Our best-selling Olayemii bags have been a fan-fave since we stocked them in the Fashion Bomb Daily Shop and designer, Tanise Francis couldn’t be more grateful for the love and support she’s received surrounding her bomb bags. She started the brand with simply a dollar and dream in 2017 and now, Olayemii has grown into so much more than handbags.
Tanise Francis is a New York native who went to Delaware State University to major in fashion design and merchandising. Originally, Francis had hopes on becoming a lawyer or businesswoman, but her passion for fashion was too overwhelming to be held back. While at Delaware State, she joined a modeling troupe called Model Inc which is where her desire to pursue fashion came from. She realized she was much more intrigued by the designers rather than being a front-and-center model.
In April of 2017, Tanise Francis launched the Olayemii “I am Worthy Of Wealth” as a brand that offers handcrafted Ankara printed handbags and apparel. There are many unique qualities that sets Olayemii apart from other handbag brands. For one, each Ankara print handbag is handmade by artists in Nigeria as an intention to bring attention to the heritage and richness of Africa’s culture. The bags feature a mixture of western and African elements as each is styled like a traditional western handbag topped with a handle with pockets for storage and velvet lining, but the Ankara print sets it off and provides a taste of the African culture.
Tanise Francis describes the Olayemii Woman as “beautifuly styled, fashion-forward, and remains on trend” which is fitting for the women who have been sporting the bags. Olayemii has become popular with celebrities and influencers like beauty influencer Anaya Ivy, LHHNY star Tahiry Jose, musical artist Janelle Monae, and even our very own Editor-In-Chief Claire Sulmers. With perfect product placement on these well-known female figures and features in blogs, Francis constitutes these aspects as her go-to marketing tricks.
The designer’s hardwork and success did not come without challenges which she overcame when she realized that she was helping others, making it worth it in the end. She runs Olayemii from both NYC and Nigeria which was a challenge in itself, but she provided benefits to others in the long run. Her choice to use Nigerian tailors and designers provided jobs to local women who could in return provide for their families. She even takes the earnings from her company back to Nigeria to feed less fortunate children.
Olayemii is a constantly growing brand and Tanise Francis has made it a mission to make it a worldwide household name that thrives on quality, creativity, and making a change. She hopes to get her bags into Target or Macy’s one day, so the world can grow to appreciate and understand the beauty of African culture. She tells Fashion Bomb Daily she is “forever grateful” for everyone who has purchased and supported Olayemii’s handbags. She thanks us for believing in a girl from the Bronx and providing her with a bigger platform to sell her bags.
You can shop Olayemii’s handbags by simply visiting the Fashion Bomb Daily Shop!