Osime Home, a small Etsy shop founded by London-based June Ileomoh, sells beautiful homewares inspired by West Africa. From cosy cushions to decorative storage pots, each item is handmade to make everyday life a 'little bit brighter'.
I started my business during lockdown in April 2020. Before then, Osime Home merely existed as an idea. It was only when my husband and I bought our first home together in 2017, that I struggled to find unique home décor that celebrated African design. I was looking for products that reflected the bold patterns, rich colours and diverse textiles synonymous with my African community.
This motivated me to start creating my own handmade homewares from my home in South London. Sewing was always a hobby; in my spare time I attended a variety of sewing classes and practiced using my mum's old sewing machine. I bought a new sewing machine last year and started making cushions, fashion face masks, and storage pots and planters.
I've always been self-employed and was between contracts when the pandemic struck. For me, lockdown was a catalyst. It meant I had more time to invest in bringing my ideas to life, work on building a brand and new products that I could share online.
Osime Home is a vibrant homeware and accessories brand that is inspired by, and celebrates, West African culture. Osime [pronounced oh-si-meh] is my middle name. It originates from the Esan tribe (Edo state) in Nigeria, meaning 'This is my own'. The brand blends my Nigerian heritage and South London roots to create joyful statement pieces that embodies colourful living and African style. All of my creations are made using hand-picked African fabrics designed for you and your home to make everyday living a little brighter.
It can get really busy at Christmas trying to plan ahead and make sure I've made enough products available. I'm still learning and finding my rhythm with my small business. This year, I started thinking about Christmas during the summer. This meant I was able to brainstorm product ideas, which has meant I could test and experiment with fabrics. Over the past couple of months, I have been making small batches of products to reduce overwhelm later on.
I work closely with my suppliers to understand their schedule and if there are any changes with stock, production or delivery times, for example my cushion labels or inserts, which could have a knock-on effect on my production.
There are still a few things that need to be done, but I'm trying to enjoy the process and not get stressed. This year will be my first year participating in a number of face-to-face Christmas markets, which I'm really excited about. I'm looking forward to meeting my customers, who will be able to see and feel all of my products up close for the first time.
I love the festive season: the decorations, food and general all-round good vibes. As soon as we're in November I'm in Christmas mode, and, if I had my way, I'd buy our Christmas tree and put the decorations up. However, my partner doesn't seem to agree.
Before I decorate my home, I always have a mini clean, check what decorations I have and try to declutter areas in our flat. This helps me make space for our Christmas tree and ornaments. To refresh our living room and bedroom space I always change my cushions - it's one of the easiest ways to add interest and inject colour into a room. I usually add one or two colours that blend in with my colour scheme.
All support is really appreciated. If you'd like to support my business at Christmas you can:
. Visit my online store and purchase something for yourself, or a gift for a loved one you can buy now and give later.
. Leave a review.
. Tell your friends, family or work colleagues about Osime Home and recommend the brand.
. Subscribe to my online newsletter.
. Give Osime Home a shout out on social media.
I honestly can't believe we're in the last quarter of 2021. Next year I see the Osime Home product range expanding into art and prints. I'm really enjoying experimenting with colour, pattern and art, so watch this space. I'm also keen to collaborate with other small businesses, work with independent retailers and get some of my products stocked in the UK and internationally, making it easier for more people to find out about my products.
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