Page 40 - Start Up_Genesis

A TALE

OF

LEATHER

BAGS

“My story is really no different from many entrepreneurs
who transitioned from formal employment to owning a
business.
In my case, I love all things leather and my products are
inspired by the diverse African culture and its richness.
I am Lamide Samuel, founder and CEO of Lamide
Samuel brand, a leather handbag and accessories
business that is currently based in Lagos, Nigeria. I’m a

certified Human Resources professional with
over eight years work experience in corporate
finance, business consulting and the oil and gas
industry. I also have a B.A. in Communication
and Language from the University of Ibadan,
Oyo State, Nigeria.
Despite my background, I knew I was meant
to be an entrepreneur. I’ve always loved the
idea of creating something that other people
could use and that I could get paid for. I
remember I was about eight years old when
I started crafting for sale. I would hand-make
beaded jewelry and sell it to my older friends
and neighbors. It always sold out.
Later on in university, I would create paintings
and drawings and sell to my friends as home
decor items. It was fun, and I was always
looking for an opportunity to create something
from scratch and then sell it to someone else
to use. That gave me so much fulfillment. So
founding the Lamide Samuel label was me
finally marrying my love for arts, crafts and
business.
I took an interest in designing handbags the
moment I fell in love with a leather one back in
2012. I was on a trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
when I came across the country’s rich, beautiful
and locally produced leather accessories. I was
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