photo by steed media service

In the fast-paced world of fashion, being able to stay current with the hottest trends is essential to staying afloat. As owner of the chic accessory design company YemiLa Urban Nomads, Oronike Odeleye applies her creative genius to transforming used train cases and suitcases into one-of-a-kind handbags for ladies. With the help of her younger sister, Morolake, Odeleye has turned an original idea into a lucrative business.

“We got started in 2000 by going to a million thrift stores every weekend to buy a bunch of used cases. I had an old one from my grandmother that she kept sewing patterns in, so I thought that we could figure out a cute way to spiff it up,” recalls Odeleye. “Since we always have a gazillion magazines all over the place, we started stockpiling images and collaged it into one bag. We painted on it, we ripped out the inside, and reupholstered it and didn’t think anything else about it until my oldest sister actually saw it and liked it so much she bought it from us.”

With the stylish bags now making every girl’s wish list, Odeleye receives an onslaught of requests from women between the ages of 16-50 who want to own a piece of YemiLa’s contemporary, yet vintage blend of black culture. Currently available at Yo Yo Boutique and Youngblood Gallery, Odeleye’s bags have also been featured on BET, making YemiLa a hot commodity.

“We come from a creative family and our parents both stressed the importance of using your God-given talents to get where you want to go in life,” she says. “If you can make money or make a business off of what you have naturally going on, you can always feed yourself.” -jason thompson

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