The bridal fashion industry has always been a lucrative sector, but few have been able to break into it as successfully as Nigerian entrepreneur Gbemisola Okunlola. Her unique styling approach and exceptional business acumen have made her a force to reckon with, earning her an impressive annual income of £1.3 million (N2.4 billion).
Gbemi, born in London with Nigerian heritage, recognized her creative flair, love for fashion, and meticulous eye for detail at a very early age.
She exercised her creative mind and taught herself to sew from a young age. After completing college in 2012, she found her fashion brand company, ‘Alonuko’—a luxury women’swear brand based in the UK and serving clients across the country. Alonuko is internationally recognized by the likes of Vogue, Huffington, Insider, Essence, and many more
At the age of 20, Gbemi became Britain’s youngest bridal wear designer and has spent the past eight years building the Alonuko brand. In several interviews, Gbemisola usually describes herself as a fashion designer and garment technologist.
Gbemisola was able to turn her passion for design into a thriving bridal empire that generates £1.3M in sales annually. She started with just £15,000 of her savings in 2012 and has captivated brides across the US, UK, and Africa with her beautiful creations.
In May 2021, she released her third bridal collection, The Freedom Collection, and she opened up about the inspiration behind the designs and how she found freedom to express her creative potential in order to attract a new clientele aligned to the vision of the brand.
Being a 30-year-old stylist, Gbemisola stands on being a master of one rather than being a Jack of all trades.
Moreover, she has embraced digital marketing and social media platforms to showcase her work, reaching a global audience. Her Instagram page, filled with stunning photos of her creations, has become a go-to source of inspiration for brides-to-be.
See photos showing some of her wedding dresses below: