• We believe in experiencing everything first hand, because it speaks to our credibility and our ability to tell compelling narratives. We pride ourselves on being cultural participants. We want to know everything about everything. The goal is to share the best things the World has to offer with you, our audience. We live to tell stories that excite and inspire. We try to reach those with a discerning taste, and an appreciation for luxury, heritage, and quality. Most importantly, we want to reach individuals who aspire to be great.

  • Archives

    • My Life: Nice Little Package

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    A small unexpected package arrived at my residence yesterday while I was cleaning. I wasn’t really expecting anything so I was a bit surprised when it arrived. The packaging felt like rough parchment paper, everything about it screamed time and energy. I tried to figure out  what was inside before I opened it up and I was clueless.

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    What? Could this be a belt?

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    There was a small card and information about the sender…

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    Yes it was 3 belts, which all had a unique design…as I read the card it explained that each belt was handcrafted in Lagos from locally sourced materials.
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    There is something really amazing about handcrafted products, you can almost feel the labor, time and energy put into each piece. I received 3 leather belts with solid brass buckles and different colour materials embedded in each one. I think the black on black is my favorite followed by the red then the blue.

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    The belts came courtesy of Atelier Olu out of San Francisco. Please visit www.atelierolu.net for more information.

    Thanks Tobi for the love and your generosity.

    About the brand

    Atelier Olu:
    Atelier = studio
    Olu = God

    Creativity to us is divine. In this context, it’s either God creates through Us or We as Gods create.

    The brand is committed to making unique and original products that celebrate the process of their creation. All of the leather products are entirely handmade with no machine stitching. By celebrating this fact, the over-stitching on the products is more than ornament; it’s the articulation of the construction of the object.

    …from our hands to yours.

    All our products are “Made in Lagos”. This loaded phrase has become an obsession for the brand. An important part of what we’re doing is changing preconceived notions about quality design and its origin.

    The studio also serves as a means for us to enable young adults to learn skills that will make them self-sufficient.

    $1 from each purchase will be donated to Kaleyewa House.

    Kaleyewa House was founded in 2001 by the late Dr. (Mrs.) Olukemi Adamolekun as a non-governmental, non-profit organization. Its mission is to facilitate the activities that promote care and nurturing for Nigerian senior citizens. These activities include advocacy, education, training and providing services (food and medical care). The motto of Kaleyewa House is: “Ageing with Dignity”. Mrs. Adamolekun was in the final stage of preparations for the NGO’s formal launching when she was killed in a car-jacking in May 2002 in Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Further reading