SEMANDE is a women’s wear fashion brand, rooted in African culture and heritage, aiming to create a strong but minimalistic fashion aesthetic which adds value to the ideal woman.

Yemisi Olaiya, the designer behind SEMANDE, a Portsmouth UK based contemporary women's wear fashion brand, rooted in African culture and heritage that aims to create a strong but minimalistic fashion aesthetic which adds value to the ideal woman. 

A pharmacologist turned fashion designer. Her fashion journey began in 2009 after she became pregnant with her first daughter. Her pregnancy spurred her to embrace the art of creating and telling stories with stitches and fabrics.

She graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2007 and her love for fashion made her pursue a career as a designer which earned her a BTEC Diploma, with triple distinction, from Highbury College, Portsmouth, UK.