OLUWAFIOLAKEMI ISIWELE OWODUNNI
A Nigerian designer passionate about sustainability, Oluwafiolakemi Isiwele Owodunni is the founder and lead creative at BuddingBlue. The brand BuddingBluebyOlufiolakemi, based in Lagos, Nigeria. Oluwafiolakemi holds a degree in Actuarial Science and a diploma in Mass Communication, both from the prestigious University of Lagos.
In 2005, Oluwafiolakemi followed her passion for fashion and styling, establishing BuddingBluebyOlufiolakemi to empower women of all ages and sizes, aiming to make them feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. Inspired by the passing of her mother, Queen Elizabeth Abegbe Isiwele, in 2020, she began designing and dyeing custom adire fabrics. Her first collection, OLOLADE, was named in honor of her mother and mentor and was followed by other notable collections such as AJIUN, ASHAKE, OLORI, and the HADASSAH COAT OF MANY COLOURS collection.
As a strong advocate for sustainability, Oluwafiolakemi incorporates sustainable practices into her designs and works closely with local artisans. Her use of aso-oke (a high-end woven fabric from Nigeria’s Yoruba-speaking regions) and adire (hand-dyed fabric traditional in areas like Osogbo, Abeokuta, and Kano’s Kofa Mata dye pits) has been instrumental in her Zero Tolerance to Waste Policy at BuddingBluebyOlufiolakemi. Notably, the HADASSAH COAT OF MANY COLOURS collection features designs made from pieced-together fabric scraps, becoming one of the brand’s bestsellers.
Through the Queen Elizabeth Abegbe Foundation, established in memory of her late mother, Oluwafiolakemi engages in humanitarian initiatives. These efforts include supporting vulnerable women in business, providing for underprivileged children, and distributing food to those in need. The foundation is funded through a portion of the brand’s sales proceeds.
Oluwafiolakemi is not only a lover of nature, travel, reading, family time, and bright, bold colors, but she is also deeply connected to her cultural heritage. She enjoys taking creative risks and experimenting, factors that have significantly contributed to her brand’s growth.
BuddingBlue has had the priviledge of showcasing its collections at prestigious events such as London Fashion Week, reflecting our commitment to global fashion trends. We’ve also hosted pop-up shops in London and Ghana, and participated in key fashion exhibitions in Nigeria, including the recent #GTCOFSHNWKND. These experiences have allowed us to connect with a diverse, international audience and expand our brand’s reach. Our designs are proudly stocked at Nahyel Concept in Dakar, Nahyel Concept in Abidjan, and Kouture Paradisé in the UK, further establishing our presence in the global fashion scene
The Brand also maintains an active social Media presence on Instagram @buddingbluebyfiolakemi where we share our latest designs, inspirations, and updates.
Oluwafiolakemi is committed to projecting Nigeria and African Culture and Heritage globally through inspired designs from Buddingbluebyfiolakemi.