About Shekudo

Black-owned, Women-owned

Shekudo, founded in Sydney Australia, began as a womens clothing brand -drawing on heritage, life experiences and a wearable art aesthetic.

 Now under the sole creative direction of Akudo Iheakanwa, the brand relaunched into footwear and accessories moving its base across the Indian Ocean to commence production in Lagos, Nigeria. With this move, the brand hoped to shed more light on the local artisan and craftsmanship scene whilst integrating some of the age old techniques and overlooked local resources into its own contemporary aesthetic. Shekudo has gone from a team of 4 to 14 artisans and master craftsmen in just over a year. 

 Shekudo works hard to make sure that the majority of its raw materials can be found or produced locally (such as its shoe heels, recycled insoles as well as the upper and lining fabric for the shoes). The brand currently includes local leather and  traditional Aso Oke/Akwete cloth for its shoe uppers, local cotton for the dust bags, as well as wood, brass and silver for the earrings.

 Shekudo aims to one day be the leading producer and supplier of quality women's footwear and accessories across Africa. The brand intends to establish a global Shekudo sisterhood, promoting a sense of caring, empowerment and celebration among women across the globe, allowing its wearers to push boundaries, stand out and know that their Shekudo item is responsibly made with traceable origins.

 The SheKudo brand also prides itself on being a socially responsible label as well as an advocate for slow fashion and women’s empowerment.