Open the box and done.”

Instead, she chose Lagos. Where generators power production. Where thread disappears from markets. Where she trains tailors who have never drawn straight lines.

Why?

Because she loves the community and loves seeing how her staff has grown. She’s not just building a fashion brand. She’s building an ecosystem.

What You'll Discover:

• The 24-Hour Pivot - How Banke turned imminent collapse into her biggest breakthrough
• “There’s no Nigerian Excellence Standard. There’s Only Excellence - Why she refuses to lower the bar
• The China Question - Why manufacturing in Lagos with all its challenges beats perfect Chinese production
• Launching Nigeria First - Her radical approach to serving local markets before going global
• Building Through Generators - How infrastructure constraints become competitive advantages
• The “Free Money” Strategy - How she secured startup capital without traditional funding  
• Is Nigerian Fashion Overpriced - Her answer will change how you think about value

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My favorite moment? When she explained why she launches in Nigeria first, despite investors pushing for dollar markets.

She said, “We’re at an advantage. I can produce 20 pink pajamas today. If the trend shifts tomorrow, I pivot. Try that from China.”

This isn’t just about fashion. It’s about a new model for building African businesses that compete globally while serving locally.

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Get 1:1 time with African founders and entrepreneurs who’ve been where you’re trying to go.

If you’re building anything in Africa right now, this episode isn’t just inspiration—it’s your blueprint for turning every constraint into a category-defining advantage.

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Warmly,
Chika & Eche
Co-Hosts, Afropolitan Podcast