cultureville

What cultureville does

Cultureville is a UK-based direct-to-consumer fashion brand that designs and sells handcrafted African print clothing, accessories, and homeware in contemporary styles. Founded in 2018 in Manchester by two sisters of Nigerian heritage — co-founder Adeola (a former lawyer) and her sister (a former software tester) — the business emerged from a Depop test that confirmed international demand for African print fashion. The company sells through its Shopify storefront (cultureville.co.uk) with international shipping to the US, EU, UK, Australia, Canada, and Nigeria, alongside physical retail partnerships in Manchester (Black Owned Studios & Marketplace, Manchester Museum, Mockingbirds) and Bristol (Prior Shop).

The product portfolio spans womenswear (dresses, skirts, tops, co-ords & sets) in UK sizes 6–32, menswear (blazers, kaftans, shirts, sets, shorts, ties) in sizes XS–5XL, and accessories (bags, earrings, bangles, necklaces, head wraps, head bands, fans, fabrics, scarves), plus African-inspired homeware and gift boxes. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from approximately $7 for bangles to $345 for premium co-ord sets, with gift cards available from £10 to £1,000. Collections include Freedom (2019), Legacy (2024), and Heritage (2024), with the most recent launch being the Adire Set in May 2025. Garments and accessories are handcrafted by artisans in Nigeria (Ibadan, Abuja, Lagos) and Ghana (Accra, Kumasi).

The revenue model combines one-time product sales with a custom/bespoke service (the Cultureville Closet Experience, a 45-minute consultation that can convert into made-to-measure garments) and gift-card purchases. Marketing is multi-channel — Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook, X, the Culture Hub blog, an email newsletter with a 10%-off first-order incentive, PR in Glamour/BBC/Channel 4/ITV, and event-led activations (Black Creative Trailblazers Showcase, Sip & Paint, Open Mic Nights). The company is privately held, bootstrapped with no external funding, employs 1–10 people, and won Manchester's Young Trader of the Year in 2019.

Name

cultureville

Legal name

Cultureville

Website

https://cultureville.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cultureville is a UK-based direct-to-consumer fashion brand selling handcrafted African print clothing, accessories, and homeware, founded in 2018 by two sisters of Nigerian heritage and produced through artisan networks in Nigeria and Ghana.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time purchase of clothing, accessories, and homeware items. Products range from earrings at $14 to dresses and sets at $100-345+. The company also offers gift cards in denominations from £10 to £1000.
2. Custom/Bespoke Services: Cultureville Closet Experience consultation service offering personalized wardrobe tours, fabric selection, measurements, and custom-made outfit creation for an additional fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Cultureville designs, sources, and sells handcrafted African print womenswear, menswear, accessories (earrings, bags, head wraps, bangles, scarves, fans), and African-inspired homeware (baskets, aprons, cushions) made from ethically sourced Ankara wax print, Kente and Adire fabrics. The brand operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store, retails through partner locations in Bristol and Manchester, and offers a paid bespoke fitting service (Cultureville Closet Experience) with custom-made garments produced by artisan networks in Nigeria and Ghana.

Product overview

Cultureville is an e-commerce fashion brand specializing in sustainable African print clothing and accessories. The company offers a diverse product portfolio organized into womenswear (dresses, skirts, tops, co-ords & sets), menswear (tops, sets, blazers, shorts, ties), and accessories (bags, bangles, earrings, fans, fabrics, head wraps, head bands, necklaces, scarves), plus African-inspired homeware and gift options. The core offering centers on Heritage Collection items featuring traditional African craftsmanship techniques preserved by artisans in Nigeria and Ghana. Key product lines include the Heritage Collection, Legacy Collection, and Freedom Collection. The brand also offers custom-made services through its Cultureville Closet Experience consultation and sells gift cards. Fabrics are sustainably sourced from African suppliers, with production teams based in Nigeria and Ghana. The company operates on Shopify e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heritage Collection Curated selection of African head wraps, woven bags, maxi dresses and wooden earrings featuring traditional African craftsmanship techniques preserved by artisans in Nigeria and Ghana; positioned as occasion wear designed to be passed down through generations.
• Womenswear Vibrant African print womenswear including dresses, skirts, tops, and co-ords sized UK 6–32, ethically handmade from West African Ankara wax prints.
• Menswear African-inspired menswear including blazers, kaftans, shirts, trousers, shorts, and accessories sized XS–5XL, crafted from Ankara wax prints sourced from Nigeria and Ghana.
• Accessories Ethically handmade African print accessories including earrings, bags, head wraps, fans, bangles, necklaces, scarves, and fabrics made from Ankara wax prints sourced from West Africa.
• African Inspired Homeware African-inspired home furnishings including baskets, aprons, and cushions featuring bold Ankara wax prints sustainably sourced from West Africa.
• Cultureville Gift Card Gift cards available in denominations from £10 to £1,000, valid for 12 months for use on website purchases and custom-made items.
• Cultureville Closet Experience Personalised 45-minute consultation offering a tour of the collection, fabric exploration, try-on opportunity, measurements, and the option for a custom-made outfit at additional cost.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ronke Hart CreativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRonke Hart Creative provides fashion photography services for editorial shoots, lookbooks, and campaign imagery for Cultureville. Photographer can be contacted through ronkehartcreative.com or @ronkehartcreative on Instagram.
• Prior Shop BristolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail partner location at Unit M10, Quakers Friars Cabot Circus, Bristol where customers can try on Cultureville signature styles before purchasing online.
• Black Owned Studios & MarketplaceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManchester-based retail partner at 23 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, offering Cultureville headwraps, headbands and silk scarves for in-person purchase.
• Manchester MuseumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultural institution retail partner at University of Manchester showcasing Cultureville African accessories.
• Mockingbirds ManchesterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManchester retail partner at 481-483 Wilmslow Rd, Withington offering Cultureville accessories selection.
• Black Creative TrailblazerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership for community events including Black Creative Trailblazers Showcase (Black History Month black-tie event), Sip & Paint workshops, and Open Mic Nights. Events combine culture, creativity, and community building with music from DJs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Folklore: Multi-brand retailer and distribution platform for African and African-diaspora designers globally. Comparable as a market-shaping operator in African fashion, but operates as a curated marketplace rather than a single-brand DTC retailer like Cultureville.
• Lisa Folawiyo: Established Nigerian designer known for embellished Ankara pieces with global luxury stockists. Comparable to Cultureville's West African production narrative and African print expertise, but operating at a higher price point and more luxury fashion-week positioning.
• Maki Oh: Nigerian designer brand with international luxury retail presence, blending traditional African techniques with contemporary ready-to-wear. Comparable in African artisan craftsmanship story, but more elevated luxury positioning relative to Cultureville's accessible contemporary segment.

Direct peers

• Andrea Iyamah: Nigerian contemporary fashion brand offering African-inspired womenswear, menswear, and accessories with international e-commerce reach. Most directly comparable to Cultureville in product breadth, contemporary positioning, and DTC distribution model serving global diaspora and mainstream customers.
• Asiyami Gold: Africa-inspired contemporary fashion brand shipping internationally, featuring handcrafted pieces rooted in African craftsmanship. Closely comparable to Cultureville's positioning of artisanal African apparel targeting the global African diaspora through e-commerce.
• Orange Culture: Nigerian menswear and unisex brand blending African aesthetics with contemporary silhouettes and international e-commerce. Comparable to Cultureville in menswear product mix, West African production origins, and global DTC distribution to diaspora customers.
• Deity New York: US-based contemporary African-inspired fashion brand offering apparel and accessories with international shipping. Comparable to Cultureville in serving the global African diaspora with modern takes on African prints through DTC e-commerce.
• Kente Gentleman: African-inspired menswear brand offering suits, kaftans, and accessories for men seeking contemporary African aesthetics. Directly comparable to Cultureville's menswear line (kaftans, blazers, sets in African prints), targeting the same diaspora occasion-wear customer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cultureville
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUEXAusWgEvCegw7S5S1yxA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CulturevilleManchester
• Instagraminstagram.com/cultureville
• Pinterestpinterest.co.uk/Cultureville
• TikToktiktok.com/@cultureville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cultureville

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cultureville