Nigerian beauty queen, public health advocate, and powerhouse entrepreneur, Anita Ukah, has shone a global spotlight on the powerful but often unseen origins of luxury fashion.
In a candid short video clip shared from her recent visit to the historic Kano Tannery in Northern Nigeria, the founder of the premium leather goods brand UELLE offered the world a rare glimpse into the centuries-old craftsmanship that fuels international luxury houses.
Anita Ukah at the historic Kano Tannery in Northern Nigeria. Picture via Uelle Instagram.
Anita Ukah at the historic Kano Tannery in Northern Nigeria. Picture via Uelle Instagram.
Anita Ukah at the historic Kano Tannery in Northern Nigeria. Picture via Uelle Instagram.
Ukah’s journey to the heart of Nigeria’s leather manufacturing centre—a region known globally for its quality hides—is a powerful cultural statement challenging the perception of where true luxury begins.
The Raw Essence of Luxury
“Behind every fine leather bag or shoe lies a world most people never see,” Ukah wrote, detailing her experience. She described spending the day at the historic tannery, observing where “centuries-old craftsmanship meets raw passion”. The video clip showcased the intricate process “from raw hides to hand-dyed leather,” allowing her to experience the creation “in its rawest form”.
Anita Ukah at the historic Kano Tannery in Northern Nigeria. Picture via Uelle Instagram.
As the brain behind UELLE, a brand of premium leather bags from Lagos, Ukah’s connection to the source runs deep. Having crafted genuine leather bags for over six years using locally sourced leather, she expressed profound pride in carrying this legacy forward after witnessing the creation process firsthand.
Nigeria’s Hidden Global Dominance
Ukah’s most resonant insight was her revelation of Nigeria’s dominance in the global leather supply chain. She pointed out that Nigeria exports leather to more than 20 countries, including powerhouses like Spain, Italy, China, and the U.S.
Anita Ukah at the historic Kano Tannery in Northern Nigeria. Picture via Uelle Instagram.
The entrepreneur and former Big Brother Nigeria Season 9 finalist then delivered a mic-drop truth: “Some of the world’s top luxury brands like Gucci & Louis Vuitton source their premium leather from Nigeria, especially from Kano”. This fact, corroborated by reports of the Louis Vuitton and other high-end firms sourcing from the region, underscores a massive disparity: raw Nigerian material is valued globally, but the “Made in Nigeria” finished product often struggles for the same recognition.
A Resonant Call for the Nigerian Dream
Ukah’s commentary powerfully resonates with the burgeoning “Nigerian Dream”, a movement away from simply exporting raw materials to establishing fully integrated, world-class manufacturing at home.
The realization that the “luxury leather” buyers abroad covet may have started right here is a direct challenge to the nation’s creative class and consumers. It’s a call to reclaim the value chain, adding skill, design, and a domestic label to a globally desired material. Ukah, through her brand UELLE, embodies this transition, championing local artisans and sustainability to create products that are not only durable and stylish but are symbols of Nigerian cultural resilience.
Uelle/Uzo leather bags. Picture via Uelle website.
Uelle/Uzo leather bags. Picture via Uelle website.
Uelle/Uzo leather bags. Picture via Uelle website.
Uelle/Uzo leather bags. Picture via Uelle website.
Patronize UELLE: Owning Our Legacy
Ukah, who is also a beauty queen, public health advocate, and the founder of the Anita Ukah Foundation and Poise and Power, is a powerful ambassador for this vision.
Her brand, UELLE (Uzo Leather), is a tangible commitment to this homegrown luxury ideal. By creating classic, versatile, and stylish pieces using premium, locally sourced leather, UELLE continues to sell a piece of Nigerian heritage, resilience, and quality that is on par with, or even surpasses, international standards.
Uelle/Uzo leather bags. Picture via Uelle website.
Uelle/Uzo leather bags. Picture via Uelle website.
Uelle/Uzo leather bags. Picture via Uelle website.
Uelle/Uzo leather bags. Picture via Uelle website.
Nigerians and global consumers are urged to shift their buying power. Every UELLE bag purchased is a direct investment in the Nigerian artisan community, an affirmation of local excellence, and a step towards owning the African luxury legacy that starts in places like the Kano Tannery.
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