If there is one thing Nigerians know how to do, it’s making magic out of limited resources. After all, we live in a country where over 245 million businesses across Africa are somehow keeping the continent’s entrepreneurial engine alive despite power cuts, rising inflation, and governments that usually act like referees playing for the other team.
However, it’s from this chaos that commendable stories emerge, like that of Ramatallahi Abubakar, a Nigerian-born fashion designer now reshaping her destiny in Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Ramatallahi, founder of Ramatporsche Design, is proof that global ambition doesn’t need a billion-dollar budget. Her struggle was a familiar one, how do you balance a burning creative vision with the ruthless mathematics of running a business? For her, the answer was to take the hustle online.
“I realised early on that fashion was my calling — it allows me to tell stories through fabric,” she says. “I use bold colours, intricate lace, and flowing silhouettes inspired by African culture, but I merge them with modern, minimalist touches.”
Her journey started far from the polished studios of Europe. While studying Medical Science at Kwara State University, she stitched her department’s lab coats. By 2020, she was crowned Student Fashion Designer of the Year, and a year later, she was already showcasing her work at the Kwara Tradefair.
Today, Ramatallahi juggles motherhood, a thriving business, and sewing classes for beginners in Bradford, where she now calls home. But passion alone does not pay rent or buy fabric. She quickly learnt that the art of design was only half the battle, the other half was balancing creativity with cost management.
“The challenge is balancing creativity with the business side,” she explains, “especially managing costs and deadlines.”
That was when she stumbled across Temu, the online shopping platform that changed everything. From sewing needles to pattern paper and mannequins, she could source essentials at a fraction of the price.
“My mannequin from Temu was a game-changer,” she says. “It saved me from constant back-and-forth fittings and allowed me to perfect designs much faster. The quality is outstanding — sturdy, durable, and perfect for fittings. I was so excited when it arrived that I dressed it in one of my gowns and shared photos with friends — they all wanted the link!”
By her estimate, Temu saves her between 40–50% compared to local stores. That kind of saving doesn’t just help her; it makes her creations more accessible to her clients. And this Nigerian fashion designer isn’t alone.
A recent IPSOS survey commissioned by Temu found that shoppers save an average of 24%, with 8 in 10 saying the platform offers excellent or good value for money.
But for Ramatallahi, it’s never just been about personal gain. She’s intentional about paying it forward. Through her 12-week sewing classes, she teaches beginners to cut and sew outfits using tools often sourced from Temu, including sketchbooks, pattern papers, and more. For her, empowering others is just as important as seeing her own designs on display.
Her advice this World Entrepreneur Day? “Start with what you have, keep learning, and don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you begin,” she says. “The best part is seeing a client’s face light up when they wear something I’ve made: it’s priceless.”
In our world today, entrepreneurs are constantly squeezed between inspiration and expenses and Ramatallahi’s story is both a business lesson and a green light that innovation thrives in the most unexpected places, sometimes in Bradford, sometimes in Kwara, but always in the heart of those who refuse to give up.
