By Ayo Onikoyi

Founder of KAYA, Asma’u Shu’aibu Abubakar, has said fashion can serve as a powerful tool for preserving culture, promoting identity, and showcasing Nigeria’s rich heritage to the world.
Asma’u, who founded the culturally inspired fashion brand KAYA through her platform, The Northern Archive, said the brand was established to address the underrepresentation of many Northern Nigerian communities in mainstream fashion.
According to her, KAYA was born from a desire to ensure that indigenous traditions, textiles, and stories are not forgotten but reimagined for contemporary audiences.
“I wanted people to see that our traditions, textiles and identities are not relics of the past but sources of inspiration for contemporary fashion,” she said.

Drawing inspiration from the TERA (Nyimatli) people of Gombe State and other Northern Nigerian cultures, KAYA incorporates traditional fabrics, symbols and craftsmanship into modern designs. One of the fabrics featured in the brand’s recent collection is the blue Saqi fabric, a handwoven textile with deep cultural significance across several Nigerian communities.

Asma’u described the positive response from members of her community as one of the brand’s most meaningful achievements.

“Since launching KAYA, I have received messages and calls from TERA people expressing their joy and pride at seeing their culture represented on a larger platform. Knowing that people feel seen and celebrated through my work is incredibly rewarding,” she stated.

She also highlighted KAYA’s participation at HEY Fashion Week as a major milestone that expanded the brand’s visibility and introduced its cultural narrative to wider audiences.
Looking ahead, Asma’u said she plans to expand KAYA’s international footprint through exhibitions, runway showcases and strategic collaborations, including establishing a physical presence in the United Kingdom.

“My vision is for KAYA to become a bridge connecting Northern Nigerian fashion and craftsmanship with the rest of the world and to be recognised globally as a cultural fashion house that celebrates African identity,” she added.