August 12, 2025 • 33 mins
For Odoba Nnani, building her brand became a masterclass in trusting instincts and weaving cultural heritage into every creation. Born in Nigeria and moving to the U.S. at eight through the visa lottery, she balanced family expectations with a growing creative drive. When the pandemic hit, she traded law school dreams for crafting accessories that blend beauty, function, and heritage.
Her design philosophy? A great bag works anywhere—sweatpants to store runs, dressed up for church, or taken to a club. Versatility, paired with leather linings, magnetic closures, and thoughtful craftsmanship, transforms each piece into functional art.
By working with The Accessory Think Tank, she skipped costly mistakes and launched Romanian-made handbags that fuse global influences with Nigerian roots—designed for real life, across all settings.
💡 Key Takeaways:
- Career pivots can unlock your truest calling.
- Versatility is a branding superpower.
- Small details create lasting luxury.
- Expert mentorship saves years of trial and error.
🎧 Listen for a story of risk-taking, reinvention, and cultural pride in design.
Our Guest:
Odoba Nnani is the founder of her namesake brand, crafting luxury handbags that merge Nigerian heritage with modern functionality.
#AdobaTheBrand #HandbagDesigner101 #LuxuryDesign #WomenInBusiness #CulturalHeritageInFashion #VersatileDesign #EntrepreneurJourney #FunctionalLuxury
Host Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, and founder of The Handbag Awards. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily also teaches entrepreneurship at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is dedicated to celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of building iconic handbag brands.
Find Handbag Designer 101 Merch, HBD101 Masterclass, one-on-one sessions, and opportunities to book Emily Blumenthal as a speaker at emilyblumenthal.com.
Youtube: / Handbagdesigner101-ihda | Instagram:/ Handbagdesigner
TikTok: / Handbagdesigner | Twitter: / Handbagdesigner
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My thought at the very beginning was I want a bag
that I can take anywhere.
I want a bag that I can go tothe store in sweatpants and I
can dress it up for church.
I can go to a club with it,Like.
I want a store that I can wearanywhere, that my little nieces
(00:22):
can wear, that my mom can wear,like a bag, literally for anyone
.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hi and welcome to Handbag Designer 101, the
podcast, with your host, emilyBlumenthal, handbag industry
expert and the handbag fairygodmother.
Each week, we uncover thestories behind the handbags we
love, from the iconic brands andtop designers to the creativity
, craftsmanship and culture thatdefine the handbag world.
Whether you're a designer,collector or simply passionate
(00:50):
about handbags, this is yourfront row seat to it all.
Welcome Adoba, nani of Adoba,to Handbag Designer 101, the
podcast.
Welcome.
Welcome, adoba, thank you.
Thank you so much for having me.
Well, I am super excited to haveyou.
(01:13):
I actually learned about youthrough Nancy Foreman and
Matthew Lafargue of theAccessory Think Tank,
thoughtfully known as TATT,t-a-t-t, with whom you are
working.
It's interesting how peopleback into becoming handbag
designers and now that you areformally part of this community,
(01:33):
slash our community.
I've spoken to a lot of people.
You are one of our selecteddesigners to be part of the it
Bag X New York.
Now for the trade showhappening August 3rd through 5th
.
I'm not sure if this is going torun before and or after.
If it runs after, hopefullypeople will have had a chance to
walk the show and find you.
If it's before, walk the chanceand find you.
(01:54):
But to be a handbag designerand part of this special
community, it's something aswe've spoken about a lot.
To be a designer is very lonely, it's very isolating.
It's very different fromcorporate.
Anybody who works corporate andthen goes from corporate to
becoming a designer.
It's like a harder sucker punchto realize that it's kind of
all on you and to you know beinternal, external marketing,
(02:18):
sales, pr, design, manufacturing, incoming, outgoing.
How did this all come to beLike?
What was the origin story ofstarting that one bag?
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Yeah, so it actually started in my senior year of
college.
It was during COVID.
So I was at home and I wastrying to figure out what to do.
You're home in Ohio.
What to do?
You're home in Ohio yes, inOhio, in Columbus Ohio and like
(02:50):
I was getting ready to startapplying to law school.
But I was like I kind of wantto do something else.
And that time I had been takingsome human rights and just human
rights classes and it taught mea lot about human rights and
environmental rights and it mademe start thinking about how,
(03:11):
back home in Nigeria, like wedon't have access to things that
I have access to in the UnitedStates.
And while thinking of that, Iwas like but do I want to
practice law?
And the answer was no, I dowant to like have that knowledge
, but I don't want tonecessarily practice.
(03:31):
So I was like what are thingsthat I actually really enjoy,
things that I think that I couldbe good or great at and just
enjoy myself and be happy andfulfilled?
And that was fashion, because,coming from a Nigerian family,
like our communities are sofashionable, lots of color, so
(03:57):
much color.
I remember growing up and justlike looking at my mom and my
aunties dressing up and it's sobeautiful and so vibrant.
So I've always loved fashionand I thought for me
specifically, I was so intohandbags and jewelry.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
So jewelry piqued your interest and, if I may,
just out of curiosity, becauseyou are 100% Nigerian, correct?
Speaker 1 (04:26):
My family moved here when I was eight.
We actually at that time theywere doing visa lotteries and my
family won the visa lottery andit was actually on the plane
that I found out that we werestaying my brothers and my dad.
They got to the airport earlyand my mom and I were running
super late.
So in all that chaos my dad waslike, oh, we'll stay in America
(04:51):
.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
No, yeah, you thought you were going on a vacation
with your whole life.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
We're going to visit family because we do have family
here in North Carolina.
So I have a couple of unclesand aunties and cousins who live
in North Carolina, so we werejust going to visit them.
And so that year my dad and myeldest brother stayed, and then
my mom, my other brother and Iwe went back to Nigeria the next
(05:20):
year, my other brother and I.
We came and I lived with one ofmy aunts for a year.
It was wonderful, it was veryfoundational for me.
I feel like I wouldn't be who Iam without that year living
with my aunts and my cousins.
They just they taught me somuch about respecting others and
(05:40):
just how to be in NorthCarolina.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, oh my god how did you lose your accent?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
so it goes in and out .
Actually it depends on who I'mspeaking with.
So, like I remember in collegewhen I facetimed with my mom for
in front of my friends for thefirst time, they all stopped but
they were doing these and theywere so shocked because, like,
my accent switches back and Ican't really control it.
(06:09):
So like when I'm speaking to myfamily or other immigrants or
Nigerians specifically, like itwill kind of switch back and
then when I'm speaking toAmericans, it switches to my
American accent.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Oh my God.
So your whole family was kindof separated all over the place.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, for four years we were separated.
My mom came the year after meand that year my dad moved up to
Ohio for work.
My aunt had given him arecommendation and he applied,
so he moved up to Ohio and thenthe year after we all came back
together in Ohio and we've beenthere since.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
So there was five of you all together, or six of you.
Five of you, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Wow, wow, that is.
And it's so crazy that I'mactually like doing this like
handbags and jewelry, because inmy family, my eldest brother is
the artist of the family andlike he's the creative one, so
it's very interesting that, like, all three of us are very
(07:20):
artistic and creative well, youknow.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And what number are you?
Are you two with your us?
Okay, you're the princess byeverything.
Wow, that's it.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Uh-huh, care of your name, which you told me means
queen yes, my dad means queen,and his nickname for me is my
princess.
Oh god, okay, I'm sure yourbrothers loved that.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Oh my god.
Yeah, there she is, the queenand the princess.
There's so much more before.
(08:08):
That kind of took you to thespot because you know, on the
one hand, to start a handbagbrand, a handbag business,
anything creative, it'sperceived risk because there's
no guarantee.
You know it's so much dictatedby right place, right time and
money, and you know research andmaking sure that it's at the
(08:30):
you know right, the right price.
You know your customer, all ofthat.
But you know, listening to yourfamily background that you
shared in like five minutes, youknow five years and five
minutes kind of thing, it'sclear that this you are not a
risk averse family and you mightsay, okay, it's surprising that
(08:50):
he's the creative, but we'reall creative now, we're all
doing creative things.
But what you just said, it'slike okay, so this one moved
here and that one moved thereand my dad it's.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
You're very mobile in terms of being able to pivot,
move around and not attach somuch emotion to it because you
know, no matter what, like we'lljust end up somewhere else yeah
, no, and at the end of the day,like for me and even my cousins
, we talk about this all thetime like the most important
thing is having our family andlike knowing each other and we
(09:25):
may not talk all the time, butlike we know we'll always have
each other's back, and likethere's always someone there, no
matter where you are.
So like that is what keeps us.
Like even though, like movinghere, especially moving to ohio,
where my cousins weren'tanymore, it was a lot lonelier,
(09:47):
but like, I'll bet having thatknowledge in the back of your
mind that, like your family, isalways there, it's, it's great
there must be a Nigeriancommunity there somewhat.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
I mean, I know it's difficult, yeah, to go from
North Carolina.
Yeah like.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I know so many people now, so it's it's really nice
like having the community thereand they're so supportive.
I call them all my uncles andaunties, and they were actually
the first people that I toldoutside of my media family, that
I told about my brand, andthey're so supportive.
(10:25):
They were my first sales too,as they should be yes so okay.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
So at this point you're trapped at home.
Where did you go to universitythat allowed?
Speaker 1 (10:36):
you to George Washington in DC so you moved
home.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Then, because of the pandemic.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, it was actually spring break and my friends and
I we wanted to go to Jamaicabut we were hearing that like we
may not be able to come back.
It was so up in the air sowe're like we'll just go to our
respective homes.
And then, literally the day ofmy flight, we got an email from
the school saying, basicallysaying you can't come home, so
(11:04):
March 4th.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
That was it.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Yeah, wow.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
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Filled with ingenuity, fun anda hint of steam, susanna will
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dreams and put in the hard workto get there.
Savvy Susanna is available onAmazon, barnes, noble or
(11:34):
wherever you get your books.
Thanks for your support.
Yeah, so what year were you?
It was I was a junior.
Yeah, ok, so you were at thehalfway, halfway point.
Yeah, wow, that's pivotal,because by the time you're a
junior, you're, in your mind,adult enough.
You're independent.
You have been able to cookclean, although you've been
(11:56):
doing that, probably by yourself, before.
But self-sufficiency and then tothrow yourself back home.
I mean, covid wasn't?
Some people lived their bestlife during COVID.
But after you've had this tasteof independence, especially
since you lived this mobile lifefrom moving from one place to
another, it was probably like,oh my God, I'm free, I can
(12:19):
finally spread my own wingsinstead of depending on somebody
else's wings.
And now I'm back in the nest,which I did not sign up for at
all.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah, that was exactly it.
Yeah, and my mom has anindependent pharmacy in Columbus
, so like anytime I'm back homeI'm working at the pharmacy.
So it was like juggling work atthe pharmacy and schoolwork.
And my family also got COVID,so COVID and then like it was
(12:51):
just a lot figuring out what Iwant to do because there isn't
enough time.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
So so at this point you're like screw this, I need
an outlet I might crack if Idon't find something for me.
Or else like or else what's mylife for?
Like, I've been through allthis.
Now I'm back at the pharmacy,I'm back home, I'm doing online
classes.
The sparkle just kind offlattens.
You know so and we talk aboutthis a lot that when becoming a
(13:21):
handbag designer, like all thelogic, all the organization, all
of these things that one pridesthemselves on kind of goes out
the window.
And you're like I have thisidea, I'm just going to go for
it.
I know it doesn't make anysense, I know I might not have
the money, I know I might nothave the resources, but this is
what I want to do.
Ha ha, kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Exactly and my original idea.
It definitely evolved because Ididn't even think about being a
handbag designer, like thatwasn't on my radar at all.
Like I saw it, Let me buy abunch of handbags, just like
generic handbags, and I'll havemy eldest brother, the artist,
(14:05):
paint on them on things thathave to do with Igbo culture.
And I scoured the internet formanufacturers.
All their MOQs were like 300.
I didn't like the bag, I didn'tknow the quality, I didn't know
, like where the bags were fromand I wanted to have that
(14:25):
traceability, like where Iactually know things about the
bag.
And they also none of themresponded to me because I was
always like can you guys do anmoq of like five?
I can't oh my god, oh my god sothen I stumbled upon tat, which
(14:46):
has been like the most amazingjourney in my, and it's so
amazing and I'm glad to be onthis journey right now, like how
long into this were you into?
Speaker 2 (14:57):
how many years were you like, had you?
It was actually pretty quick.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
So it was a Saturday morning and I was scrolling I
believe it was like maker's row.
I was scrolling and I wasreaching out to manufacturers
and then I saw TOT and I waslike, oh, I don't know what this
is.
So I like I went to theirwebsite and just read more about
(15:21):
TOT and it was very interesting.
I was like, oh, like we canmake like an actual brand where
I can actually feel authentic.
It's not like I'm selling outor just that was another thing.
I wanted to feel authentic andlike this is actually mine.
(15:41):
I wanted to have ownership ofit and I felt like my original
plan, I wouldn't actually haveownership because I'm just
buying ready-made bags andpainting on them.
And Nancy reached out to mealmost immediately after I
reached out to her and it was soamazing.
We clicked immediately andshe's helped me build this brand
(16:06):
to what it is Like now.
I'm like I'm a handbag designer, not a jewelry designer, and
it's all thanks to her guidanceand her team's guidance and
Matthew has been so helpful andinstrumental in learning, like
all the back-end things,especially with pricing and
everything, like they are soamazing and even this
(16:29):
opportunity with you, like it'sthrough them, like it's been
amazing I've been able to meetso many wonderful people from
all over the world.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Like I could speak the gospel of the accessory
think tank, t-a-t-t-a-k-a, nancyand Matthew.
But I want to ask you, beforeyou connected with them, had you
made a sample, had you sketched?
Because usually by the time,nancy and I always joke about
this by the time people havefound us they've already dumped
(16:59):
at least five, ten thousand intodoing it with no structure.
No, you know like I found afactory in, you know.
You know you hadn't doneanything like had you had a
sketch.
Had you had an idea?
Speaker 1 (17:15):
no, nothing at all like it was tabula rasa.
It was a complete blank slate,like we started from the very
beginning the only thing I haddone is I prepared a sales pitch
for my mom so she could be myinvestor.
Like it was super formal, likeI had it printed out and
(17:36):
everything.
I was like these are myprojections, even though they
made no sense.
And like I called a familymeeting, so like I was like I
need you guys to be my investorsbecause I have no money.
I'm still in college.
So my parents, they've been sosupportive, which is so crazy,
(18:04):
because if you know anythingabout a Nigerian family.
Like parents always want theirchildren to be a lawyer, doctor,
engineer, yeah, and even mycousins one of my closest
cousins, she's a lawyer in theNetherlands and she was like I'm
so scared for you.
This is so scary.
I could never think of like nothaving the basket of law under
me.
You can get a job anywhere.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
But you know what Birth order plays a lot into
that.
And it's funny because mostdesigners are either the
youngest, because by the timethey've gotten, it's gotten to
them, because the firstbornalways typically needs to stay
within the lines and be theresponsible one.
That's why the firstborns areusually the lawyers and the
(18:47):
doctors.
The further you go, middlechildren are either I call them
hustlers or hyphens.
They're the ones who will leaveand never come back and do big
things, or they'll kind of fallinto the couch cushions because
they just are so used to beingpassed over and just being the
girl with the flow.
By the time you get to thefinal child, you know who's
already been called queen, who'saffectionately referred to as
(19:09):
princess, you know the supportand respect is already there.
So it's kind of like I'm sureyou knew in the back of your
mind that you get their supportbecause, purely because of your
family dynamic that you're likeoh hey, I just need to show them
the respect that I put in thetime, effort and energy to prove
that I'm doing this the rightway to get their support it was
(19:32):
actually the opposite in myfamily.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Yeah, my family is, we're different.
Like it is usually like that,like in my family, because from
when my brother was three he hadbeen drawing lifelike sketches.
Like everyone always knew hewas going to be an artist.
My family, we startedcommissioning him very early on,
(19:57):
like my uncles would be likeI'll pay you to draw my family,
I'll pay you to paint my family,I'll pay you to paint my family
.
So like it's for him, it'salways been he's going to be an
amazing artist.
And then my second brother.
He's always been into like techand games.
So from the start he's like I'mgoing to be a game designer, it
(20:19):
doesn't matter what anyone says.
And then for me it was sixthgrade.
In sixth grade I said I'm goingto be a lawyer or a spy.
And somehow lawyers stick.
I don't know how spy fell tothe wayside.
I think I would have been anamazing spy.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I think you moved so much that I think spying became
complicated.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Yes, and my mom was like how could you be a spy when
you're telling everyone you'regoing to be a spy?
And I was like it's all part ofthe plan, me too.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I told people that too.
Can I tell you something?
I said I will be the most inplain sight spy, because I'm so
chatty that no one would everassume that I would be the spy.
Because it's like boppity bop,and people just talk to me and I
get the life story.
I'd be like mm-hmm, mm-hmm,mm-hmm.
But then again you need to bereally organized and you need to
(21:14):
be able to keep your mouth shutlong enough to then repurpose
that and then it's like, yeah,that's not happening.
That's the part two of the spyfactor.
That ain't happening, oh mygoodness.
So if you ever wanted to start ahandbag brand and didn't know
where to start, this is for you.
If you had dreams of becoming ahandbag designer but aren't
(21:37):
trained in design, this is foryou.
If you have a handbag brand andneed strategy and direction,
this is for you.
I'm have a handbag brand andneed strategy and direction.
This is for you.
I'm Emily Blumenthal, handbagdesigner expert and handbag
fairy godmother, and this is theHandbag Designer 101
Masterclass.
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(21:59):
brand, broken down to ensurethat you will not only skip
steps in the handbag buildingprocess, but also to save money
to avoid the learning curve ofcostly mistakes.
For the past 20 years, I'vebeen teaching at the top fashion
universities in New York City,wrote the Handbag Designer Bible
, founded the Handbag Awards andcreated the only Handbag
Designer Podcast.
(22:20):
I'm going to show you like Ihave countless brands to create
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Whether you're just startingout and don't even know where to
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(22:40):
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Speaker 1 (22:46):
So be sure to sign up at emilyblumenthalcom slash
masterclass and type in the codePINECAST to get 10% off your
masterclass today oh, sincegrade, then that was the plan
(23:12):
lawyer and then all of a suddenI was like um, I kind of want to
do something different.
So like their support at thatpoint was so, like it was so
heartwarming for me and it gaveme like definitely the
confidence boost that I neededto actually start looking into
how to bring this to life.
And then, like TAT has helpedme flesh it out in a way that I
(23:34):
don't think I would have beenable to do by myself.
That's a fact.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yeah, that's a fact and I'm no disrespect to you,
but I think, maybe because yougrew up with such a supportive
puzzle piece family, that askingfor help or assuming that it's
okay to bring people on is kindof like second nature, because
so many people, when they start,just assume that they either
(24:02):
should do it themselves or areashamed to share it, don't want
to tell or they're like okay,this is my thing, if I screw up,
it's on me.
If I'm successful, it's on me.
But knowing that it was worthyof bringing people on to guide
you and help you with thisjourney is, I mean, that takes
just as much courage, if notmore, to ask for help.
(24:23):
You know and also realize youhave to pay for the help,
because you know to get peopleon and again, nancy and I have
spoken about this that mostpeople, by the time they get to
us, they've lost so much moneydoing it in a way that they
thought was kind of from the hip, thought was kind of from the
hip.
So to get people to realizethat services cost money,
(24:45):
getting help from people who hadthe experience costs money.
So would you rather below andwith the masterclass I teach,
because Nancy and I do very,very different things, because
I'm before you get to this partand like make sure you're ready,
know how to talk to a factory,like understanding how to sell,
who to sell and the productcomes after, because you need to
(25:09):
understand all that before.
But by the time you get topeople like me and then people
like Nancy and Matthew you knowI hate saying it takes money to
make money but to get expertsinvolved a lot of people just
assume like well, I've justblown all this, can you help me?
And it's like no, we are all inthis together and that's what
(25:29):
experience gets you.
You know, like the story of andwhether or not it's true of lore
but Salvador Dali.
Someone walked by and asked himto draw on a napkin, like draw
me something, and he said OK.
And the guy was like oh, wow,thanks.
And he said that'll be $10,000or $100,000, blah, blah, blah.
And the guy's like this tookyou 15 seconds.
(25:51):
And Dali again, who knows ifthis is true?
Said actually it's 30 years and10 seconds.
So again, who knows if this istrue, said actually it's 30
years in 10 seconds.
So no, that's what this is.
So that's what you're gettingwhen you work with people like
Nancy and Matthew, it's combined, you know, 30, 40 years
combined of retail, of expertise, of design, of trend.
And you know, I think it'sreally, really wise of you and
(26:13):
very fortunate and fortuitousthat you were able to find them,
because you know your journeyis supported and it's guided and
it's put in a way that at leastokay, here's my idea, here's my
vision, but I will help youthen make it sellable.
I will help you find the peopleto make it for you.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Yeah, yeah, I agree completely.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
So I just because I want to make sure how were you
able to come up with what yourhero bag would look like?
Speaker 1 (26:42):
So it took many heads .
So the actual shape came froman earring design that we kind
of put on the back end, and weworked with Alex I don't know
how to pronounce her last name,but we worked with this amazing
(27:08):
designer, alex, to like come upwith the initial sketch and the
handles actually had a jump ringand my thought at the very
beginning was I want a bag thatI can take anywhere.
I want a bag that I can go tothe store and sweat pants and I
can dress it up for church, Ican go to a club with it.
Like I want a store that I canwear anywhere, that my little
(27:33):
nieces can wear, that my mom canwear, like a bag, literally for
anyone, that is elegant andclassy and timeless, something
that will actually last.
So that's how we went into thisdesign and initially it had one
handle, but that posed a problembecause you couldn't actually
(27:54):
open the bag and put things in.
I was like, what's the point?
And this was the time wherethose like micro bags were so in
and I was like but you can'teven put your lip gloss in it.
Like you need a bag that isbeautiful but you can still put
things in it and you can stilllike live your life without
struggling.
(28:15):
So we went through.
We've gone through, like somany variations of this bag, and
I actually have all of them.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
I still wear all of them I know, I know, I get that
too.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
I do yeah and like this bag has two neodymium
magnets, for example, and withthat I was like I love the snap,
like the sound and like how youdon't have to find the little
hole with the other magnetclosure.
I hate that it's so difficultfor me.
(28:46):
Like it it makes like it wasalways the hardest thing for me
and I don't know why I can'tstand that.
So I was like I want a bag thatwill be secure, but it's just a
simple snap like you don't knowwhy I can't stand that.
So I was like I want a bag thatwill be secure, but it's just a
simple snap, like you don'thave to think about how to like
actually close it, you just letgo and it's closed.
(29:08):
So it's been a wonderful journeymaking this bag and like
choosing the leathers, findingthe leathers, finding the
tanneries, like it's been socool.
And I also I looked at like thebrands that are out here
already, like the brands thathave been here for years, and I
(29:28):
saw like the materials that theyuse and linings and things like
that, and I knew that I didn'twant a cloth lining or anything.
I wanted something that couldlast and that could be easier to
clean, just like the outside ofthe bag, so we chose a leather
lining oh my god.
(29:50):
yes, it was a bit of a challengeto convince everyone that it's
a leather lining, but I was likeI, I have to have a leather
lining, nothing else.
I don't want microfiber, Idon't want anything else leather
and like it's just.
I think I get this from my.
(30:13):
Fortunately, I do know what Iwant, like it's so clear in my
mind the things that I want andlike how it can work.
So like having the support ofeveryone, because so far it's
just been support and love, andlike every step of making these
(30:34):
bags like it's just beenfeedback that makes the bag
better.
Nobody is negative, everyone isconstructive and it's just been
such a blessing to have thatcommunity with my family and
with Ty and like it's just sowonderful.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Yeah, oh, my goodness , adoba, I'm so grateful that
you were able to join us and herbrand with her eponymous name,
adoba, at New York Now X it Bag,which is our unique section
(31:18):
specifically for independentdesigners.
As you know, everybody knows Ihate the term emerging because
once you've emerged, then whatyou know like arrived, the
arrived bags.
But it's a very specific groupof extraordinarily beautiful and
talented product.
Some it's the most it's theirfirst trade shows, but all with
(31:38):
good people, good name, goodproduct, good deliveries behind.
And if you're getting thisafter, please make sure you
check out Adoba's bags, who thatare actually made in Romania,
which is another interestingstory which we'll have to talk
about another time.
But, adoba, how can we find you?
Follow you, learn more aboutyour beautiful bags?
Speaker 1 (31:59):
So you can find me on my website or Instagram.
My website is adobaco, sothat's O-D-O-B-A, underscore
T-H-E, underscore B-R-A-N-D.
Oh my God.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Are there other Nigerians running around with
your name that you had to do?
That?
Speaker 1 (32:26):
It's actually it's because, yeah, there are a
couple of people with my nameit's actually not a common name
and a lot of people don'trealize that I'm Nigerian or
Igbo because of my name.
Like just last week, someonewho is also Igbo was like I was
so confused because I saw yourface and I was like, oh, that's
(32:47):
a beautiful Igbo girl.
But then I heard your name andI was like, but is she?
So it's a name from my villageand that's it makes.
It makes me even more happy tobe sure to check.
Oh, my goodness.
Well, you are an absolutedelight and actually what a
(33:08):
beautiful, beautiful face you'vegot too.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Thank you so much and looking forward to seeing you.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for listening.
Don't forget to rate and review, and follow us on every single
platform at Handbag Designer.
Thanks so much.
See you next time.
My thought at the very beginning was I want a bag
that I can take anywhere.
I want a bag that I can go tothe store in sweatpants and I
can dress it up for church.
I can go to a club with it,Like.
I want a store that I can wearanywhere, that my little nieces
(00:22):
can wear, that my mom can wear,like a bag, literally for anyone
.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hi and welcome to Handbag Designer 101, the
podcast, with your host, emilyBlumenthal, handbag industry
expert and the handbag fairygodmother.
Each week, we uncover thestories behind the handbags we
love, from the iconic brands andtop designers to the creativity
, craftsmanship and culture thatdefine the handbag world.
Whether you're a designer,collector or simply passionate
(00:50):
about handbags, this is yourfront row seat to it all.
Welcome Adoba, nani of Adoba,to Handbag Designer 101, the
podcast.
Welcome.
Welcome, adoba, thank you.
Thank you so much for having me.
Well, I am super excited to haveyou.
(01:13):
I actually learned about youthrough Nancy Foreman and
Matthew Lafargue of theAccessory Think Tank,
thoughtfully known as TATT,t-a-t-t, with whom you are
working.
It's interesting how peopleback into becoming handbag
designers and now that you areformally part of this community,
(01:33):
slash our community.
I've spoken to a lot of people.
You are one of our selecteddesigners to be part of the it
Bag X New York.
Now for the trade showhappening August 3rd through 5th
.
I'm not sure if this is going torun before and or after.
If it runs after, hopefullypeople will have had a chance to
walk the show and find you.
If it's before, walk the chanceand find you.
(01:54):
But to be a handbag designerand part of this special
community, it's something aswe've spoken about a lot.
To be a designer is very lonely, it's very isolating.
It's very different fromcorporate.
Anybody who works corporate andthen goes from corporate to
becoming a designer.
It's like a harder sucker punchto realize that it's kind of
all on you and to you know beinternal, external marketing,
(02:18):
sales, pr, design, manufacturing, incoming, outgoing.
How did this all come to beLike?
What was the origin story ofstarting that one bag?
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Yeah, so it actually started in my senior year of
college.
It was during COVID.
So I was at home and I wastrying to figure out what to do.
You're home in Ohio.
What to do?
You're home in Ohio yes, inOhio, in Columbus Ohio and like
(02:50):
I was getting ready to startapplying to law school.
But I was like I kind of wantto do something else.
And that time I had been takingsome human rights and just human
rights classes and it taught mea lot about human rights and
environmental rights and it mademe start thinking about how,
(03:11):
back home in Nigeria, like wedon't have access to things that
I have access to in the UnitedStates.
And while thinking of that, Iwas like but do I want to
practice law?
And the answer was no, I dowant to like have that knowledge
, but I don't want tonecessarily practice.
(03:31):
So I was like what are thingsthat I actually really enjoy,
things that I think that I couldbe good or great at and just
enjoy myself and be happy andfulfilled?
And that was fashion, because,coming from a Nigerian family,
like our communities are sofashionable, lots of color, so
(03:57):
much color.
I remember growing up and justlike looking at my mom and my
aunties dressing up and it's sobeautiful and so vibrant.
So I've always loved fashionand I thought for me
specifically, I was so intohandbags and jewelry.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
So jewelry piqued your interest and, if I may,
just out of curiosity, becauseyou are 100% Nigerian, correct?
Speaker 1 (04:26):
My family moved here when I was eight.
We actually at that time theywere doing visa lotteries and my
family won the visa lottery andit was actually on the plane
that I found out that we werestaying my brothers and my dad.
They got to the airport earlyand my mom and I were running
super late.
So in all that chaos my dad waslike, oh, we'll stay in America
(04:51):
.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
No, yeah, you thought you were going on a vacation
with your whole life.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
We're going to visit family because we do have family
here in North Carolina.
So I have a couple of unclesand aunties and cousins who live
in North Carolina, so we werejust going to visit them.
And so that year my dad and myeldest brother stayed, and then
my mom, my other brother and Iwe went back to Nigeria the next
(05:20):
year, my other brother and I.
We came and I lived with one ofmy aunts for a year.
It was wonderful, it was veryfoundational for me.
I feel like I wouldn't be who Iam without that year living
with my aunts and my cousins.
They just they taught me somuch about respecting others and
(05:40):
just how to be in NorthCarolina.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, oh my god how did you lose your accent?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
so it goes in and out .
Actually it depends on who I'mspeaking with.
So, like I remember in collegewhen I facetimed with my mom for
in front of my friends for thefirst time, they all stopped but
they were doing these and theywere so shocked because, like,
my accent switches back and Ican't really control it.
(06:09):
So like when I'm speaking to myfamily or other immigrants or
Nigerians specifically, like itwill kind of switch back and
then when I'm speaking toAmericans, it switches to my
American accent.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Oh my God.
So your whole family was kindof separated all over the place.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, for four years we were separated.
My mom came the year after meand that year my dad moved up to
Ohio for work.
My aunt had given him arecommendation and he applied,
so he moved up to Ohio and thenthe year after we all came back
together in Ohio and we've beenthere since.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
So there was five of you all together, or six of you.
Five of you, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Wow, wow, that is.
And it's so crazy that I'mactually like doing this like
handbags and jewelry, because inmy family, my eldest brother is
the artist of the family andlike he's the creative one, so
it's very interesting that, like, all three of us are very
(07:20):
artistic and creative well, youknow.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And what number are you?
Are you two with your us?
Okay, you're the princess byeverything.
Wow, that's it.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Uh-huh, care of your name, which you told me means
queen yes, my dad means queen,and his nickname for me is my
princess.
Oh god, okay, I'm sure yourbrothers loved that.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Oh my god.
Yeah, there she is, the queenand the princess.
There's so much more before.
(08:08):
That kind of took you to thespot because you know, on the
one hand, to start a handbagbrand, a handbag business,
anything creative, it'sperceived risk because there's
no guarantee.
You know it's so much dictatedby right place, right time and
money, and you know research andmaking sure that it's at the
(08:30):
you know right, the right price.
You know your customer, all ofthat.
But you know, listening to yourfamily background that you
shared in like five minutes, youknow five years and five
minutes kind of thing, it'sclear that this you are not a
risk averse family and you mightsay, okay, it's surprising that
(08:50):
he's the creative, but we'reall creative now, we're all
doing creative things.
But what you just said, it'slike okay, so this one moved
here and that one moved thereand my dad it's.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
You're very mobile in terms of being able to pivot,
move around and not attach somuch emotion to it because you
know, no matter what, like we'lljust end up somewhere else yeah
, no, and at the end of the day,like for me and even my cousins
, we talk about this all thetime like the most important
thing is having our family andlike knowing each other and we
(09:25):
may not talk all the time, butlike we know we'll always have
each other's back, and likethere's always someone there, no
matter where you are.
So like that is what keeps us.
Like even though, like movinghere, especially moving to ohio,
where my cousins weren'tanymore, it was a lot lonelier,
(09:47):
but like, I'll bet having thatknowledge in the back of your
mind that, like your family, isalways there, it's, it's great
there must be a Nigeriancommunity there somewhat.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
I mean, I know it's difficult, yeah, to go from
North Carolina.
Yeah like.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I know so many people now, so it's it's really nice
like having the community thereand they're so supportive.
I call them all my uncles andaunties, and they were actually
the first people that I toldoutside of my media family, that
I told about my brand, andthey're so supportive.
(10:25):
They were my first sales too,as they should be yes so okay.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
So at this point you're trapped at home.
Where did you go to universitythat allowed?
Speaker 1 (10:36):
you to George Washington in DC so you moved
home.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Then, because of the pandemic.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, it was actually spring break and my friends and
I we wanted to go to Jamaicabut we were hearing that like we
may not be able to come back.
It was so up in the air sowe're like we'll just go to our
respective homes.
And then, literally the day ofmy flight, we got an email from
the school saying, basicallysaying you can't come home, so
(11:04):
March 4th.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
That was it.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Yeah, wow.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
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(11:34):
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Thanks for your support.
Yeah, so what year were you?
It was I was a junior.
Yeah, ok, so you were at thehalfway, halfway point.
Yeah, wow, that's pivotal,because by the time you're a
junior, you're, in your mind,adult enough.
You're independent.
You have been able to cookclean, although you've been
(11:56):
doing that, probably by yourself, before.
But self-sufficiency and then tothrow yourself back home.
I mean, covid wasn't?
Some people lived their bestlife during COVID.
But after you've had this tasteof independence, especially
since you lived this mobile lifefrom moving from one place to
another, it was probably like,oh my God, I'm free, I can
(12:19):
finally spread my own wingsinstead of depending on somebody
else's wings.
And now I'm back in the nest,which I did not sign up for at
all.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah, that was exactly it.
Yeah, and my mom has anindependent pharmacy in Columbus
, so like anytime I'm back homeI'm working at the pharmacy.
So it was like juggling work atthe pharmacy and schoolwork.
And my family also got COVID,so COVID and then like it was
(12:51):
just a lot figuring out what Iwant to do because there isn't
enough time.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
So so at this point you're like screw this, I need
an outlet I might crack if Idon't find something for me.
Or else like or else what's mylife for?
Like, I've been through allthis.
Now I'm back at the pharmacy,I'm back home, I'm doing online
classes.
The sparkle just kind offlattens.
You know so and we talk aboutthis a lot that when becoming a
(13:21):
handbag designer, like all thelogic, all the organization, all
of these things that one pridesthemselves on kind of goes out
the window.
And you're like I have thisidea, I'm just going to go for
it.
I know it doesn't make anysense, I know I might not have
the money, I know I might nothave the resources, but this is
what I want to do.
Ha ha, kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Exactly and my original idea.
It definitely evolved because Ididn't even think about being a
handbag designer, like thatwasn't on my radar at all.
Like I saw it, Let me buy abunch of handbags, just like
generic handbags, and I'll havemy eldest brother, the artist,
(14:05):
paint on them on things thathave to do with Igbo culture.
And I scoured the internet formanufacturers.
All their MOQs were like 300.
I didn't like the bag, I didn'tknow the quality, I didn't know
, like where the bags were fromand I wanted to have that
(14:25):
traceability, like where Iactually know things about the
bag.
And they also none of themresponded to me because I was
always like can you guys do anmoq of like five?
I can't oh my god, oh my god sothen I stumbled upon tat, which
(14:46):
has been like the most amazingjourney in my, and it's so
amazing and I'm glad to be onthis journey right now, like how
long into this were you into?
Speaker 2 (14:57):
how many years were you like, had you?
It was actually pretty quick.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
So it was a Saturday morning and I was scrolling I
believe it was like maker's row.
I was scrolling and I wasreaching out to manufacturers
and then I saw TOT and I waslike, oh, I don't know what this
is.
So I like I went to theirwebsite and just read more about
(15:21):
TOT and it was very interesting.
I was like, oh, like we canmake like an actual brand where
I can actually feel authentic.
It's not like I'm selling outor just that was another thing.
I wanted to feel authentic andlike this is actually mine.
(15:41):
I wanted to have ownership ofit and I felt like my original
plan, I wouldn't actually haveownership because I'm just
buying ready-made bags andpainting on them.
And Nancy reached out to mealmost immediately after I
reached out to her and it was soamazing.
We clicked immediately andshe's helped me build this brand
(16:06):
to what it is Like now.
I'm like I'm a handbag designer, not a jewelry designer, and
it's all thanks to her guidanceand her team's guidance and
Matthew has been so helpful andinstrumental in learning, like
all the back-end things,especially with pricing and
everything, like they are soamazing and even this
(16:29):
opportunity with you, like it'sthrough them, like it's been
amazing I've been able to meetso many wonderful people from
all over the world.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Like I could speak the gospel of the accessory
think tank, t-a-t-t-a-k-a, nancyand Matthew.
But I want to ask you, beforeyou connected with them, had you
made a sample, had you sketched?
Because usually by the time,nancy and I always joke about
this by the time people havefound us they've already dumped
(16:59):
at least five, ten thousand intodoing it with no structure.
No, you know like I found afactory in, you know.
You know you hadn't doneanything like had you had a
sketch.
Had you had an idea?
Speaker 1 (17:15):
no, nothing at all like it was tabula rasa.
It was a complete blank slate,like we started from the very
beginning the only thing I haddone is I prepared a sales pitch
for my mom so she could be myinvestor.
Like it was super formal, likeI had it printed out and
(17:36):
everything.
I was like these are myprojections, even though they
made no sense.
And like I called a familymeeting, so like I was like I
need you guys to be my investorsbecause I have no money.
I'm still in college.
So my parents, they've been sosupportive, which is so crazy,
(18:04):
because if you know anythingabout a Nigerian family.
Like parents always want theirchildren to be a lawyer, doctor,
engineer, yeah, and even mycousins one of my closest
cousins, she's a lawyer in theNetherlands and she was like I'm
so scared for you.
This is so scary.
I could never think of like nothaving the basket of law under
me.
You can get a job anywhere.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
But you know what Birth order plays a lot into
that.
And it's funny because mostdesigners are either the
youngest, because by the timethey've gotten, it's gotten to
them, because the firstbornalways typically needs to stay
within the lines and be theresponsible one.
That's why the firstborns areusually the lawyers and the
(18:47):
doctors.
The further you go, middlechildren are either I call them
hustlers or hyphens.
They're the ones who will leaveand never come back and do big
things, or they'll kind of fallinto the couch cushions because
they just are so used to beingpassed over and just being the
girl with the flow.
By the time you get to thefinal child, you know who's
already been called queen, who'saffectionately referred to as
(19:09):
princess, you know the supportand respect is already there.
So it's kind of like I'm sureyou knew in the back of your
mind that you get their supportbecause, purely because of your
family dynamic that you're likeoh hey, I just need to show them
the respect that I put in thetime, effort and energy to prove
that I'm doing this the rightway to get their support it was
(19:32):
actually the opposite in myfamily.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Yeah, my family is, we're different.
Like it is usually like that,like in my family, because from
when my brother was three he hadbeen drawing lifelike sketches.
Like everyone always knew hewas going to be an artist.
My family, we startedcommissioning him very early on,
(19:57):
like my uncles would be likeI'll pay you to draw my family,
I'll pay you to paint my family,I'll pay you to paint my family
.
So like it's for him, it'salways been he's going to be an
amazing artist.
And then my second brother.
He's always been into like techand games.
So from the start he's like I'mgoing to be a game designer, it
(20:19):
doesn't matter what anyone says.
And then for me it was sixthgrade.
In sixth grade I said I'm goingto be a lawyer or a spy.
And somehow lawyers stick.
I don't know how spy fell tothe wayside.
I think I would have been anamazing spy.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I think you moved so much that I think spying became
complicated.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Yes, and my mom was like how could you be a spy when
you're telling everyone you'regoing to be a spy?
And I was like it's all part ofthe plan, me too.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I told people that too.
Can I tell you something?
I said I will be the most inplain sight spy, because I'm so
chatty that no one would everassume that I would be the spy.
Because it's like boppity bop,and people just talk to me and I
get the life story.
I'd be like mm-hmm, mm-hmm,mm-hmm.
But then again you need to bereally organized and you need to
(21:14):
be able to keep your mouth shutlong enough to then repurpose
that and then it's like, yeah,that's not happening.
That's the part two of the spyfactor.
That ain't happening, oh mygoodness.
So if you ever wanted to start ahandbag brand and didn't know
where to start, this is for you.
If you had dreams of becoming ahandbag designer but aren't
(21:37):
trained in design, this is foryou.
If you have a handbag brand andneed strategy and direction,
this is for you.
I'm have a handbag brand andneed strategy and direction.
This is for you.
I'm Emily Blumenthal, handbagdesigner expert and handbag
fairy godmother, and this is theHandbag Designer 101
Masterclass.
Over the next 10 classes, Iwill break down everything you
need to know to make,manufacture and market a handbag
(21:59):
brand, broken down to ensurethat you will not only skip
steps in the handbag buildingprocess, but also to save money
to avoid the learning curve ofcostly mistakes.
For the past 20 years, I'vebeen teaching at the top fashion
universities in New York City,wrote the Handbag Designer Bible
, founded the Handbag Awards andcreated the only Handbag
Designer Podcast.
(22:20):
I'm going to show you like Ihave countless brands to create
in this in-depth course, fromsketch to sample to sale.
Whether you're just startingout and don't even know where to
start or begin, or if you had abrand and need some strategic
direction, the Handbag Designer101 Masterclass is just for you.
So let's get started and you'llbe the creator of the next it
(22:40):
Bag.
Join me, emily Blumenthal, inthe Handbag Designer 101
Masterclass.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
So be sure to sign up at emilyblumenthalcom slash
masterclass and type in the codePINECAST to get 10% off your
masterclass today oh, sincegrade, then that was the plan
(23:12):
lawyer and then all of a suddenI was like um, I kind of want to
do something different.
So like their support at thatpoint was so, like it was so
heartwarming for me and it gaveme like definitely the
confidence boost that I neededto actually start looking into
how to bring this to life.
And then, like TAT has helpedme flesh it out in a way that I
(23:34):
don't think I would have beenable to do by myself.
That's a fact.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yeah, that's a fact and I'm no disrespect to you,
but I think, maybe because yougrew up with such a supportive
puzzle piece family, that askingfor help or assuming that it's
okay to bring people on is kindof like second nature, because
so many people, when they start,just assume that they either
(24:02):
should do it themselves or areashamed to share it, don't want
to tell or they're like okay,this is my thing, if I screw up,
it's on me.
If I'm successful, it's on me.
But knowing that it was worthyof bringing people on to guide
you and help you with thisjourney is, I mean, that takes
just as much courage, if notmore, to ask for help.
(24:23):
You know and also realize youhave to pay for the help,
because you know to get peopleon and again, nancy and I have
spoken about this that mostpeople, by the time they get to
us, they've lost so much moneydoing it in a way that they
thought was kind of from the hip, thought was kind of from the
hip.
So to get people to realizethat services cost money,
(24:45):
getting help from people who hadthe experience costs money.
So would you rather below andwith the masterclass I teach,
because Nancy and I do very,very different things, because
I'm before you get to this partand like make sure you're ready,
know how to talk to a factory,like understanding how to sell,
who to sell and the productcomes after, because you need to
(25:09):
understand all that before.
But by the time you get topeople like me and then people
like Nancy and Matthew you knowI hate saying it takes money to
make money but to get expertsinvolved a lot of people just
assume like well, I've justblown all this, can you help me?
And it's like no, we are all inthis together and that's what
(25:29):
experience gets you.
You know, like the story of andwhether or not it's true of lore
but Salvador Dali.
Someone walked by and asked himto draw on a napkin, like draw
me something, and he said OK.
And the guy was like oh, wow,thanks.
And he said that'll be $10,000or $100,000, blah, blah, blah.
And the guy's like this tookyou 15 seconds.
(25:51):
And Dali again, who knows ifthis is true?
Said actually it's 30 years and10 seconds.
So again, who knows if this istrue, said actually it's 30
years in 10 seconds.
So no, that's what this is.
So that's what you're gettingwhen you work with people like
Nancy and Matthew, it's combined, you know, 30, 40 years
combined of retail, of expertise, of design, of trend.
And you know, I think it'sreally, really wise of you and
(26:13):
very fortunate and fortuitousthat you were able to find them,
because you know your journeyis supported and it's guided and
it's put in a way that at leastokay, here's my idea, here's my
vision, but I will help youthen make it sellable.
I will help you find the peopleto make it for you.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Yeah, yeah, I agree completely.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
So I just because I want to make sure how were you
able to come up with what yourhero bag would look like?
Speaker 1 (26:42):
So it took many heads .
So the actual shape came froman earring design that we kind
of put on the back end, and weworked with Alex I don't know
how to pronounce her last name,but we worked with this amazing
(27:08):
designer, alex, to like come upwith the initial sketch and the
handles actually had a jump ringand my thought at the very
beginning was I want a bag thatI can take anywhere.
I want a bag that I can go tothe store and sweat pants and I
can dress it up for church, Ican go to a club with it.
Like I want a store that I canwear anywhere, that my little
(27:33):
nieces can wear, that my mom canwear, like a bag, literally for
anyone, that is elegant andclassy and timeless, something
that will actually last.
So that's how we went into thisdesign and initially it had one
handle, but that posed a problembecause you couldn't actually
(27:54):
open the bag and put things in.
I was like, what's the point?
And this was the time wherethose like micro bags were so in
and I was like but you can'teven put your lip gloss in it.
Like you need a bag that isbeautiful but you can still put
things in it and you can stilllike live your life without
struggling.
(28:15):
So we went through.
We've gone through, like somany variations of this bag, and
I actually have all of them.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
I still wear all of them I know, I know, I get that
too.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
I do yeah and like this bag has two neodymium
magnets, for example, and withthat I was like I love the snap,
like the sound and like how youdon't have to find the little
hole with the other magnetclosure.
I hate that it's so difficultfor me.
(28:46):
Like it it makes like it wasalways the hardest thing for me
and I don't know why I can'tstand that.
So I was like I want a bag thatwill be secure, but it's just a
simple snap like you don't knowwhy I can't stand that.
So I was like I want a bag thatwill be secure, but it's just a
simple snap, like you don'thave to think about how to like
actually close it, you just letgo and it's closed.
(29:08):
So it's been a wonderful journeymaking this bag and like
choosing the leathers, findingthe leathers, finding the
tanneries, like it's been socool.
And I also I looked at like thebrands that are out here
already, like the brands thathave been here for years, and I
(29:28):
saw like the materials that theyuse and linings and things like
that, and I knew that I didn'twant a cloth lining or anything.
I wanted something that couldlast and that could be easier to
clean, just like the outside ofthe bag, so we chose a leather
lining oh my god.
(29:50):
yes, it was a bit of a challengeto convince everyone that it's
a leather lining, but I was likeI, I have to have a leather
lining, nothing else.
I don't want microfiber, Idon't want anything else leather
and like it's just.
I think I get this from my.
(30:13):
Fortunately, I do know what Iwant, like it's so clear in my
mind the things that I want andlike how it can work.
So like having the support ofeveryone, because so far it's
just been support and love, andlike every step of making these
(30:34):
bags like it's just beenfeedback that makes the bag
better.
Nobody is negative, everyone isconstructive and it's just been
such a blessing to have thatcommunity with my family and
with Ty and like it's just sowonderful.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Yeah, oh, my goodness , adoba, I'm so grateful that
you were able to join us and herbrand with her eponymous name,
adoba, at New York Now X it Bag,which is our unique section
(31:18):
specifically for independentdesigners.
As you know, everybody knows Ihate the term emerging because
once you've emerged, then whatyou know like arrived, the
arrived bags.
But it's a very specific groupof extraordinarily beautiful and
talented product.
Some it's the most it's theirfirst trade shows, but all with
(31:38):
good people, good name, goodproduct, good deliveries behind.
And if you're getting thisafter, please make sure you
check out Adoba's bags, who thatare actually made in Romania,
which is another interestingstory which we'll have to talk
about another time.
But, adoba, how can we find you?
Follow you, learn more aboutyour beautiful bags?
Speaker 1 (31:59):
So you can find me on my website or Instagram.
My website is adobaco, sothat's O-D-O-B-A, underscore
T-H-E, underscore B-R-A-N-D.
Oh my God.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Are there other Nigerians running around with
your name that you had to do?
That?
Speaker 1 (32:26):
It's actually it's because, yeah, there are a
couple of people with my nameit's actually not a common name
and a lot of people don'trealize that I'm Nigerian or
Igbo because of my name.
Like just last week, someonewho is also Igbo was like I was
so confused because I saw yourface and I was like, oh, that's
(32:47):
a beautiful Igbo girl.
But then I heard your name andI was like, but is she?
So it's a name from my villageand that's it makes.
It makes me even more happy tobe sure to check.
Oh, my goodness.
Well, you are an absolutedelight and actually what a
(33:08):
beautiful, beautiful face you'vegot too.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Thank you so much and looking forward to seeing you.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for listening.
Don't forget to rate and review, and follow us on every single
platform at Handbag Designer.
Thanks so much.
See you next time.
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