Tokunbo Fasoro: Redefining Sustainable Luxury Through Fashion, Empowerment, and Cultural Legacy

For women who value heritage, craftsmanship, and purpose, Nigerian-born and UK-based fashion designer Tokunbo Fasoro has emerged as a distinctive voice in sustainable luxury. As an entrepreneur, author, and founder of multiple fashion ventures, her work blends cultural authenticity with global sophistication. Overcoming early personal and professional setbacks, Fasoro has channeled adversity into a lifelong mission to empower women and preserve African identity through intentional design. She is not merely creating fashion—she is curating a movement rooted in transformation, empowerment, and legacy

Tokunbo's Entrance Into Fashion

Raised in a middle-class home in Nigeria, Tokunbo Fasoro drew early inspiration from her mother, a professional accountant and fashion entrepreneur, who modelled the power of versatility. Watching her mother navigate corporate leadership by day and fashion consulting by night deeply influenced Tokunbo's appreciation for self-expression through style. Despite battling low self-esteem and frequent rejection in her formative years, she remained resolute, viewing each obstacle as motivation to pursue a life of purpose and impact.

Earlier in her career, Tokunbo built an impressive foundation in human resources (HR), becoming an internationally certified HR executive with over 15 years of experience.

Though she thrived in HR, Tokunbo never abandoned her creative calling. In 2018, she formally entered the fashion business with Zito Gems, offering jewellery, fabrics, and bespoke pieces. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched Clara's Signature—a ready-to-wear line named after her mother, designed to make Afrocentric fashion globally appealing.

By 2021, Clara's Signature became known in Nigeria for its comfort and vibrancy. In 2023, Fasoro expanded internationally with the launch of Lioness by TF, a luxury fashion brand headquartered in the UK. The brand reflects her commitment to sustainability and African heritage, offering elegant, Afrocentric designs tailored for modern women. As part of her continuous professional growth, she obtained certificates in Business from the London College of Fashion and in Sustainable Fashion from Copenhagen University—strengthening her capacity to lead at the intersection of creativity and ethics.

Signature Designs

Tokunbo's design philosophy emphasises cultural pride, ethical craftsmanship, and intentional style. One of her signature creations, the Agbada-inspired kimono, is recognised as a unique fusion of Nigerian heritage and contemporary fashion. These garments quickly gained international acclaim for their bold statement, versatility, and cultural relevance.

Every Lioness by TF piece is crafted in the UK using ethically sourced, premium-quality fabrics. The brand firmly rejects fast fashion, opting instead for garments made to last, creating timeless pieces both in form and in cultural relevance.

Growing in the Fashion Industry

Tokunbo merges her leadership experience in HR with her fashion entrepreneurship. Her strategic insight, discipline, and creativity have helped Lioness by TF gain industry traction and global recognition.

The brand is stocked in Wolf & Badger, and many other global stores across the world. These kimonos achieved notable international success within their first year, becoming sought-after staples in the wardrobes of culturally attuned, style-forward women globally, and in major globally recognised exhibitions such as Pure London and the UK Africa Trade Expo. Within its first year in the UK, Lioness by TF reached over 20 countries, with thousands of units sold and sustained interest from international buyers.

Empowerment Through Elevate by TF

Beyond fashion, Tokunbo runs Elevate by TF—a coaching platform dedicated to helping women (especially African and Black entrepreneurs) turn their passions into profitable, purpose-led businesses. Through Elevate by TF, Tokunbo has trained and coached over 200 women, with 70% launching their own ventures within one year.

Empowerment through BI Empowerment Initiative

On her first visit to Oworo, a densely populated slum in Lagos, Tokunbo Fasoro broke down in tears. She was overwhelmed by the sight of children as young as four to eight years old who were not in school simply because their parents couldn't afford it. Many of them survived on just one meal a day. That moment marked a turning point for her.

Driven by compassion and a deep desire to make a difference, she founded the BI Empowerment Initiative. What began as a response to urgent need quickly evolved into a movement for sustainable change. Tokunbo and her team started by offering vocational training in various skills such as catering, hair making, and soup making for the women, and skills such as carpentry and electrical electronics for the youths, just to mention a few skills that could generate immediate income. But she knew skills alone weren't enough.

Recognising the deep psychological impact of poverty, the initiative incorporated mindset transformation sessions to help women rebuild their confidence and sense of purpose. Through entrepreneurship coaching and seed capital, many participants have gone on to launch small businesses, gaining financial independence and transforming their families' futures.

Today, the BI Empowerment Initiative has reached over 1,000 women and children in underserved Nigerian communities, providing education, skills training, and financial empowerment.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Tokunbo Fasoro remains deeply committed to building a global legacy through Lioness by TF. Her vision includes expanding the brand's international footprint, designing broader collections including accessories and growing partnerships with global stockists. But beyond fashion, her heart continues to beat for impact. Through strategic investments in empowerment initiatives, particularly those focused on women across Africa, Tokunbo is determined to amplify voices that are often overlooked.

Tokunbo is also a passionate writer and author of two inspirational books: The Persistent Woman: Overcoming 20 Years of Rejection, a memoir, and Walking Your Way Into Career Success, a book focused on personal development. Both works reflect her unwavering belief in the potential of women and her commitment to raising bold, purpose-driven people.

Tokunbo is not just building a fashion brand with sustainability at its core, she's shaping a movement of bold, purpose-driven women determined to rise and thrive. Her mission is clear: to help every woman understand that she is valuable, significant, and part of a greater purpose. She believes each woman is a vital piece of the global puzzle and the world is waiting for her to take her place and own it.