If you have come across Kíléntár recently - whether through a viral video, a runway image, a feature in Vogue or a friend who arrived at a wedding in something extraordinary - you may have found yourself asking the same question.
Who is behind this?
The answer is Michelle Adepoju. And the story is worth knowing.
THE BEGINNING
Michelle Adepoju grew up in a Nigerian household in the United Kingdom. Her parents instilled in her a deep connection to her Yoruba heritage - a sense of pride in where she came from that would eventually shape everything she built.
Her relationship with fashion began early and honestly. As a teenager, she spent weekends in second-hand shops, not browsing but looking - pulling pieces apart in her mind, seeing what they could become. She taught herself to transform what others had discarded into something entirely her own. That instinct - to see potential in material, to reimagine rather than replace - never left her.
After studying Marketing at university, Michelle continued to explore different creative disciplines. But it was a journey across West Africa in 2018 that changed everything.
THE JOURNEY
Michelle immersed herself in the region's history, food, fashion and craft. She met women artisans - weavers, dyers, makers - whose skill had been passed down through generations and whose work existed almost entirely outside the global fashion conversation.
Those encounters became the foundation of Kíléntár.
"Kí lẹ̀ ń tà?" - the Yoruba phrase meaning "What are you selling?" - can be heard across the markets and high streets of South-Western Nigeria, traded between traders and passers-by. It is a phrase built on curiosity, on exchange, on the stories shared before anything is bought or sold.
It is also where the name comes from.
FOUNDING KÍLÉNTÁR
Michelle founded Kíléntár in 2020 — a luxury womenswear house built around craftsmanship, culture and the women who bring every piece to life.
From the beginning, the approach was specific and intentional. Kíléntár works closely with a dedicated community of around 30 female hand-weavers and dyers across West Africa, using 100% organically grown cotton and traditional methods that most fashion houses abandoned decades ago.
In Burkina Faso, that commitment goes further still. Michelle has built her own factory of female weavers — developing Kíléntár's woven designs from thread to finished textile, not sourcing them but creating them. Those original weaves find their way into select pieces, which means some of what a Kíléntár customer wears literally does not exist anywhere else in the world.
Every collection is shaped by West Africa's landscapes, histories and hands. Handwoven textiles. Natural dyeing. Sculptural silhouettes. Intricate detailing passed down through generations. The result is clothing that feels feminine, bold and unmistakably modern — never a costume of tradition, always a continuation of it.
THE RECOGNITION
Since founding Kíléntár, Michelle has become one of the most watched voices in contemporary African fashion.
Under her creative direction, the brand made its New York Fashion Week runway debut — bringing West African craft to one of fashion's most visible global stages. Kíléntár has been featured in Vogue and ELLE, and the brand's pieces have been worn by internationally recognised figures across entertainment, culture and public life.
In 2024, Michelle took the stage at BoF VOICES — the Business of Fashion's flagship gathering of the industry's most influential thinkers, bringing together the people shaping the future of fashion globally. Her presence there reflected not just what Kíléntár has achieved, but what it represents: a new perspective on what luxury fashion can be and where it comes from.
In 2025, Michelle was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in the Arts & Culture category — recognition that placed her alongside the most impactful young creatives on the continent.
THE VISION
Through Kíléntár, Michelle's vision is clear and uncompromising: to establish the house as a defining name in global fashion — one that honours traditional African techniques while giving them the visibility, value and creative freedom they deserve.
She is building something that carries cultural memory forward. That creates meaningful opportunities for the women artisans at the heart of every piece. That introduces a new generation to the depth and diversity of African design.
For Michelle, it is both an act of preservation and a declaration of ambition.
Much of her creative language can be traced back to her mother — whose style, confidence and way of carrying herself shaped Michelle's earliest understanding of what fashion could mean. Expressive. Elegant. Entirely her own. Her influence lives quietly throughout Kíléntár — in its silhouettes, its strength, its sense of occasion, and the women imagined within each collection.
Building Kíléntár is, in many ways, Michelle's love letter to all of it.
WHAT KÍLÉNTÁR MAKES
Every Kíléntár piece is handcrafted to order by a single artisan. The range includes hand-beaded dresses, raffia skirts and dresses, adire hand-dyed pieces, woven co-ords and occasion wear all available in sizes UK 4–24 / US 0–20, shipping worldwide.
Read about our craft and community →
Discover our sustainability & Impact →
ABOUT THE BRAND
Kíléntár is a luxury West African womenswear brand. Every piece is handcrafted by artisans in Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Sizes UK 4–24 / US 0–20. Ships to 15+ countries worldwide including the UK, US, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE and France.
Who is Michelle Adepoju?
Michelle Adepoju is the founder and creative director of Kíléntár, a luxury West African womenswear brand. She is a British-Nigerian designer who founded the brand in 2020 following a transformative journey across West Africa. She was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in Arts & Culture in 2025 and has spoken at BoF VOICES.
Where is Michelle Adepoju from?
Michelle Adepoju was raised in the United Kingdom in a Nigerian household. Her Yoruba heritage is central to her identity and directly inspired the name and ethos of Kíléntár.
What is Kíléntár?
Kíléntár is a luxury womenswear house founded in 2020 by Michelle Adepoju. Every piece is handcrafted to order by West African artisans using traditional techniques including hand-beading, handweaving and natural dyeing. The brand ships to over 15 countries worldwide. (this is changing so dont want to ever be called out for false information)
Has Kíléntár been in Vogue?
Yes - Kíléntár has been featured in Vogue and ELLE, WWD, GQ, and many more notable names. The brand has also presented at New York Fashion Week and founder Michelle Adepoju has spoken at BoF VOICES, the Business of Fashion's annual gathering of fashion's most influential thinkers.
What is Michelle Adepoju's Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition?
In 2025, Michelle Adepoju was named the face of Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in the Arts & Culture category - recognition placing her among the most impactful young creatives shaping culture across the continent.
Where are Kíléntár clothes made?
Every Kíléntár piece is handcrafted by artisans in Nigeria and Burkina Faso. In Burkina Faso, Kíléntár operates its own factory of female weavers, developing original woven textiles from thread to finished fabric. All pieces are made to order.
What sizes does Kíléntár come in?
Kíléntár is available in sizes UK 4–24 / US 0–20. A full size guide with bust, waist and hip measurements in inches and centimetres is available at kilentar.com/pages/size-chart.
