OliveAnkara

OliveAnkara

OliveAnkara is a Singapore-based slow fashion brand that blends vibrant West African Ankara wax prints with contemporary silhouettes and an “Italian taste” in design. It is known for bold, joyful pieces that celebrate cultural hybridity, body diversity, and sustainability.

Key facts

Founded by: Ifeoma (Ify) Ubby, Italy-born Nigerian designer and ex-cancer researcher

Founded in: First collection launched in July 2018 in Singapore

Based in: Singapore; production largely with local seamstresses

Focus: Slow, small-batch, African-print-inspired apparel and accessories

Sustainability pillars: Zero/low waste, ethical local production, reduced plastics

Origins and story

OliveAnkara grew out of founder Ify Ubby’s search for African fabrics in Singapore while preparing her wedding gown. Discovering a lack of African fashion, she began importing Ankara textiles from Nigeria and sewing garments that quickly drew attention. A test collection in July 2018 was well received, prompting her shift from scientific research into full-time fashion design.

Design aesthetic and products

The brand positions itself as “the meeting point” of African fabrics and modern fashion design. It offers dresses, separates, cheongsams, jumpsuits, kidswear, and accessories such as headwraps, bags, and jewelry, often in limited runs of each print and size. Collections frequently merge African prints with Asian tailoring details (for example, cheongsams and Baju Raya-inspired looks), highlighting cross-cultural storytelling through clothing.

Sustainability and production

OliveAnkara operates on slow-fashion and near–zero waste principles: pieces are handmade in small batches, offcuts are upcycled into accessories and kids’ items, and packaging uses fabric dust bags and recycled or compostable materials. The label works closely with a small group of older Singapore-based seamstresses, emphasizing ethical, local production and reduced transport footprint.

Cultural mission and impact

Beyond aesthetics, the brand aims to normalize African prints on bodies of all races, framing this as cultural appreciation rather than appropriation. It uses campaigns with diverse models and offers context on African textiles’ history, encouraging customers to wear Ankara-informed designs with awareness and respect. This cross-cultural approach has been featured in Singapore media and fashion exhibitions, underlining OliveAnkara’s role in the city’s multicultural fashion landscape.