From lab coats to lace gowns: How a Bradford fashion designer halved her start-up costs
Ramatallahi Abubakar left her science background behind to pursue fashion in the UK - now she’s building a bold brand using digital tools and sharing her skills with Bradford’s next generation of creatives.
A former lab scientist turned fashion designer, Ramatallahi Abubakar is merging African-inspired design with modern minimalism, and doing it on a budget. Her Bradford-based brand, Ramatporsche Design, creates flowing gowns and tailored pieces using bold colours, intricate lace, and rich cultural storytelling.
“I realised early on that fashion was my calling — it allows me to tell stories through fabric,” she says. “I use bold colours, intricate lace, and flowing silhouettes inspired by African culture, but I merge them with modern, minimalist touches.”
Her first foray into designing was during her time studying Medical Science at Kwara State University when she made her department’s lab coats. In 2020 she was named Student Fashion Designer of the Year, and by 2021 she was showcasing her work at the Kwara Tradefair.
But when Ramatallahi first launched her business, the biggest challenge wasn’t creativity — it was cost. Tools like mannequins, sewing needles, sketchbooks, and fabric supplies were expensive and hard to source. That changed when she discovered Temu, the online marketplace known for its affordability.
“Buying through Temu has cut my supply costs by 40 to 50%,” she explains. “My mannequin from there was a game-changer — sturdy, reliable, and way more affordable than what I could find locally.”
The savings have helped Ramatallahi make her designs more accessible to clients — and grow her business without external funding.
And she’s not alone: according to an IPSOS survey, commissioned by Temu, 14% of UK respondents said they had used Temu to start or grow a business, and 8 in 10 said the platform offered excellent or good value for money.
Beyond building her own brand, she’s now teaching others. Ramatallahi runs sewing classes in Bradford, helping beginners learn to cut and sew outfits from scratch. Many of her students also use tools and materials sourced from Temu, including sketchbooks for planning and visualising ideas.
She hopes to inspire others to use their new skills to start out in fashion: “Start with what you have, keep learning, and don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you begin.”