Kolade Mayowa is turning crochet into luxury by blending architecture and African craftsmanship into handmade designer fashion.
Omobolade “Lade” Kolade Mayowa is the founder of Hooked By Lade, a luxury crochet bag brand based in Lagos, Nigeria. Her pieces are celebrated for their vibrant colours, architectural structure, and handmade quality. What started as a childhood hobby has grown into an internationally recognised business that combines creativity, craftsmanship, and purpose.
Kolade Mayowa studied Architecture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and calls herself a “crochet architect” because she applies architectural principles like form, structure, and function to her designs. Her background in architecture directly influences her approach to designing her pieces. Unlike most crochet items, which are soft and often shapeless, hers are structurally sturdy. They maintain their shape, feature clearly defined silhouettes, and are crafted with the same intentionality as a building, balancing aesthetics with practicality.
Her interest in crochet began at age 10. With support from her parents, who bought her various yarn colours, she learned the basics and started experimenting independently. Years later, during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2017, posted to a rural community in Rivers State, she resumed crocheting as a form of therapy and as a way to engage with the community. She taught local children how to crochet and started creating pieces again, finding both joy and purpose in the craft.
After completing her NYSC, Mayowa worked remotely as a commercial estimator for a Dallas-based construction firm. Although the role paid the bills, it did not inspire her creatively. She continued crocheting on the side, and when she began sharing her work online, she received overwhelming feedback. Friends encouraged her to take it seriously. In 2021, she decided to leave her job and pursue crocheting full-time. That same year, Hooked By Lade was established.
The brand produces eco-friendly and sustainable crochet bags and dresses, focusing on functionality, structure, and visual appeal. What distinguishes her is not only her design philosophy but also how she utilises other skills. Mayowa leverages her background in animation and graphic design to create visually engaging content for her brand. These creative assets have helped her develop a strong online presence, with over 729,000 followers across Instagram.
Despite operating mainly online, her reach is global. She has fulfilled thousands of orders and shipped products to numerous countries. Every piece is handmade, reflecting her commitment to sustainability, intentionality, and craftsmanship. Her business challenges the perception of crochet as outdated or amateur. Instead, she presents it as a contemporary, high-end fashion statement.
Kolade Mayowa is inspiring young creatives to take pride in their skills as she promotes sustainable fashion while highlighting the value of African artisanal work on a global stage.
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