How To Start A Successful Ankara Business In Nigeria (Business Guide)

As a fashionista, you definitely must have thought about how you can earn while doing what you love doing which is why we have written a well-researched and comprehensive article on how to start an Ankara business in Nigeria.

We all know Ankara is one of the best things that Africa is proud of as this type of clothing material is unique and very beautiful irrespective of the style you wanna make it or whatever you plan on rocking it on.

Ankara looks good n its traditional form and also goes well in modernized designs making it durable for any form of event and also suitable for the office.

Now, there is a huge demand for Ankara dress both in Nigeria and outside the shores of Nigeria and this translates to money if you know how to take advantage of the demand.

Without much introduction on the topic let us explain to you what Ankara is and how to know a dress made from Ankara.

What Is Ankara?

Ankara is a beautiful and colorful fabric garment known mostly in West Africa, you do not want to confuse this fabric with the capital of Turkey (a West Asian country), we’ve also seen many mistake it for Kaftan, Ankara is not Kaftan.

Majorly made from cotton with a batik-inspired pattern, we have them in numerous colours and designs. Ankara is widely recognized globally but mostly worn by Africans and is also seen as a type of dress you put on for unofficial days like Fridays, and Saturdays and also to church on Sundays.

Mind you, that kind of mindset towards Ankara is changing as we now have people making blazers, suits and also modern-styled dresses out of it which automatically makes it suitable as an official dress and not just a type of dress for weekends.

If you really want to see the beauty and elegance the Ankara dress holds then you want to visit Nigerian parties, most especially the Yorubas Owanbe events, you will be WOWed.

Nigeria being the giant of Africa and also the most populated black nation on Earth makes this fabric a top choice and raised the demand for it as it is the favorite of every Nigerian irrespective of tribe or ethnicity.

Even for the fact that this fabric is massively produced in factories, there is an unending demand for Ankara which makes it a profitable business one can invest in. If you are truly ready to start the Ankara business then you’ve made the right choice.

What Are Ankara Fabrics Used For?

Normally if you hear the word Ankara Fabrics what crossed your mind will always be a dress made out of Ankara, but Ankara Fabrics has gone past that, we now have many designers taking advantage of these fabrics.

Based on their level of creativity we now see many things being made from the Ankara fabric, things like Ankara bags, Ankara shoes, belts, bracelets, etc.

To give yourself the best sight of what Ankara could be used for we advise you to visit any African boutique around you, you will be amazed.

Advantages of Starting Ankara Business in Nigeria

Before diving into any business idea you had in mind it is only important to weigh the advantages you will get from doing such business likewise the risk attached to it, let us quickly identify the advantages of starting an Ankara business in Nigeria.

1. Unending Occasions

Using Nigeria as a case study there will always be events and occasions where there is a need for you to wear Ankara apparel, events like birthdays, weddings, wedding anniversaries and the celebration of various accomplishments.

Getting to such events or occasions you are bound to meet others dressed in Ankara, different styles of apparel. Mind you, you cannot attend a Nigerian wedding in casual or our normal formal wear so the beauty of Ankara is revealed.

2. High Demand for Clothes

As long as Nigeria retains the record of the largest black nation on Earth then there will be increased birth, and every day we have kids becoming teenagers and then adults, the need for more clothes arises.

With this, we have more birthdays, weddings, burials, etc. Ankara is gonna be used. Remember you cannot wear the same Ankara design to three different occasions as you definitely want to look different and unique, you certainly don’t want people to see you on a particular one today and then on another event with the same design, there is a need to get more.

Now you will agree with me that Ankara has a very huge demand in the market which cannot be quenched, we need more industries and also more sellers.

3. High Demand For Ankara-Laced Accessories

Just like clothes, we definitely have to put on various accessories to complement them, e.g. To match shoes, bags, belts, bracelets, hats, etc.

Wondering why accessories or products made with Ankara sell faster? The fabric is unique and many are not taking advantage of it, we are tired of using the regular imported shoes from China or the West so a touch of Ankara is wonderful to the sight.

Those who think outside the box makes huge money from using their skill to creatively make Ankara accessories like shoes, bags, hats, and many more.

How Much Do You Need To Start Ankara Business?

With as low as ₦20,000 you can start your own Ankara business, although this may vary based on the niche of business you want to venture into. Whichever one just know that there is nothing wrong in starting small before you decide to make it big, see how you fare before putting all your money into it.

To scale up this business a lot is needed, you need to be determined as this type of business needs your attention, that’s if you really want to be successful in doing the business.

How To Start Ankara Business In Nigeria (Step-by-Step)

Just like every other business, you cannot just jump into it without knowing the right procedures to take, if one jumps into a business he or she has no idea about then the person should be ready to jump out. That is why you need to examine the procedures we’ve listed here:

Information Gathering

You definitely want to gather the necessary information about the business, you need to follow many Ankara trends so as to know the one people are demanding, don’t forget some Ankara designs are out of fashion and look old to people, you need to know the latest designs people buys most.

In the aspect of accessories, you need to know the best designs or patterns that go well with shoes, likewise bags or even face masks. You also need to know the area to sell your stuff as you do not want to advertise to those who don’t understand what you are selling.

Choose Your Ankara Niche

We’ve mentioned various things you can do with the Ankara fabrics, you need to choose a niche, mind you, you can focus on more than one niche too if you have the strength and ability to market your goods. If you can make Ankara African wax bags or Ankara shoes or hats then you need to know the one you are comfortable with the most.

You can also just focus on reselling the fabrics exactly as you bought them or if you are a skilled fashion designer you can make ready-to-wear and market your product.

Get Started

What are you waiting for? It is time to start your Ankara business without waiting for anyone, now that you’ve gathered the needed information, you have an idea of what you want to do then get started with your business.

Source for the Ankara fabrics from Nigeria’s top textile manufacturing companies and start making profits.

Advertise Your Ankara

Getting started with the business you must have noticed if it is something that will move well based on your ability and network of friends, if you feel there is a space for you to thrive here then you can use a little or more advertisements.

There are various modes of advertising products and social media is one of the most effective methods of advertising for free, if you want a premium form of advert then you can use that too.

Note that when you start having an online presence there will be some that will give positive and also those that will give negative reviews, do not allow the negative ones to hinder you, it should be your strength so you can do better.

Read Also: How to Start Clothes Selling Business in Nigeria And Scale Up

Conclusion

Here comes the concluding part of the topic, there is no limit to what you can achieve from creating a business from Ankara fabrics, you can be more creative with it and also you can choose to just resell, whichever way you should make a good income from this business.

We also encourage you to partner with others in the business like shoe makers, fashion designers, bag makers etc.