00:00What began as a passion project for twin brothers Benedict and Benjamin Okoye has grown into a brand that blends African heritage with contemporary fashion.
00:14But their journey didn't start with socks. So, what's the story behind the Okoye twins' rise in the fashion world?
00:21It started literally when we were in secondary school. Our inspiration came from our attention to details, literally.
00:31So, I remember back then when my dad, our dad, literally when he was making uniforms for us, he wouldn't, even though he wanted a good uniform for us,
00:40but it was not exactly the size I wanted it to be. We wanted it to be.
00:45We always have this, you know, this perfect look in our head that we wanted it slim-fitted, we wanted it this particular fit and all of that.
00:52So, we have to, like, use needle and thread to start slim-fitting our own pieces.
00:57So, that's how we came about the name B.O.B. B.O.B. stands for Benedict Okoye Benjamin.
01:03It all started in a bedroom, without thread, without fashion school, but with a dream and to become a brand.
01:11I remember, still, when we were little, like, we would make costumes like Batman or Spiderman costumes and play around in the house.
01:21You know?
01:22He, like, literally, we're, like, literally, we're, like, we literally wear our costumes and wear our screen from our screen.
01:28Literally, as if we're, like, we're playing that character.
01:32Yeah.
01:33Be our superhero.
01:34Yeah.
01:35We like to just do things together.
01:37Mm-hmm.
01:38You know, anywhere you see my brother, you'll literally see me.
01:41How did the journey of building the brand from scratch, marked by resilience and ambition, impact on these twin brothers?
01:49So, after second school, we, um, our dad took us to, um, his tailor and we learned how to sew from him.
01:57Because of our passion, like, it didn't even take us a long time, like, to even learn the basics.
02:01Like, three months.
02:02Like, three to four months, okay?
02:03Because we were born in for this, like, we wanted to really put our design out there.
02:08Yeah.
02:09You know, put our work out there.
02:10Okay, learning how to sew.
02:12Then, you know, making for our friends.
02:14You know, going for shows, comedy shows, AY, you know, the likes of AY, the likes of Bovee, you know.
02:21And we go for the show.
02:22We meet people, basically, random people, and we just tell them, like, we're designers and we like you.
02:27We like your personality and we like to, you know, style you.
02:31And that's how, that's how the, that's how the journey has just been.
02:34With no formal training at a fashion school, no investors, and just one sewing machine,
02:40they stitched together a future from ground up and to the world.
02:44We find out what their first breakthrough was.
02:47Instagram was, like, the major, um, social media platform we used to showcase our brand.
02:53Yes.
02:54Because it's, like, the highest, biggest way to reach out to more people.
02:56We've worked with quite a number of celebrities.
02:59Yes.
03:00You know, started from E-money, Kidwaiya, Kasey, Kasey, um, DigiLambo.
03:10Yes.
03:11DigiLambo.
03:12And, um, a couple.
03:14I would like to see, but, you know, apart from celebrities, like, um, you know, prominent,
03:18prominent people.
03:19Yes.
03:20Yes.
03:21Permanent people.
03:22And, uh, that's in the business space.
03:23They built the brand, grew their following, and dressed celebrities.
03:27But what does all of this mean to them?
03:30What impact are they really trying to make?
03:33When you see this photo, you can tell that this is African made.
03:37You know, like, being part of our, being part of our country, that we can actually produce
03:43something.
03:44Yeah.
03:45You know, yeah, that can represent us out there.
03:46Yeah.
03:47Yeah.
03:48So, yeah, Africanism, quality, authenticity.
03:51Benedict and Benjamin's journey from humble beginnings to a thriving brand showcases the power of chasing dreams.
03:59What defines their unique take on African fashion?
04:02And who is their target audience?
04:04So, this collection is called the Tribe Man 25.
04:08Yeah.
04:09Yes.
04:10So, everything here cuts across different tribes in Nigeria.
04:14Yeah.
04:15Cutting from Igbo, Aousa, Yoruba, even the South-South.
04:19So, you can see every pieces are detailedly crafted for that modern African man.
04:27Exactly.
04:28That definitely stands there, puts you in the spotlight.
04:35So, as we were going on and on, we wanted something that can complement our clothing.
04:40So, we went with slippers.
04:42And when we started making slippers, it was not like we saw a big thing out of it.
04:48So, like, it was now the demand for it made us to grow on and out on our creativity for our
04:55slippers because it made us be more creative with our designs, you know, to even tell our story.
05:02Yeah.
05:03You know, to tell our story.
05:04Yeah.
05:05So, that's how we expanded into our slippers making.
05:09From a small room to a rising brand, the Okoye brothers are not just redefining African fashion.
05:16They are showing what's possible when you honour your roots, embrace your craft and dare to begin.
05:24How many people in the week it was a 화장ation to
05:27keep building up knitting Brittany and new powers
05:32in Canada on the street.
05:35So, it feels like we're not looking for for several people to get into yourolare,
05:37two Shamements in Canada on the street.
05:38Wow!
05:39Yeah.
05:40From a small pint in Canada on the street.
05:41Wow!
05:42That's a dark American J unmute находится
05:43for half and half a year!
