Born and raised in a Nigerian household in the U.K., Michelle Adepoju, 29, grew up with a knack for restitching thrift store finds into unique pieces. Her hobby transformed into a business idea during her post-college trip when she imagined a fashion brand that merged… pic.twitter.com/mX99rkT2z7
— Forbes (@Forbes) December 27, 2025
You never know when—or where—inspiration might strike. Take fashion designer Michelle Adepoju. The London native had no early ambitions of launching a luxury brand—then she travelled to West Africa after college. Born and raised in a Nigerian household in the U.K., Adepoju, 29, grew up with a knack for restitching thrift store finds into unique pieces. Her hobby transformed into a business idea during her post-college trip when she imagined a fashion brand that merged contemporary designs with traditional African craftsmanship.
Back in London, she founded her brand Kílẹ̀ńtàr in 2019 and…