On a recent trip to Atlanta, Araoluwa Popoola brought a touch of Nigerian elegance to Bentley Atlanta, unveiling his collection of luxury tunics in a private showroom event. Mix Master David was on the wheels of steel. Ludacris’s longtime manager, Chaka Zulu, was the host. But, Araoluwa, Ara as he is known, stole the show. While he stands 6’5”, the bespoke outfit he wore was the talk of the night. His brand, Àràmàndà, is all about the details. Ara was inspired by his father’s impeccable style and the challenge of finding well-fitting clothes.
“There were two moments that pivoted my life into fashion. One is my dad, who dresses fantastic,” Ara explains. “He’s a retired judge, but while on the bench, used to dress impeccably. And the second was, I never used to get an outfit that really fits me, because I have really long arms, and if I’m buying an outfit, I have to alter them. So back then, we didn’t really have passion. There was not an item in Nigeria at the moment where you can really produce what you wear. As I grew, I began to try to produce what I wear, because I like to draw. So once I started that, I started shifting my focus into designing things for myself and then for my friends. And then that’s how the journey began.”
Àràmàndà’s Big Break comes from Hip-Hop
Ara’s big break was Nas wearing a tunic by Àràmàndà while performing on tour with Mary J. Blige in 2019. But, he thought it wasn’t real until it actually happened! Ara cried after verifying the request and he knew he was shifting the culture.
“When Nas’s team informed me that is going out on tour with Mary J. Blige, they were wondering if I could make an outfit for him,” Ara explains. “And I’m like, ‘how would you be wondering if I could make an outfit for Nas? Like it is Nas!’ I realized, I felt like this is something that will actually turn into something really big.”
Jidenna and Jeezy also were spotted in Aramanda on various red carpets, invoking vibes synonymous with the Motherland and royalty.
The late Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee, was instrumental in Ara’s journey to the United States. She felt like Houston, as well as Atlanta, with huge Nigerian, and sub-Saharan populations, could be beneficial for growth of his brand. Furthermore, Ara says the spread of Afrobeats and African cultures overall are bringing people in the diaspora back to Africa. The overall result is the promotion of African fashion, and his bespoke brand, Aramanda, to entertainment circles.
“We have a large presence of African-Americans in Houston. But, when you have the entertainment market supporting your brand, it grows faster. Then it can trickle into Houston, trickle into New York, DC, and all those places. But, I believe, you have to start where there are large influences.
‘Another One’ for Everyone
Àràmàndà aims to gain influence through endorsements from entertainers such as DJ Khaled, which can significantly boost the brand’s visibility. Why? Àràmàndà has kaftans made for black tie affairs and everyday wear. Aramanda has outfits for all types of occasions, for different kinds of people. However, Khaled is one of the bolder, unabashed entertainers in the industry.
“If an icon wears something, chances are people want to wear it too,” Ara says, leaning back in his chair. “Like, imagine DJ Khaled just casually saying, ‘Oh, it’s Àràmàndà we’re wearing.’ That alone could shift everything. The man just says, ‘Another one,’ and the industry goes wild.”
He pauses, then laughs. “I don’t even know the guy—but imagine ten celebrities saying, ‘This is the wave right now.’ That’s impact.”
The conversation drifts to golf, a sport Ara genuinely enjoys. “You know what would be funny?” he says. “If I somehow end up on the same course as DJ Khaled and actually beat him—I’ll give him ten Àràmàndà tunics, just like that.”
He’s already grinning at the thought. “People would be like, ‘Wait—he challenged DJ Khaled to a golf game?’ They know how into it he is these days. But yeah, if he beats me, I’ll still give him the Àràmàndà tunics. It’s all good.”
Future Goals and Expansion Plans
Ara’s chief goal for Àràmàndà is becoming a global luxury brand within the next five years. Then, he plans to sell African tunics in high-end stores and luxury retailers worldwide. Next, he plans to expand his presence in markets like Dubai, Europe, and beyond Africa. Lastly, Ara is seeking to establish Àràmàndà as the first African brand to sell kaftans or tunics on a global scale. That growth is happening in part because of his business partner, Stan Mukoro.
“So when I reached out to him, I told him, ‘Okay, we need to do an upgrade to this brand to get it into the United States of America,’” Ara says. “I felt like working with him would actually help us to get the brand to where we want the brand to get to: be the first African brand to sell kaftans.”