In 2021, Olatoyosi Agbomeji officially established her fashion brand, Zaaleah. Five years later, in August 2026, she expanded her business interests with the launch of a second brand, Adire by Kofoworola, which specialises in the sale of Adire fabrics.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Olatoyosi Shote Agbomeji developed an interest in fashion while in secondary school, a passion that has since grown into an entrepreneurial pursuit. Despite graduating with a degree in Accounting from Houdegbe North American University, she chose to chart a different career path, opting for fashion entrepreneurship over a corporate career.
In 2021, Olatoyosi officially established her fashion brand, Zaaleah. Five years later, in August 2026, she expanded her business interests with the launch of a second brand, Adire by Kofoworola, which specialises in the sale of Adire fabrics.
Explaining the idea behind the brand, she said, “I created Adire by Kofoworola to express my passion for creativity and promote the beauty of African culture through Adire. My goal is to celebrate our heritage, offer unique designs, and build a brand that inspires creativity and preserves our cultural identity.”
Learning the craft
Agbomeji’s journey into fashion began in 2015 while she was still in secondary school. She learnt to sew at her parents’ home, where she was introduced to operating a sewing machine. “My journey into fashion started at my parents’ house, where I began pursuing my passion for fashion design. That was where the dream of building something of my own began,” Agbomeji told TheNiche in an interview.
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After completing her two-year training in 2016, she began making clothes for family and friends, continuing to develop her skills before eventually committing herself fully to the business after university.
Capital
Agbomeji said sourcing capital was a major challenge when she started her business, but she refused to give up despite the difficulties. Supports from her family also helped her. She said: “I refused to give up on my dream. I remained determined to keep going, even when things were difficult. Thankfully, along the way, I continued to receive support from my family, and their encouragement and assistance played an important role in helping me move forward. Their support motivated me to keep pushing and working towards my goals,” she added.
Penetrating the market
Building brand recognition has been one of the challenges Agbomeji has faced in growing her fashion business. Although she is still working towards her major breakthrough, she remains determined to keep going. “I believe that every successful business has a story, and my story is one of resilience, patience, faith, and determination. I may not be where I want to be yet, but I am proud of how far I have come,” she said.
Experience
Building Zaaleah was not without its difficulties. Agbomeji recalled going nearly two years without a single client, describing the period as one of the most frustrating experiences of her entrepreneurial journey. Despite investing her time, energy and passion in the business, the lack of patronage made her question whether she was on the right path. At some point, she considered quitting, feeling that her efforts were yielding no results.
She said: “Honestly, it was one of the most frustrating periods of my journey. Imagine putting your time, energy, and passion into something you believe in, yet not seeing the results you hoped for. It got to a point where I questioned myself and wondered if I was doing the right thing. There were moments when I seriously considered quitting because it felt like all my efforts were going to waste”.
Breakthrough
Agbomeji’s breakthrough came when she least expected it. After nearly two years without a client and seriously considering giving up on Zaaleah, she attended an event wearing a dress she had made herself. After some attendees complimented the dress, she secured two new clients that same day.
Recounting the experience, she said: “One day, I attended an event wearing a dress I had made myself. I wasn’t expecting anything extraordinary to happen, but a few people walked up to me and complimented how beautiful the dress looked. To my surprise, I got two new clients that very day.”
She continued, “It might sound like a small achievement to some people, but to me, it meant everything. Imagine going almost two years without a single client and then suddenly getting two in one day, simply because people could see and appreciate the work of your hands. That moment reminded me that my talent was valuable and that there was hope for Zaaleah after all.”
Biggest challenge
The founder of Zaaleah said rising material costs and the general increase in the cost of doing business in Nigeria have been among her biggest challenges this year.
Japa
Agbomeji admitted that she has thought about relocating abroad due to the challenges of doing business in Nigeria, stressing; “The situation can be frustrating, especially as a young entrepreneur trying to build something from scratch.” She identified the high cost of living, rising material costs and difficulty attracting customers as some of the factors that have made the business environment frustrating for young entrepreneurs. “They can sometimes make you question whether staying is worth it”, she lamented.
Despite it all, she remained interested in building her fashion brand locally. “I believe there is still potential in Nigeria, and I want to be part of the people creating opportunities rather than only looking for them elsewhere. Building Zaaleah has taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of believing in my dreams, even when the journey is difficult”, she enthused.
“For me, staying doesn’t mean I don’t want a better life. It means I’m willing to keep building what I’ve started while remaining open to opportunities that will help me grow. I believe Nigeria has talented people, untapped potential, and a market for creativity and innovation,” she added.
About Agbomeji
Agbomeji is a fashion designer and the founder of Zaaleah and Adire by Kofoworola. Born in Lagos Nigeria, she holds a BSc in Accounting from Houdegbe North American University.
Her vision is to build Zaaleah into a brand that makes people feel confident, beautiful, and special through fashion. She is looking forward to bringing fresh creativity, unique designs, and improved experiences to her customers.
