Interview with Koko, creator of the clothing brand: “Made in Lomé”

After tasting the delights of the West, many choose to stay there. Koko decided to return to his homeland, Togo, to find his eldorado. Back from Canada in 2016, he launched “Made in Lomé”, a clothing brand, which produces jerseys in Wax. He shares a few words with us in this interview:

* So where did the adventure begin for “Made in Lomé” ?

“Made in Lomé” is an African clothing brand with American influences. It was inspired by my personal journey, which is also that of many Africans in the diaspora.

I originally came up with the idea of ​​making baseball jerseys with wax, back in Toronto in 2015. Due to professional constraints the idea remained unresolved until I returned to Lome in 2016. Since then I have taken the time to develop the concept a little more.

“Made in Lomé” is also the challenge of demonstrating to Togolese youth from here and abroad that something interesting can be achieved while at home. Despite difficulties. Lome has long been a hub of the loincloth trade in Africa. It is a very important cultural heritage for us young Togolese. We take this inheritance in hand and we try to take it a little further. We have a new vision, an  international one, that is different from that of our parents and grandparents.

Made in Lomé is also the challenge to demonstrate to Togolese youth from here and abroad that something interesting can be achieved while being at home.

* What do you offer, and what are the particularities?

 

We make customizable wax clothing. The customer chooses a loincloth, then lets us know how he would like to make a unique garment.

To date we have two main product categories: longshoremen, inspired by NBA magic, and baseball shirts. We work with local artisans to make clothes.

 

* Who are the main customers ?

 

 

To date 88% of our customers are American. We have some current orders for Canada and France. At the moment we only sell on the internet through our Etsy shop. Customers also contact us on social networks (Instagram, Facebook – @madeinlome) to order. We will soon be offering our products on Gova Boutique, a marketplace for African brands.

 

* Review of the return to Togo, one year later.

I left Togo more than twenty years ago at the age of eight. I have always had a strong attachment to the city of Lomé where I was born. Today I know this city much better, its history, and I also see the potential that lies there. I met young people from the diaspora who were trained in Germany, France, who came back for work or to start a business, and that is very encouraging for the future. This is necessary because we also see how young Togolese trained here in Togo are disillusioned. Everyone dreams of leaving the country because they are sorely lacking opportunities here at home.

* Is this a final goodbye to Canada?

No. I love Canada too much for that! (Laughs). It is a country that has brought me a lot, both personally and professionally. I intend to return once the brand is fairly well established here in Togo. There is a workshop under construction and orders to take care of here.

The goal is also to have a social impact, to inspire other people to come to undertake in Togo.

* Challenges

The main challenge we face as a nascent brand is visibility. We start from scratch and we have to succeed in getting noticed in a very competitive market. I also think that young entrepreneurs here in Togo could be better supported. Especially when the goal is to create value while showcasing our culture. On a more personal level, it’s a challenge for me to get into the field of clothing. I have a background in Marketing and I worked in music publishing in Canada. Nothing to do with fashion. (Laughter)

* Where do you project yourself in 5 to 10 years ?

One of our goals would be to open a sales outlet by 2019. We want to create good jobs here in Togo, not only at the operational level but also at the strategic level. The goal is also to have a social impact, to inspire others to come work in Togo, or elsewhere in Africa and to form partnerships with those who share our vision. In the next 10 years it is hoped that the brand will continue to grow, with new innovative products and a wider audience.

To local entrepreneurs I would advise to be ambitious and to remain authentic. Seek to be innovative and value Africa !

* Any tips for the African youth ?

Be that as it may, one must believe in oneself and in one’s project and define one’s own goals. To local entrepreneurs I would advise to be ambitious and to remain authentic. Seek to be innovative and value Africa!

To those outside, I would say that you have to be patient when you decide to come back to Africa with ideas in your head. It’s a real challenge, both professional and personal. It takes time to adapt to the realities of Africa. But with conviction and determination, we can achieve interesting things that will positively impact future generations here. Ultimately, that’s what matters most. And then, I do not think that it is obligatory that all the Africans of the diaspora return to live and to undertake on the continent so that there is a real transformation. There are innovative and economically profitable projects here that we can be interested in while being employees in the United States or in France. We simply need as young Africans to be in solidarity with the vision we have of tomorrow’s Africa.

KOKO
Founder and Creative Director @ Made in Lomé
Facebook: Made in Lomé /Instagram
Twitter:@madeinlome