Local women’s workwear brand founder snags entrepreneur award

A Winnipeg entrepreneur is $10,000 closer to helping people look like a million bucks.

Aderonke Akinloye has been awarded an RBC Rock My Business Youth Entrepreneur Award. The 29-year-old will use the $10,000 grant that comes with the award to kick-start Corporate Enclothè, a women’s workwear brand she’s been working on for the last five years.

Akinloye was one of eight Canadians — and the only Manitoban — to receive the award this year. She said she feels honoured RBC believes in her vision.

“It felt very great and humbling, to be honest, just to see my work and all the efforts I’ve put in recognized,” Akinloye said.

Akinloye, who is a chartered professional accountant, said her mission for Corporate Enclothè is to create durable, elegant and functional workwear.

“We exist to provide women in the corporate world with modern blazers, suits, dresses and work essentials that make professional dressing effortless,” she said. “We do this by infusing vibrant colours and … designing clothes that work as hard as the women who wear them.”

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Akinloye moved to Winnipeg in 2014 to study accounting and entrepreneurship at the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business. While completing her studies, she became increasingly aware of a gap in the corporate fashion market and decided to build a brand to address it.

Akinloye participated in a free workshop series presented by Futurpreneur, a national non-profit organization that provides financing, mentorship and resources to aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 and helps them launch and grow their businesses.

For the sixth year in a row, participating entrepreneurs in the workshop series were able to apply for an RBC Rock My Business award. Akinloye was in Toronto on Oct. 28 to receive her award as part of Futurpreneur’s 30th anniversary celebration.

The funding will support Corporate Enclothè’s startup expenses and will allow Akinloye to travel to meet with manufacturers.

“Quality is really the foundation of our brand, so we’re not going to be compromising,” Akinloye said. “Every piece … is going to be created to last and, more importantly, make women feel empowered and confident.”

Caroline Ksiazek, Futurpreneur’s regional director for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, said she’s looking forward to seeing what Akinloye does with Corporate Enclothè.

“We exist because youth entrepreneurs don’t typically have access to capital,” Ksiazek said. “It’s really hard for them to get a competitive edge and getting to apply for an award where it’s cash that they can use for starting their business is just spectacular.”

Futurpreneur was founded in 1996 as the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and rebranded in 2014. According to its website, the organization has helped more than 21,000 entrepreneurs build more than 16,600 businesses.

aaron.epp@winnipegfreepress.com