We’re looking forward to introducing you to Obi Nwankwo. Check out our conversation below.
Obi, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Yeah the moments that made me feel proud has been various moments throughout my companies growth process. Some big moments were starting the brand, getting our first retail deal, getting featured by Vogue, working with Chris brown & lil baby, scaling to 25 stores, getting into complex. It’s just been a constant trajectory of proud moments and a lot more to come.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Obi Nwankwo, Founder and Creative Director of Knotwtr a luxury streetwear brand based in Los Angeles L, CA and proudly Nigerian owned. Rooted in quality, innovation, sustainability, and timeless heritage. What sets Knotwtr apart is that every piece is more than clothing it’s a work of art. Each design carries its own story, merging culture, resilience, and individuality, while redefining what luxury streetwear can be. Every detail is crafted to make you feel luxury with every step you take.
Knotwtr has been featured in British Vogue and Forbes Africa, and has showcased on runways such as NYFW, LAFW, MIAFW, and the BET Runway. Our work has also been seen on global icons like Chris Brown, Keke Palmer, Soulja Boy, NLE Choppa, and Lil Baby, which has helped cement our brand’s place in both fashion and pop culture.
Right now, we’re focused on expanding the impact of our latest release, the Brick Collection, which symbolizes strength and building brick by brick. Alongside this, Knotwtr continues to grow across retail outlets in North America and Canada, and we’re deepening collaborations with creatives, celebrities, and cultural leaders worldwide.
For me, Knotwtr is more than clothing, it’s a movement that inspires confidence, boldness, and self-expression while showing the power of sustainability in fashion.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My family definitely saw me first. Most importantly my mother. She always supoorted whatever crazy idea I had and that always made me comfortable being a visionary and taking risk. Knowing that my mom and family were going to be there to back me up no matter what
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t give up, the world is waiting for your greatness. Keeping pushing it because you can’t afford not to see your dreams come to pass
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
It’s a public version of me. But truly I am an introvert. If it wasn’t for my social brand and business I wouldn’t be on social media because I truly like keeping to myself. And working in silence. So social media is basically the results of my work. And a snapshot of what I choose to disclose. It’s not the full Obi nwankwo. You have to meet me to understand the real me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
I would regret not working hard every single day and treating every dame like it’s game 7. I personally don’t have any regrets in life because I always go after my purpose at that time. So the goal is to continue doing that because my purpose will always change depending on the season that God has called for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.knotwtr.com/collections/brick-collection
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knotwtr?igsh=c3ZlZWF0djZ3YjFx
