Building a Better World in Black and White

Article by Emily Zhu, intern with the U.S. Department of State, currently studying Psychology and Political Science at the University of Michigan.

headshot12.jpg Nigerian designer and AWE alumna Bolupe Adebiyi founded an ethical fashion business - all based on black and white. Photo by Eleanor Goodey

[Nigeria, June 2022] From Las Vegas to Lagos to London, fashion watchers know the signature black-and-white design of Cotton Loops, a Nigerian brand of womenswear founded by Bolupe Adebiyi – a business Adebiyi was able to expand thanks to her participation in the U.S. government’s Academy for Women Entrepreneurs.

Conscious of giving back to the community and wanting to showcase “the creativity and diversity of the capability of Africa,” Adebiyi established Cotton Loops in June 2018 after attending the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.

Cotton Loops designs use only black and white, showcasing both an edgy and a classic look, and often feature pockets attached to the dresses, allowing them to be practical and stylish at the same time.

"One piece of Cotton Loops can take you from breakfast at home to meeting at work, to picking up your kids at school," Adebiyi says, "I want to bring back the idea of having stylish dresses that can function for whatever you want them to do."

cotton_loop220.jpg Models wear designs made from sustainably sourced linen, ethically handmade by artisans at The Cotton Loops factory in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo by Deji Majek

Perhaps less known is the fashion house’s focus on environmental protection and sustainability, two goals that Adebiyi has incorporated into her business model - a story which starts through adversity.

Like many entrepreneurs, Adebiyi experienced difficulties in manufacturing. She visited eight different manufacturers before reaching an agreement, and still was not able to reach production capacity – which eventually pushed her to open her own factory.

Today, Adebiyi controls the entire process of Cotton Loops production, from manufacturing to sales, giving her the freedom to focus on ethical standards, such as opposing child labor, upcycling production waste into lifestyle accessories, and avoiding animal by-products like leather and fur.

AWE helped Adebiyi expand her fashion business through access to greater resources. Photo by Deji Majek

In addition, Cotton Loops aims to empower women by hiring disadvantaged women from the local community, providing them a fair wage and a safe workplace – and their families a chance at a better life. The company launched an initiative called 10,000 Girls to provide low-income young women with job skills training as part of the end-to-end circular production ecosystem.

Adebiyi says that the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs Program (AWE) helped her to get where she is today.

“What AWE provided me was access,” says Adebiyi, connecting her to a larger entrepreneurial community that helped her to grow. AWE also provided her the opportunity and skills to apply for funding and other resources to improve the capacity of her factories, increase merchandising, and strengthen her company’s brand.

For example, after graduating AWE, Adebiyi was one of only 10 people from six countries nominated to take part in the first Africa Intensive Fellowship, a partnership between Halcyon Incubator and Amazon Web Services to promote social entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa.

cotton_loop2.220.jpg Cotton Loops aims to empower women and girls in Nigeria through fair wages and job training. Photo by Deji Majek

Moreover, her AWE training helped her to raise more than $50,000 in non-equity funding through the Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton and U.S. government grants like the International Visitors Leadership Program Impact Awards and the U.S. African Development Foundation.

Grateful for the help she got through AWE, Adebiyi decided to give back by mentoring women entrepreneurs who struggle with similar problems she did. She formed a group to support women and promote AWE in Nigeria, and regularly speaks at AWE events about her entrepreneurship journey.

More than just a fashion designer, AWE alumna and social entrepreneur Bolupe Adebiyi uses her experience to promote ethical business standards and mentor the rise of other women entrepreneurs. Photo by Deji Oluokun

Today, Adebiyi’s outlook on her company is global; she has been to trade shows in 15 cities from London to Las Vegas, and her merchandise is selling in 25 countries. She believes that Cotton Loops shows how ethically utilizing African resources can lead to global success - and she is thankful to AWE for help along the way.

For more information, please visit: https://eca.state.gov/awe.