On Starting A African Inspired Urban Fashion Brand Right After Graduating
Note: This business is no longer running. It was started in 2015 and ended in 2024. Reason for closure: shut down.
Hello! Who are you and what business did you start?
August of 2015. A year in which I, Cotilda Makhumula-Nkhoma the designer was concluding a Master’s degree in Future Design and began a 2-year program of business enterprise at Teesside University. Through this program known as FUEL, business mentoring, workshops and funding were made possible in supporting COTILDA a recent graduate to kick start an online clothing business.
Registered as COTILDA’S FASHION LIMITED but trading as COTILDA.COM, focusing on ‘African Inspired Fashion for Urban Taste.’ Aimed at 21-35 urban young males and centered on embracing one’s culture through clothing; whilst being mindful of environmental impacts by purchasing clothing only when there is a need through bespoke and limited edition offers.
Being a new clothing brand that was transitioning from a bespoke line into ready-to-wear limited items a year under half into the business, we were looking for an experienced manufacturer that could produce small quantities, achieve technical finishing whilst producing high-quality products at affordable prices. Which is how we came across Bryan, a manufacturer based in Singapore that allowed us to produce shirts, hoodies, and caps to which we...
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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