Worth the wait - Why African Fashion takes longer for delivery

If you've ever shopped pieces from African fashion designers, you might have noticed that the delivery times are a little longer. But behind that wait is something special, a process rooted in craftsmanship, creativity, intention, and care.

When you order from many global fashion brands, your piece is often sitting in a warehouse, already mass-produced, folded, tagged, and ready to be shipped out within hours. But African fashion doesn’t follow that model. Many of the designers we work with at Onuli craft their pieces in smaller studios, often with intimate teams or even as one-person operations.

Most items are made to order or produced in small batches. This approach helps reduce waste and allows for thoughtful design processes. From sourcing local fabrics to hand-cutting patterns, stitching with care, and adding embellishments or finishes, every step is intentional.

You’re not just getting a garment. You’re getting a wearable piece of art that took time, skill, and dedication to create.

To understand the delivery timeline, it is essential to comprehend the process. Here's a glimpse into what happens after you place your order on Onuli:

1. Order Confirmation: Your order has been received and passed on to the designer.

2. Fabric Sourcing & Cutting: If the piece is made to order, the designer begins sourcing the exact fabric (sometimes from local markets or artisan weavers) and cuts the pieces with precision.

3. Sewing & Assembly: Skilled seamstresses or the designers themselves begin constructing the garment. For intricate pieces, this stage can take several days.

4. Finishing Touches: Embellishments like hand-stitched beading, custom dyeing, or embroidery are added. These details are what distinguish many African pieces.

5. Quality Control & Packaging: Every item is carefully inspected, pressed, and packaged before being shipped to you.

Depending on the complexity of the design and the designer’s production schedule, this process can take anywhere from 7 to 21 business days before it is shipped.

And while that may sound like a long wait, it’s the kind of wait that ensures you’re wearing something nobody else has rushed through a machine line. It's a process rooted in tradition, artistry, and cultural pride.

Beyond the creative process, it is also important to acknowledge the real-world challenges that designers across the continent face, including power outages and limited access to large-scale manufacturing tools. These are not limitations, they’re reminders of how resilient and resourceful African creatives truly are.

While fast fashion may offer convenience, it often overlooks the deeply human aspects of production. At Onuli, we’re committed to honouring the journey and helping you appreciate the beauty of that journey, too.

This is where Onuli steps in to bridge the gap.

We understand the importance of feeling informed and confident about your purchase, especially when timelines extend beyond what you’re accustomed to. That’s why we offer full transparency at every stage of your order.

From production updates to shipping notifications, you can track every step of the process. You’ll know when your item is in production, when it’s being finished, and exactly when it ships out.

Fashion should be more than transactional. It should be a relationship between you, the designer, and the story behind what you wear.

At the end of the day, when you receive your Onuli piece, you’re not just unboxing a dress, jumpsuit, or co-ord set. You’re stepping into something with soul — created with intention, infused with heritage, and made for people who value meaning and quality over speed.

The world doesn’t need more clothes made fast. It needs more clothes made right. And that’s precisely what African designers are doing — on their terms, at their own pace, with a deep respect for their craft.

So yes, it might take a little longer to arrive. But we promise: it’s worth every single day of the wait.

We also understand that sometimes you need something quicker, so there is a limited number of items in stock that can be shipped immediately.  Check out our READY TO SHIP collection.