NIGERIA-MINKU BAGS Nigerian designer inspired by culture to create luxury handbags

Record ID: 237244

  • Title: NIGERIA-MINKU BAGS Nigerian designer inspired by culture to create luxury handbags
  • Date: 16th March 2015
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS KUNMI OTITOJU SEWING ON A BAG SCISSORS AND THREADS THREAD VARIOUS OF BAGS DISPLAYED ON A TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) KUNMI OTITOJU, FOUNDER MINKU LEATHER GOODS DESIGN SAYING: "The main thing is having the idea of how to take things that we are used to seeing everyday around us that form part of our culture and, turning them into something with a broader appeal. Because we already have a lot of things that are made in Nigeria, not on a high scale and not on a ground scale or not on a mass or global scale but the things that, if we see a way of translating them into something that is a bit more marketable, a mini Industry can actually be formed around those things. For example, aso-oke, everybody knows It as what Yorubas wear for their aso-ebi weddings and all that." VARIOUS OF MINKU BAGS ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF OTITOJU TALKING TO FRIEND VARIOUS OF MINKU BAGS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) YEGOA UKPO, MINKOU BAGS DISTRIBUTOR SAYING: "We've had people who have really like the bags you know, they like the hand stitched quality of them you know, they also like some of the treatments that are done to the leather. She has this really nice sort weave effect she put on the leather a lot of people have responded well to. And you know, we've had people who feel it looks a bit too hand made, you know because I guess it's this Nigerian thing that we want everything to be very clean and very neat like, you know like very machine done." VARIOUS OF OTITOJU AND A CUSTOMER CHECKING OUT BAGS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) OMOYOLA SANNI, CUSTOMER SAYING: "They are unique, basically. You hardly can find the design elsewhere and If you don't want anything common, you go for it. It stands out people keep to ask you, where did you get it from, where did you get it from, and when they go to the market, they don't get it. Minku, very very unique." VARIOUS OF CUSTOMER LOOKING AT BAGS
  • Embargoed: 31st March 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3XYIU7ITGRMOGBMULPYPJWOZH
  • Story Text: From her home in Nigeria's bustling city of Lagos, 30-year-old Kunmi Otitoju is adding the final touches to her latest collection of handmade bags.
    The collection is part of Minku, Otitoju's high-end Afrocentric brand that produces luxury bags, wallets and other fashion accessories for men and women.
    Minku bags are made from leather, and keen to preserve the Nigerian identity, Otitoju lines the hand bags with Aso-Oke fabric, a hand-loomed cloth with colorful patterns woven by Nigeria's Yoruba people.
    Nigeria is Africa's biggest economy. Its growing middle class is increasingly spending more on luxury goods.
    Otitoju says it was not only an opportunity to tap into Nigerians' buying power but also to offer a part of Nigerian culture to the global market.
    "The main thing is having the idea of how to take things that we are used to seeing everyday around us that form part of our culture and, turning them into something with a broader appeal. Because we already have a lot of things that are made in Nigeria, not on a high scale and not on a ground scale or not on a mass or global scale but the things that, if we see a way of translating them into something that is a bit more marketable, a mini Industry can actually be formed around those things. For example, aso-oke, everybody knows it as what Yorubas wear for their aso-ebi weddings and all that," she said.
    Otitoju has a degree in computer science but fine art and design was her first love.
    She trained in Spain then returned to Nigeria to start her business in 2011.
    All Minku's products are hand-made at a workshop in Barcelona, Spain and sent to Nigeria where the aso-oke is hand sewn inside the bags.
    "We've had people who have really liked the bags you know, they like the hand stitched quality of them you know, they also like some of the treatments that are done to the leather. She has this really nice sort weave effect she put on the leather a lot of people have responded well to. And you know, we've had people who feel it looks a bit too handmade, you know because I guess it's this Nigerian thing that we want everything to be very clean and very neat like, you know like very machine done," said Yegoa Ukpo, who runs Stranger, a shop that stocks Minku bags.
    Otitoju says making one bag can take between 50 to 60 hours to complete, adding that she only produces three to four bags a month.
    Minku bags sell for between 400 US dollars and 7500 for the larger travel bags.
    Even with the hefty price tag, Minku's signature handmade design and quality are very popular amongst local customers.
    "They are unique, basically. You hardly can find the design elsewhere and if you don't want anything common, you go for it. It stands out people keep to ask you, where did you get it from, where did you get it from, and when they go to the market, they don't get it. Minku, very very unique," said one customer, Omoyola Sanni.
    In 2014, Otitoju was listed by Forbes as one of 30 promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa.
    Minku bags are also sold in Spain, Canada and the US.
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