Meet Our Amaryllis, Bukunmi.

"Amaryllis flowers have been symbolic of a hard won success, particularly in artistic endeavors. I see myself as a very young and hardworking creative."

Meet Bukunmi Ralia Olanrewaju. She was born in 2002 and went to secondary school in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Who was Bukunmi in secondary school?

To be honest, I think I was very ordinary. I didn’t care about a lot of things. I would like to think I was kind.

Who are you now?

Right now, I am very hardworking, smart and independent.

What dreams did you have when you were younger? I really wanted to be a fashion designer (still do). In general, I wanted to do anything that had to do with fashion.

Have they changed over time?

Kind of. Right now I make bead bags (which is still fashion). I’m just not making clothes for now... maybe in future.

Talk us through your interests, what did you do for fun?

Make bead bags. It’s work, but it’s still fun. My mum and I are super close so I really enjoy spending time with her. Chilling with my friends, obviously.

Do any of these interests reflect your passion?

Yes. Growing up, my mum used to make jewelry (she still does). So I guess seeing her do that just made me want to do something with beads.

When did you realize you were interested in fashion & bags?

When I was in primary school.

What did you study in university & why?

I’m still in university and I’m studying Anthropology. To be honest, I don’t know.

Who/What inspired you to take your making bags to the next level?

I don’t think anybody inspired me. I just know that I wanted to do something that I really like and I wanted to start making my own money.

Were there any discouraging factors in your process?

Not really. I guess the fact that I was going to be doing it alone was a bit scary.

Did your secondary school play any role in elevating/deterring this passion?

No.

Do you think secondary schools encourage entrepreneurial minds?

Right now, I can’t really say. But when I was in secondary school, no.

What are the most difficult & most rewarding aspects of Raliabeads?

The most difficult aspect is balancing Raliabeads with a 9-5, school and also the fact that I do it all by myself. The rewarding aspect is seeing people recognize my brand, acknowledge my hard work, and also the lovely messages I get from my customers. Also, just the fact that I really enjoy doing what I do.

Have I ever wanted to give up? Why?

Yes. Balancing Raliabeads with my 9-5 seemed impossible and I kept telling my friends, and my sister, that I was going to put Raliabeads on hold for a while. But I did not, so here we are.

Where do you see Raliabeads in 3 years?

In three years, I want to have a training program and I also want my brand to be more international.

Where do you see yourself in 3 years?

To be honest, I can’t really say. I’m trying to make it to 2023 right now. But I guess I just want to feel fulfilled with whatever I’m doing in three years.

Whether you know it or not, we think you're inspirational. With how you've gone about life so far, any words to someone reading this?

Don’t procrastinate. Time management is very important, and money management too. Make sure you’re happy to do anything you have to do. Nothing is impossible. As long as you’re willing and ready to put in the work, then it’s possible.

Do you have any advice for IgeLead & what we're trying to do?

What you guys are doing is very impressive and I really hope the younger generation stays inspired by this.

Thank you for growing with us!