The Òkèèrè 2027 Founding Cohort is open. 10–20 spots. Applications now being reviewed.
Apply now
2026 Founding Cohort — Now Open
From Afar, With Love.
The first dedicated 3PL and distribution partner for African and diaspora fashion brands entering the U.S. market. We handle import compliance, warehousing, fulfillment, and retail access.
Bí a bá jìnnà sí ilé, a máa rántí ilé "If one is far from home, they will always remember home."
Every platform built the storefront. Nobody built the foundation.
Industrie Africa closed April 30, 2026. Their founder cited cross-border logistics as the cause. The Folklore pivoted away from this space in 2022 saying they could not do two things successfully. The pattern is consistent. The infrastructure gap is real.
01
New tariffs and de minimis changes
Every shipment to the U.S. is now subject to duties and customs paperwork regardless of value. Brands shipping direct from Africa face this on every single order. U.S.-based inventory solves it permanently.
02
No affordable 3PL built for this market
Generic U.S. 3PLs do not know HTS codes for handwoven Aso Oke. They do not know AGOA. They do not know UK to U.S. sizing conversion. Òkèèrè was purpose-built for this specific supply chain.
03
Designers have nowhere to land
Proven product, real demand, global audiences. What they cannot access is reliable U.S. import compliance, affordable fulfillment, and introductions to wholesale buyers. That gap has never been filled by a dedicated partner.
$400B+
U.S. Fashion Market
$101B
Global Fashion Logistics
90%
African Fashion Brands Are SMEs
10
2027 Founding Cohort Spots
The Solution
One partner. Four functions. Every barrier removed.
01 / Import and Compliance
We clear the border.
Importer of Record registration. HTS code classification. CBP documentation and ISF filing. FTC care labeling compliance. AGOA duty-free routing for eligible Sub-Saharan brands. You ship. We handle the rest.
02 / Warehousing and Fulfillment
We store it, prep it, ship it.
Houston-based 3PL partner facility. Receive, inspect, QC, re-label from UK to U.S. sizing, branded pack, and fulfill. Returns processed and restocked. Real-time inventory dashboard visibility.
03 / Retail and Wholesale Access
We open the doors.
Introductions to U.S. boutiques, independent retailers, and wholesale buyers seeking culturally authentic fashion. Compliance prep for major retailer requirements. We do the work that gets you in the room.
04 / Brand Services
We amplify your story.
Branded unboxing experience. Pop-up event production in Houston, Atlanta, and New York. PR and press introductions. Cultural storytelling strategy that connects diaspora consumers to your heritage.
Ready to enter the U.S. market?
10–20 spots available for the 2027 Founding Cohort.
Your product is ready. The U.S. market is waiting. We handle everything in between.
Òkèèrè is the first dedicated 3PL and distribution partner built specifically for African and diaspora fashion brands entering the U.S. market. No overwhelming minimums. No long-term lock-ins. No guessing about compliance. Just your product, in U.S. customers hands, done right.
Every service we offer exists because a real brand hit a real wall. We have mapped every barrier and built a solution for each one.
Import and Compliance
We make compliance invisible.
We file as your Importer of Record. We classify every SKU with the correct HTS code. We prepare CBP documentation, ISF filings, and FTC-compliant care labels. For eligible Sub-Saharan African brands, we route shipments through AGOA to eliminate import duties entirely. You never need to understand customs. We do.
Warehousing and Fulfillment
Your inventory, managed professionally.
Your products arrive at our Houston-based partner facility. We receive, inspect, photograph for quality control, re-label from UK or EU to U.S. sizing standards, and store your inventory. When an order comes in, we pick, pack in branded packaging, and ship with tracking. Returns are processed and restocked. You have real-time dashboard visibility at all times.
Retail and Wholesale Access
We introduce you to buyers.
We maintain relationships with U.S. boutiques, independent retailers, and wholesale buyers who are actively looking for culturally authentic fashion from Africa and the diaspora. We prepare you for the compliance requirements those buyers need and make the introductions. This is access that takes years to build on your own.
Brand Services
We tell your story in the U.S.
Custom branded unboxing experience designed to your aesthetic. Pop-up event production in key diaspora markets including Houston, Atlanta, and New York. PR and editorial introductions to U.S. fashion media. Cultural storytelling strategy and content that connects diaspora consumers to the heritage behind your work.
The 2027 Cohort
10 spots. First class. Founder-level pricing and access.
The inaugural Òkèèrè 2027 cohort is a curated group of 10 brands entering the U.S. market together. Cohort members receive personalized onboarding, priority compliance handling, and direct introductions to Òkèèrè retail partners at pricing that reflects being in from the beginning.
01
Apply
Submit your brand details, product information, and lookbook. Not every brand qualifies. We assess origin country, product type, compliance gaps, and U.S. market readiness.
02
Assessment
We evaluate your HTS classification, AGOA eligibility, labeling compliance requirements, and volume projections. We build a custom logistics plan before any commitment is made.
03
Onboarding
Inventory setup, shipment coordination, customs broker introduction, and U.S. label preparation. Full operational readiness typically takes 4 to 6 weeks from signing.
04
Launch and Grow
Begin fulfilling U.S. orders. Access retail introductions. Participate in Òkèèrè marketing and pop-up events. Real-time inventory and sales data on your dashboard.
Questions Designers Ask
Everything you need to know before applying.
What countries do you work with?
We work with brands manufacturing in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and other African nations. We also work with diaspora designers based anywhere who source from Africa or other international markets.
What is AGOA and does my brand qualify?
The African Growth and Opportunity Act allows eligible Sub-Saharan African apparel to enter the U.S. duty-free. Nigeria, Ghana, and 37 other countries qualify. We assess eligibility during onboarding and route your shipments accordingly.
What are your minimums?
We do not require large storage minimums or long-term contracts. Our model is built for brands whose volumes are growing, not brands with enterprise warehousing budgets. Pricing is discussed during assessment.
What happens if something goes wrong with a shipment?
We carry cargo insurance on all inbound shipments and warehouse legal liability insurance on stored inventory. Our customs broker handles any CBP issues. You will have a named contact at Òkèèrè for every issue that arises.
Book a Discovery Call
10–20 inaugural spots. We respond within 5 business days.
Application Received
Thank you for applying to the Òkèèrè 2026 Cohort. We will be in touch within 5 business days.
For Investors
This is infrastructure. Infrastructure scales.
Òkèèrè is a service-fee model operating in a $400B+ market with no dedicated infrastructure player. Revenue is tied to operational activity, not inventory risk or consumer demand. Here is the full picture.
Consumers are demanding authentic, sustainable, and globally inspired fashion. Diaspora audiences specifically seek the creativity of their home countries. Demand is structural, not trend-driven.
$101B
Global Fashion Logistics 2024
Growing at 5.7% CAGR. North America leads at 34% market share. No niche player exists serving African and diaspora fashion specifically. The infrastructure is generic when it needs to be specialized.
90%
African Fashion Brands Are SMEs
Chronically underserved by existing 3PLs that require minimums they cannot meet. AGOA allows Sub-Saharan African apparel to enter the U.S. duty-free. This is a structural cost advantage no generic 3PL activates for clients.
The Business Model
Revenue that does not depend on whether a collection sells out.
Four revenue streams. None require Òkèèrè to hold inventory or absorb demand risk. Tariffs are passed through transparently. The brand absorbs trade risk. Òkèèrè earns on operational activity regardless.
01
Import and compliance fee - per shipment
Charged for every inbound shipment. Covers customs clearance, HTS classification, ISF filing, and documentation handling. Flat service fee plus actual duty pass-through. Designer absorbs duty cost. Òkèèrè earns the service fee.
02
Monthly fulfillment fee - recurring
Per cubic foot of storage plus per order fulfilled. This is the backbone of monthly recurring revenue. Predictable, tied to operational volume not consumer demand. 3 to 5 active brands generates meaningful MRR from day one of operations.
03
Brand services retainer - optional add-on
Branded packaging, U.S. size re-labeling, marketing collateral, pop-up event production, PR introductions. Priced as a monthly retainer or project-based. High margin. High value to brands. Easy upsell from the 3PL relationship.
04
Wholesale placement commission - performance
10 to 15% commission on Year 1 revenue from any U.S. boutique or wholesale relationship Òkèèrè introduces. Incentive is fully aligned: Òkèèrè succeeds when brands succeed in retail.
Why Now
The window opened April 30, 2026.
Industrie Africa was the premier multi-brand platform for African fashion globally. It shipped to 60 countries, carried Nigeria's Lisa Folawiyo, Ghana's Christie Brown, Senegal's Tongoro and dozens of established names. It closed April 30, 2026. The founder cited cross-border logistics as the cause.
Context - April 2026
This is not a small signal. This is the most credible, well-resourced platform in the space confirming in public that logistics is the unsolvable problem when you try to own both the storefront and the infrastructure. Their designer roster is making decisions about their next U.S. path right now. Òkèèrè is positioned to be the first credible infrastructure conversation they have.
Competitive advantage
First mover with a warm prospect list
The Industrie Africa designer network is actively looking for a new U.S. infrastructure partner as of this month. No competing 3PL exists in this niche. The window is open and the outreach list is specific, named, and warm.
Structural advantage
AGOA creates a cost moat
Sub-Saharan African apparel enters the U.S. duty-free under AGOA. Brands working through Òkèèrè access this automatically. No generic 3PL offers this expertise. This is a pricing moat that takes years to replicate.
Capital efficiency
Lean to validate
No inventory purchase required. No warehouse lease on Day 1. We partner with an existing Houston 3PL facility. First revenue arrives before significant capital is deployed. Minimum viable launch: $3,500 to $8,000.
Request the Deck
Ready to see the full picture?
Submit your details and we will send you access to the full Òkèèrè pitch deck — including financials, projections, and use-of-funds breakdown. Serious inquiries only.
Opening the Deck
Thank you. Your access link is opening now. We will also follow up by email within 48 hours.
We are not looking for passengers. We are looking for builders.
Òkèèrè is assembling a founding team of people who bring specific, irreplaceable capabilities. Three roles are open. Here is what we are building and what we need from each person.
You own and operate a running logistics business. You have 3PL relationships, carrier relationships, and customs knowledge. You understand the operational complexity of moving physical goods across borders. You want to build something that matters in this specific market. Your infrastructure is the backbone Òkèèrè needs on Day 1.
What we are asking: Bring your operational infrastructure, your relationships, and your execution capability. Help us build the physical backbone from facility agreement to first fulfilled order. This is the most critical hire in the company right now.
Strategic Advisor
Capital and Network
1 to 2% advisor equity - milestone-based
You have been in logistics before, built or exited a business, and now have an active network of investors, grant administrators, and lenders. You understand what it actually takes operationally and financially. Your introductions open doors that take years to open otherwise.
What we are asking: Open your funding network. Share your operational wisdom. Help us secure the first round of capital through grants, angels, or small business lending. Your introductions have a direct equity multiplier.
Brand Pipeline Lead
Nigeria Fashion Insider
15 to 20% equity or revenue share
You are embedded in the Lagos fashion ecosystem. You know designers by name. You understand who has the product quality and the ambition to enter the U.S. market. Your cultural credibility with the exact designers Òkèèrè needs to sign first is something that cannot be replicated from Houston.
What we are asking: Activate your designer relationships. Be Òkèèrè's eyes and ears in Lagos and the broader West African fashion scene. Help us sign the first cohort brands. We are also looking for similar connectors in Ghana, Nairobi, and other markets.
How We Work Together
Four conversations. Clear at every step.
01
Vision conversation
No paperwork. No commitments. One hour. An honest conversation about what we are building, what we need, and whether this is the right fit for both of us.
02
Role conversation
Specific responsibilities, time commitments, and what each person owns in the first 90 days. We both leave knowing exactly what we are agreeing to before any paperwork exists.
03
Terms conversation
Equity, vesting, advisor compensation, or revenue share structured fairly. One-page term sheet reviewed by attorney. No ambiguity.
04
Foundation sprint
Customs broker retained. 3PL facility signed. Importer of Record registration. Insurance secured. First client outreach begins.
Get In Touch
Start the conversation.
If any of the three roles above resonates, reach out directly. The first conversation is just a conversation. We want to understand your background, your interest, and whether there is genuine alignment before anyone commits to anything.
Tell us which role interests you. We will be in touch within 48 hours.
Message Received
Thank you for reaching out. We will be in touch within 48 hours.
For the Diaspora
The fashion from home is coming to you.
You grew up between worlds. You know what Nigerian aso oke looks like in your hands. You know what a Ghanaian kente pattern means. You have been waiting for a real way to shop it without the customs delays, the sizing confusion, and the uncertainty. That is exactly what Òkèèrè is building.
A curated shop. Authentic designers. Already in the U.S.
The Òkèèrè shop is in development. When it launches, it will carry a curated selection of African and diaspora fashion brands who have gone through our rigorous vetting process. Product is warehoused in the U.S. That means domestic shipping speeds, no customs surprises, and U.S.-sized labels that actually match what you ordered.
Every brand in the shop has passed compliance review. Every garment is properly labeled. Every order ships from Houston. This is not a direct-from-overseas experience. It is a proper U.S. retail experience with the cultural depth you have been looking for.
Bí a bá jìnnà sí ilé, a máa rántí ilé. If one is far from home, they will always remember home.
What to expect
U.S. domestic shipping
All inventory is warehoused in Houston. Orders ship domestically with standard U.S. carriers and tracking. No customs forms. No import duties on your end. No waiting three weeks for something to clear.
What to expect
U.S. sized and labeled
All garments are re-labeled with U.S. sizing equivalents before they enter the warehouse. The size you see on the product page is your U.S. size. No more guessing between UK 12 and US 8.
What to expect
Curated, verified, authentic
Every brand in the Òkèèrè shop has been assessed for product quality, authenticity, and compliance. You are not buying from an unverified vendor marketplace. You are buying from vetted designers with a known story.
Join the Waitlist
Be first when the shop launches.
The shop is not open yet. We are building it properly: the right brands, the right infrastructure, the right experience. Drop your email and you will be first to know when it launches, with early access and a discount on your first order.
You Are On the List
You are on the list. We will reach out personally when the shop is ready to launch. Thank you for your patience while we build this right.
The Story Behind Òkèèrè
From Afar, With Love.
Òkèèrè is inspired by the Yoruba language, where the word means "far" or "distant." It embodies both distance and connection: the journey of something cherished that travels from afar to find its place closer to home.
"What was once distant becomes accessible. What was once unseen gains visibility."
Òkèèrè was founded by a Nigerian immigrant who grew up in America longing for a real connection to her cultural roots. She watched the Nigerian fashion industry produce extraordinary work. She watched diaspora consumers in the U.S. want that work and be unable to access it reliably. She watched platform after platform try to solve this and hit the same wall: logistics.
Six years of watching. Six years of seeing the problem get confirmed by every attempt at a solution. Industrie Africa. The Folklore. Iyayi. Haanta. All of them brilliant on the front end. All of them struggling with the same thing on the back end.
Òkèèrè does not try to be another platform. Òkèèrè is the infrastructure layer that makes every platform, and every designer, possible.
Bí a bá jìnnà sí ilé, a máa rántí ilé. "If one is far from home, they will always remember home."
The Details
What Òkèèrè is, and what it is building.
Founded2024 - , Houston TX. Series 2: Òkèèrè. Texas Series LLC.
What it isThe first dedicated U.S. 3PL and distribution partner for African and diaspora fashion brands.
Domainshopokeere.com
2026 focusBuilding the founding team. Signing the inaugural 2027 cohort of 10 brands. Establishing the operational infrastructure.
VisionA global ecosystem that connects culture, creativity, and commerce. Helping designers not only reach new markets but thrive within them.
Contacthello@shopokeere.com
The Name
Òkèèrè. Far or distant. But never out of reach.
In Yoruba, Òkèèrè means "far" or "distant." The name was chosen deliberately. It names the problem and the solution at the same time. The fashion is far. The designers are distant. But through Òkèèrè, what was out of reach becomes reachable.
The brand's tagline, "From Afar, With Love," carries the same dual meaning. The fashion comes from afar. It arrives with the love and craft of the designer who made it. And it comes to people who have been waiting for it, who recognize it, who needed it.
The Yoruba proverb at the heart of the brand is the thesis: if one is far from home, they will always remember home. That is the diaspora experience. That is the customer. That is why this business exists.
Get In Touch
Say hello.
Whether you are a brand, an investor, a potential partner, or just someone who wants to know more, we want to hear from you. Tell us who you are and what you need and we will respond within 48 hours.
Contact Information
We are building. We are reachable.
Emailhello@shopokeere.com
Websiteshopokeere.com
LocationHouston, Texas
EntityHouston, TX
Response Times
Brand applications: 5 business days Investor inquiries: 48 hours Partner inquiries: 48 hours General contact: 48 to 72 hours
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