Kutula by Africana

KUTULA means “to step into” or “leap forward” in Lozi, a Bantu language spoken in Zambia.

For us this means two distinct things: our desire to design clothing that takes you stepping into your individual style, and also our excitement as we honor our story’s rich history and leap forward to a new era of fresh, contemporary fashion.

THEN

Our KUTULA brand—originally known as Africana Imports—has been making quality-crafted, inspiring designs since 1971. With a celebrated focus on the beauty and expression of our origins in Zambia, Nigeria and U.S. Los Angeles, we’ve spent the last 40+ years as one of the most established boutique retailers in the U.S. for globally-inspired textiles.

The original dreamer behind the venture is Francesca Anuluoha alongside with her husband Tony. Starting in the 70s, they opened the original flagship location on Slauson and Crenshaw in Los Angeles and Francesca went on to spend decades cultivating the brand and business a vibrant and thriving following with life, history, and culture, amassing loyal and beloved customers, and dressing leading Hollywood actresses and actors, musicians, artists, politicians, and world dignitaries.

NOW

In 2013, when Francesca announced her retirement, we decided we couldn’t possibly say goodbye to this company. So we took it over.

“We” are Francesca’s daughters, by the way, Kay and Nyambo.

We bring our own culture and influence to the brand now – a flavored mix of our Nigerian and Zambian heritage together with our homegrown Angeleno flair. We made a conscious decision to step into our entrepreneurial roots from growing up working across multiple family businesses, completing degrees at New York University, Tufts and University of California Irvine, and depart from our successful public relations and finance careers in both New York City and Washington, DC.

We chose to follow our desire and bring a fresh perspective and new design aesthetic in fashion and business with a new online and physical brand, while keeping the retail space as an homage to all that Africana Imports was as well as a tribute to our mother’s mark in fashion, retail and African culture in America over 45 years.

Thus, KUTULA by Africana was born (or reborn.)

Our stunning retail space is practically an LA institution, and has been the backdrop for several television shows and films featuring stars such as Kerry Washington and Naomi Watts.

We cannot wait to continue shaping the fashion culture globally with the forthcoming launch of KUTULA online with contemporary fashions that are never fussy, but always fierce.

One thing that will remain the same is the quality of construction that made our brand so notable. From our traditional African textiles to fine linen or dupioni silk accents, you can be certain that every KUTULA piece is thoughtfully made and creatively curated.

NEXT

There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon for KUTULA. Our products will be featured in several scenes of 2016 Marvel Entertainment superhero blockbuster, “Captain America: Civil War,” along with Black Panther / T'Challa played by Chadwick Boseman.

We’re also planning a launch (soon—very soon!) of services for personal development, travel excursions, and business coaching to help our clients not just look the part, but live the part.

In a nutshell (if this story can be considered a nutshell): Here at KUTULA we treasure where we’ve come from, and we’re thrilled at where we’re going. And we’re so very happy that you’re here.