IyeOgé: Zig Okungbowa Set to Unveil Africa's First AI-integrated Luxury e-commerce Platform
- Africa’s first AI-integrated luxury fashion e-commerce platform is set to connect top African designers and artisans with global audiences
- The platform combines advanced AI-driven personalisation with rich cultural storytelling to enhance the shopping experience
- Beyond sales, the platform will position itself as both a marketplace and a growth ecosystem for African luxury fashion
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Legit.ng journalist Victor Enengedi has over a decade's experience covering Energy, MSMEs, Technology, Banking and the Economy.
This September, IyeOgé (pronounced ee-yeh-oh-geh), the continent’s first AI-integrated luxury e-commerce platform, will debut with the goal of connecting African designers and artisans to global markets, particularly the African diaspora seeking authentic, high-end retail experiences.
Source: UGC
Founded by Nigerian-American entrepreneur and technologist Iziegbe “Zig” Okungbowa, the platform blends advanced technology with African heritage, aiming to offer the same prestige and precision as leading global fashion houses.
While working in the U.S. and frequently returning home to Nigeria, Zig became acutely aware of a void; despite Africa’s burgeoning fashion scene, there was no digital platform that did justice to its excellence, particularly one that could serve the needs of global Black and African consumers.
Zig said:
“We’ve always had the talent, the craftsmanship, the stories. What’s been missing is the infrastructure to package it and present it to the world in a way that reflects our worth.
“IyeOgé is my answer to that. It’s about access and elevation, bringing Africa’s finest to the forefront with the same level of prestige and precision as any global fashion house.”
Technology meets cultural storytelling
IyeOgé features a proprietary AI recommendation system designed to deliver personalised fashion journeys.
By learning user preferences and cultural cues, the platform introduces shoppers to emerging designers, heritage brands, and exclusive collections.
Each product is accompanied by editorial-style storytelling that details the origins, creative process, and communities behind the designs.
According to Zig, the vision was to create a destination that felt as editorially immersive as Net-a-Porter, as culturally authentic as a local artisan market, and as technologically advanced as Silicon Valley’s smartest engines.
Supporting African creatives at scale
At the heart of IyeOgé is a proprietary AI recommendation system designed not just to drive sales, but to deepen cultural connection.
From the moment a user signs up, the platform learns their preferences, predicts their needs, and offers tailored fashion journeys, introducing shoppers to emerging designers, heritage brands, and new collections based on their personal style and cultural cues.
Beyond e-commerce, IyeOgé will provide logistical, branding, and quality-control support to its partner designers, addressing the infrastructural challenges that often limit growth in the African fashion industry.
The debut collection will feature a curated roster of designers known for craftsmanship, innovation, and ethical production.
The launch comes at a time when global consumer demand for authenticity, inclusivity, and sustainability is at an all-time high.
Zig said:
“Our mission is simple. To show the world that African fashion is not niche, it’s necessary. It’s the future. And it deserves a seat at the table, on its own terms.”
Source: Legit.ng
