Before 5KWomen
Koyinsola was already creating fashion through Tailorire.
OUR STORY
Constructed from imagination. Influenced by culture. Designed with women in mind.
5KWomen by Koyinsola is a fashion brand founded on Koyinsola’s creative path, the women and customs that influenced her, and her conviction that African fashion can be sophisticated, expressive, modern and approachable.
The narrative of 5KWomen by Koyinsola is one of creativity, development, culture and connection, spanning from her early years in the fashion industry to creating a global network of women.
Explore the Collection →
5KWOMEN BY KOYINSOLA
Culture. Modernity. Accessibility.
Koyinsola’s 5KWomen was inspired by her wish to see African fashion in a way that is both authentic to our identity and entirely appropriate for the modern world.
The brand adds a sophisticated interpretation to the materials, styles and customs that have been a part of African wardrobes for many centuries.
Adire, bubu, agbada, Oleku and other well-known influences are not regarded as historical artefacts. They are reinvented for women who navigate cities, cultures, professions, festivals and daily life with assurance.
We believe in accessibility.
Gorgeous fashion shouldn’t seem far away or unreachable. We have always wanted women to be able to enjoy the happiness, self-assurance and expression that come with wearing traditional pieces without feeling left out.
This is the space where 5KWomen works: where elegant fashion remains accessible, and culture and modernity coexist.
Designed for women who are aware of their origins, embrace where they are and constantly strive to be better, without losing their ease or individuality.
WHERE IT BEGAN
Fashion before the brand. Our early stories before the trend.
Fashion was a part of Koyinsola’s universe even before 5KWomen by Koyinsola had a name.
Growing up, she was surrounded by African customs and women who used their clothes to reflect who they were.
Koyinsola’s first recollections are of stitching iro and bubu for her grandmother, a designer who wore Adire. These experiences served as an early introduction to fashion as a craft, identity and narrative in addition to apparel.
She received training in garment construction and fashion design at ValShaun Designs in Ikeja, Lagos, in 2014/2015. Her path into fashion became more deliberate.
She started doing fashion as Tailorire, where she made and sold clothing at a physical store.
As her adventure grew, fashion didn’t change. The National Open University of Nigeria awarded her a BA in English, and the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom awarded her an MSc in Management.
Design, detailing, workmanship, culture, management and storytelling are all aspects of Koyinsola’s journey that she now combines to shape not just the clothing 5KWomen produces, but also the brand’s relationship with women.
“Fashion is me, and I am fashion.”
PRESERVING WHAT WE HAVE
Beautiful fabrics always have a future.
At 5KWomen by Koyinsola, we believe beautiful textiles deserve a second life. We preserve and repurpose forgotten African fabrics, traditional textiles and existing materials, transforming them into refined pieces.
Our approach to sustainability is simple: reuse what exists, reduce waste, and keep African craftsmanship in circulation.
BRAND MOMENTS
Small markers in a larger journey.
5KWomen Begins
5KWomen by Koyinsola became the next expression of her creative journey.
A Defining Beginning
Koyinsola reports that more than 1,000 pieces from the early Adire collection sold within its first month.
Beyond Nigeria
Instagram helped connect the brand with thousands of women across countries.
ON THE RUNWAY
Heritage Reimagined
AfroFashion Show UK · Manchester · 2026
At the AfroFashion Show UK in Manchester, 5KWomen by Koyinsola presented Heritage Reimagined, a six-look collection exploring the relationship between memory, heritage and modern African luxury.
The collection brought together the cultural references that have shaped the brand and the women it designs for today.
From embroidery and Adire to silk and reworked traditional forms, each look explored the idea that heritage does not have to remain in the past to remain meaningful.
Read the THISDAY Style Feature →
ISESEOSO
Tradition reworked through embroidery, brocade and cultural influences interpreted for women today.
ATUNSE
A story of transformation and refinement, expressed through softness, structure and the cowl neckline.
IPINLE
The emotional foundation of the collection. Adire reimagined through flowing bubus and tailored sets using custom cotton prints.
OLAJU
A vision of modernity expressed through silk, movement and understated confidence.
RECOGNITION
Fashion Personality of the Year (Diaspora)
In 2026, 5KWomen by Koyinsola was named Fashion Personality of the Year (Diaspora) at the Golden Stars Awards.
The recognition acknowledged the brand's contribution to African fashion and its growing international footprint.
Koyinsola travelled from the United Kingdom to Nigeria to receive the award.
Read the Guardian Feature →PRESS & MEDIA
The story, told beyond our own pages.
Guardian Nigeria
5kwomen by Koyinsola wins diaspora fashion honour
28 July 2026
Coverage of 5KWomen by Koyinsola's Fashion Personality of the Year (Diaspora) recognition at the Golden Stars Awards and the brand's growing international presence.
Read the Feature →THISDAY Style
Heritage Reimagined by 5kwomen by Koyinsola at the AfroFashion Show UK, Manchester
3 August 2026
An editorial review of the six-look Heritage Reimagined collection presented at AfroFashion Show UK in Manchester.
Read the Feature →Business Africa Online
Koyinsola Gbenga-Kareem: Building a Fashion Brand at the Intersection of Culture, Creativity and Commerce
A long-form conversation with Koyinsola Gbenga-Kareem on the origins of 5KWomen by Koyinsola, African fashion, entrepreneurship, culture, social media and the future of the brand.
Read the Interview →Luton Today
Cutting edge Luton fashion designer to host free training and pop-up session
Luton Today features Koyinsola and her upcoming free training and pop-up session in Luton.
Read the Feature →WATCH THE JOURNEY
Moments from the story
Runway. Recognition. Craft. Community.