Have you ever fallen in love with a stunning piece by an African designer, only to realize you can’t get it shipped to you, or worse, that it’s nearly impossible to find outside the continent? That’s the exact problem The Ella Mo Brand set out to solve.

For too long, Africa’s fashion talent has created beautiful, high-quality pieces that often struggle to reach the global stage due to logistics, limited visibility, and lack of infrastructure. Founded by Olubukola Adenugba, The Ella Mo Brand bridges that gap, connecting African designers directly with the diaspora and global fashion lovers through a curated, seamless platform that celebrates culture, craftsmanship, and community

Hi, how are you today?
I’m doing wonderfully, thank you. It’s an exciting time for us at The Ella Mo Brand, every day feels like a new opportunity to connect Africa’s rich creativity, fashion, voice, and talents with the world.

Awesome! Tell us what inspired the creation of The Ella Mo Brand, and how you identified the gap it now fills between African designers and the diaspora

The Ella Mo Brand was born out of a deep love for African creativity and a personal frustration at how difficult it was to access authentic, high-quality African fashion outside the continent. I saw a gap. African designers were creating incredible pieces, but the diaspora often had limited access to them. We created a platform that makes African fashion accessible globally, while ensuring designers retain their cultural voice and brand identity.

So how do you go about curating the designers that get featured on your platform? What makes them Ella Mo–worthy?

We curate designers whose work tells a story, one deeply rooted in culture, craftsmanship, and authenticity. An Ella Mo–worthy brand blends originality with premium quality, while carrying a vision that resonates beyond borders. We look for design integrity, ethical production, and the capability to consistently deliver to a global audience. Ultimately, we champion brands that not only cater to women’s immediate need for elevated fashion, but also embody a timeless connection to African heritage.

Bridging Africa and the diaspora through fashion is quite interesting. What have been the biggest challenges and most rewarding wins on this journey so far?

One of the biggest challenges has been logistics,  ensuring that products made in Africa can be delivered seamlessly to customers around the world without compromising on quality or timelines. But our most rewarding win is seeing a customer in London wearing a piece from a designer in Lagos, and hearing them say they feel connected to their roots in a way they hadn’t before.

Aww, we love to see it! Tell us about The Ella Mo Brand going beyond being a marketplace to shaping the global perception of African fashion

We don’t just sell products, we sell stories, heritage, and connection. Through our content, styling, and brand campaigns, we showcase African fashion as luxury, as innovation, and as cultural pride. We’re intentional about challenging outdated narratives and positioning African fashion as a driving force in the global fashion conversation.

Sustainability and ethical fashion are hot topics. How is The Ella Mo Brand contributing to a more responsible fashion ecosystem?

We work closely with designers who value craftsmanship over mass production, many of whom use locally sourced, eco-friendly materials. By supporting small-batch production and fair labour practices, we’re encouraging a more sustainable supply chain that also sustains the communities where these garments are made.

Let’s talk visibility and logistics, and how many young designers struggle with these. How is your platform supporting emerging talents on the continent?

We provide visibility through our global platform and storytelling approach, but we also offer practical support, from logistics solutions to marketing guidance. Our goal is to not just showcase their work, but to help them build sustainable brands that can compete internationally.

You’re building a digital bridge. How do you use storytelling, content, and community to make that bridge feel human, not transactional?

Every designer on our platform has a unique journey, and we make sure to tell that story through visuals, interviews, and campaigns. Our community engagement is built on shared values and cultural pride, so when people shop with The Ella Mo Brand, they feel like they’re joining a movement, a Trybe, not just making a purchase.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the role of African fashion evolving in global fashion conversations in the next 5–10 years?

I believe African fashion will move from being “inspired by” to being the inspiration for global trends. We will see more collaborations, more African-led fashion weeks gaining global coverage, and African designers shaping the aesthetics of major fashion houses. The narrative is shifting from novelty to necessity.

One or two pieces of advice for entrepreneurs building at the intersection of culture, commerce, and community?

Stay true to your vision, even when the market tries to mold you into something else. Build with purpose, be resilient, and surround yourself with people who believe in your mission as much as you do. And for women, own your space unapologetically; you bring a perspective the world needs.

Finally, what can we expect next from The Ella Mo Brand, any upcoming drops, collaborations, or expansions?

We have some exciting collaborations with emerging designers coming up, as well as curated collections that celebrate different African cultures. We’re also expanding our global shipping capabilities and looking to host pop-up experiences in key fashion cities to bring The Ella Mo experience offline and into physical spaces.

Thank you for having this conversation with us

Thank you, BellaNaija, for having us.