THE BRAND
OUR STORY
Founded in 2015, Yeba is the first contemporary accessory brand with African roots to ascend the world of luxury handbags.
Yeba aims at championing women to reveal their greatness and fulfill their potential. We design modern and timeless essentials, highest quality handbags drawing inspiration from both modern aesthetics(such as architecture) and Yeba’s African heritage from Benin. Perfect balance between modernity and tradition, our handbags are beautiful objects with a soul, handcrafted by fine Italian artisans to last longer than a lifetime. They are pieces to keep tight by your side on your journey towards self-accomplishment.
At heart, founder Yeba believes that every woman has a true inner talent. This way, her accessory should help her not to lose sight of what is already there deep inside. Wearing the name 'Yeba' is simply wearing an invisible crown - a crown that has been passed down as heritage from a long line of strong women to you. This name, this title, is the bond that unites all of us, as one community, with roots all over the world, animated by the same yearning heart, the same ambition to fulfill ourselves and have a positive impact in this world.
Yeba means – the one born to accomplish her destiny. It is a state of mind, a philosophy, a mindset. A legacy.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
MADE IN ITALY
Our handbags are made in Italy, by pure & authentic craftsmen with exceptional precision and care.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
MADE IN ITALY
Our handbags are made in Italy, by pure & authentic craftsmen with exceptional precision and care.
THE FOUNDER
YEBA OLAYÉ
Born in Benin and raised in Europe, Creative director and founder Yeba Olayé is a multi-faceted talent who left behind a career of more than 10 years in Management consulting and finance to pursue her dream: create an aspirational accessory brand. Starting with nothing but a sketchbook, she ultimately turned her vision into reality.
Yeba believes that every woman has greatness and talent within her and designs accessories as reminders to not lose sight of what is already there. Launching this brand was a way to carry her passion, culture and heritage forward.
Her love of fashion joins a passion for craftsmanship, design, and humanitarianism to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces that will remain by your side forever.
THE FOUNDER
YEBA OLAYÉ
Born in Benin and raised in Europe, Creative director and founder Yeba Olayé is a multi-faceted talent who left behind a career of more than 10 years in Management consulting and finance to pursue her dream: create an aspirational accessory brand. Starting with nothing but a sketchbook, she ultimately turned her vision into reality.
Yeba believes that every woman has greatness and talent within her and designs accessories as reminders to not lose sight of what is already there. Launching this brand was a way to carry her passion, culture and heritage forward.
Her love of fashion joins a passion for craftsmanship, design, and humanitarianism to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces that will remain by your side forever.
QUEEN YEBA
THE LEGEND
Yeba means: “The one born to accomplish herself”.
Centuries ago, in the mountain village of Benin, a young woman ascended the throne after her father died on the battlefield. She embraced the present fate that had been brought to her feet and never folded in front of any opponents or enemies. Battle after battle, she led her people to victory, revealing herself as Queen Yeba. Queen Yeba was full of charisma, but also regarded as strong, brave and intelligent. She was respected by her warriors for her strength and loved by her people for her great sense of humanity.
During her reign she did something no other king had done before: forging alliances with sub-region tribes, she managed to bring a long-lasting peace in the region forever.
Queen Yeba gave birth to three sons, and had no daughters. Before she died, she made each of them promise to give her name “Yeba” to their first daughter, so that like her “they would never forget they were born to follow their own destiny and reveal their potential”.
YEBA, A MODERN STORY
Worthy heiress and direct descendant of Queen Yeba, I founded the brand YEBA with at heart to share these great values with the world. The name Yeba has become a treasure and a legacy in my family. Yeba is a wish of good fortune that has been carried through a long line of strong women to me, and now through my brand to you – to inspire you, to help you conquer your world.
There is a song around Queen Yeba that my father used to sing to me when I was a child that tells a lot about Queen Yeba’s spirit not to say soul. This legendary queen who lives in my heart and now in my brand’s DNA, saying:
“The World is my kingdom,
I have the soul of a warrior,
I have the heart of a believer,
I open doors
I am born to follow my destiny,
I am Yeba.”
YEBA, A MODERN STORY
Worthy heiress and direct descendant of Queen Yeba, I founded the brand YEBA with at heart to share these great values with the world. The name Yeba has become a treasure and a legacy in my family. Yeba is a wish of good fortune that has been carried through a long line of strong women to me, and now through my brand to you – to inspire you, to help you conquer your world.
There is a song around Queen Yeba that my father used to sing to me when I was a child that tells a lot about Queen Yeba’s spirit not to say soul. This legendary queen who lives in my heart and now in my brand’s DNA, saying:
“The World is my kingdom,
I have the soul of a warrior,
I have the heart of a believer,
I open doors
I am born to follow my destiny,
I am Yeba.”
Worthy heiress and direct descendant of Queen Yeba, I founded the brand YEBA with at heart to share these great values with the world. The name Yeba has become a treasure and a legacy in my family. Yeba is a wish of good fortune that has been carried through a long line of strong women to me, and now through my brand to you – to inspire you, to help you conquer your world.
There is a song around Queen Yeba that my father used to sing to me when I was a child that tells a lot about Queen Yeba’s spirit not to say soul. This legendary queen who lives in my heart and now in my brand’s DNA, saying:
“The World is my kingdom,
I have the soul of a warrior,
I have the heart of a believer,
I open doors
I am born to follow my destiny,
I am Yeba.”
LISTEN TO
OUR PODCAST
We wish to lead with you a quiet revolution, the kind of (r)evolution from within that leaves you strong, aligned and confident. On our Podcast page, you embark into our world, a place you can call home. A place where you can sit, discover, share with us, knowing you’ll find the inspiration, the community of strong women to support you in your journey towards self-achievement.
LISTEN TO
OUR PODCAST
We wish to lead with you a quiet revolution, the kind of (r)evolution from within that leaves you strong, aligned and confident. On our Podcast page, you embark into our world, a place you can call home. A place where you can sit, discover, share with us, knowing you’ll find the inspiration, the community of strong women to support you in your journey towards self-achievement.