Shop Thoche is changing the African fashion narrative with Zest

Anthonia Uchechukwu Nkwonta, the Creative Director of Shop Thoche, paints an inspiring story of entrepreneurial spirit and dedication. "At Toche, we empower sustainable shoppers to express their fashion choices through indigenous bags and accessories," says Thoche. " Now by indigenous, I mean fabrics like Ankara, Aso oke, Adire and a mix of contemporary pieces at times like denim or jute fabric just to give it a different look."

Walking into Thoche's workspace and watching her work her magic was a thing of beauty. You could tell that it was more than just trying to do something to survive; there was something more! According to her, "The fun part of my business is that I enjoy what I do."

Anthonia's journey started unexpectedly, fueled by a mix of boredom and her mother's insistence on developing skills during breaks from university. "My mum always ensured I learned a skill anytime I was back home on break. So I learned how to bake. I learned how to cook. I learned wire work. I learned bead works and bead making. The last thing I learned was bag making."

Initially hesitant about learning bag making, this graduate of petroleum engineering embarked on a two-week skills acquisition program in 2015 that ultimately became the catalyst for Shop Thoche. "My mother's favourite phrase then was 'never be idle.' I was done with school, graduated, and served my country. Sending out CVs, I wasn't getting positive callbacks and feedback." Anthonia signed up for the training and the rest they say is history.

The early stages of Shop Thoche were marked by challenges, such as carving out her niche. She struggled, wading through different fabrics and designs until she found her calling in Afrocentric designs, aiming to amplify the African narrative through her creations.

"When I first started, the major challenge was finding my niche. Finding what I wanted to do. Because when I learned bag making, we were taught with leather, we're taught with fabric. I didn't know there were different grades of Ankara.

This journey of finding her niche and voice would later take her two years. "It took me two years to niche down and decide, okay, I want to do strictly Afrocentric. I just want to push that African narrative."

Anthonia's unwavering passion for her craft and the joy of creating something magical out of raw materials fuel her drive. Her ability to transform fabrics and materials into stunning bags that resonate with clients underscores the heart of Toche Enterprises. In five years of business, she has produced over 10,000 bags and accessories.

One significant hurdle she has faced over the years has been difficulties in receiving payments from her customers. When she officially started in 2018, customers were paying into her personal accounts. Anthonia soon realized the need to build trust and this led her to set up a business account. However, network issues sometimes hindered smooth transactions and in no time, she started losing customers. "The way social media works, you may not really need something, you just see it and if you don't have it at that moment or if they're unable to make payments, that feeling passes and you've lost a customer. With Zest, she has been able to easily collect payments from her customers through the different payment options as well as through payment links. "I can just create a payment link, send it straight to their email and all they have to do is just tap and then payment is easily made."

On transitioning from just selling on social media to having an online store on Zest , she found that having readily available products for next-day delivery not only satisfied customer demands but also significantly boosted her business. "Zest has really helped me. All I do is create the bags, upload them to my storefront and then put the link in my social media bio."

Anthonia envisions a global footprint for Shop Toche, aiming to bring the African narrative to every corner of the world. Her dream extends beyond mere bags; it's about sharing the story woven into each creation, from bags to accessories, redefining perceptions of African prints. "Previously, when you hear African prints or Ankara, you just think outfits for Aso ebi or something you wear to work on a Friday, something for church or for a wedding. But right now you can take Africa everywhere from your outfits to your headpiece, jewellery, bags and accessories."

"One thing I always tell people is to learn a skill." Antonia's journey from a bedroom workspace to a thriving enterprise taught her an invaluable lesson: there's no perfect moment to start. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple—just start. Don't wait for the ideal conditions; take the plunge, learn and grow along the way.

Her dedication to sustainability, craftsmanship, and amplifying the African narrative through fashion is both inspiring and impactful.

Want to join other smart businesses like Shop Thoche, building innovative products, collecting payments seamlessly and simplifying their business operations with Zest? Click here to get started or contact us.