When a bride slips into an Alonuko Bridal gown, she isn’t just wearing a dress—she’s embodying a legacy of artistry, inclusivity, and cultural pride. At the heart of this transformation is Gbemi Okunlola, the British-Nigerian designer who turned a childhood passion for sewing into a £1.3M luxury bridal empire, one stitch at a time.
Gbemi’s journey began in her London home, where at age 11, she taught herself to sew on a secondhand machine. By 2012, she channeled £15,000 of her savings into launching Alonuko, initially crafting vibrant African Ankara dresses and eveningwear. But fate intervened in 2013 when she designed her first wedding gown. That single piece sparked an epiphany—bridalwear was her calling.
While luxury bridal fashion often sidelines women of color, Gbemi flipped the script. Her now-iconic “illusion” gowns, crafted with tulle that seamlessly blends with Black and brown skin tones, address a gap in the bridal market. It’s a simple yet revolutionary idea. Every bride deserves a dress that complements her natural beauty. That approach has made Alonuko a go-to label for brides who value both style and representation.
Each Alonuko gown is a masterpiece, priced from £3,500 to £25,000 for bespoke designs. From cascading lace to daring cutouts, her creations balance timeless elegance with modern boldness.
Yet behind the glamour lies a fiercely organic growth strategy: zero marketing spend, relying solely on social media buzz and word-of-mouth referrals.
Gbemi’s trunk shows are no ordinary appointments—they’re experiences.
The turning point for Alonuko came in 2017 when an American bride discovered Gbemi’s designs on Instagram and invited her to the U.S. for a fitting. Sensing a huge opportunity, Gbemi launched trunk shows, essentially pop-up appointments that allow brides to try on her gowns in different cities. The results were staggering: she met over 100 brides across three states in three weeks on her first U.S. trunk tour.
This hands-on approach has cultivated a loyal clientele, including Nigerian celebrities and British socialites. Brides rave about the brand’s meticulous tailoring and cultural fusion, with designs often weaving subtle nods to African heritage into contemporary silhouettes.
Now, these trunk shows account for 70% of Alonuko’s sales, with the remaining 30% coming from brides in the UK and Africa. It’s a business model that keeps Gbemi’s brand front and center for brides who want a unique couture experience, no matter where they are in the world.
Fast-forward to today, and her brand, Alonuko, is internationally recognized, earning accolades from major publications like Vogue, Huffington Post, and Essence.
As the brand eyes expansion into new markets, Gbemi remains rooted in her mission: empowering brides to feel unapologetically themselves.
From a sewing machine in London to the pages of Vogue, Gbemi Okunlola’s story is a testament to the passion, precision, and power of seeing beauty where others overlook it.
In a world of fleeting trends, Alonuko gowns aren’t just about aesthetics—they’re armor for the most important day of a woman’s life!
