Zoba Martin is a pioneering fashion designer whose breathtaking bridal creations and custom work for Drake have made her one of fashion’s influential talents.
Zoba Martin is not just designing clothes; she’s stitching herself into culture. The Nigerian Toronto-based designer has become a compelling name in fashion, with work that spans bridal couture, custom clothes and viral tour pieces for Drake. Her designs tell stories: of heritage, craftsmanship, womanhood, and the unapologetic power of taking up space. Whether she’s tailoring wardrobe on Drake’s “It’s All a Blur” tour or transforming tissue paper into art for Cashmere’s runway, Zoba’s impact is unmistakable and precise.
In a few short years, she’s gone from sewing her first skirt in Lagos to standing under CBC’s Dragon’s Den lights. She’s earning national recognition and taking the kind of creative risks that don’t just make headlines but move culture. Named a 2024 Telfer Young Achiever, Zoba Martin is redefining what modern fashion entrepreneurship looks like.
Her 2025 bridal collection, “Take the Thanks”, is an homage to women who have poured into the arts and are finally accepting their thanks. Each piece is designed to celebrate the softness and strength of a woman, featuring romantic silhouettes, sculptural details, and couture craftsmanship. With her designs, Zoba Martin is taking the fashion industry by storm.
How do your friends describe you?
They always compliment my work ethic, they talk about how I am outgoing, funny, genuine and authentic.
You’ve built your brand, Zoba Martin, from the ground up. What was the first moment you knew that fashion design was your path?
The first moment I knew I was interested in fashion design was when I went to Nigeria in 2013 for a summer holiday. That year, I wanted to enrol in a course, something to do because I had spare time. It was between makeup, cooking, hair or fashion. I had to pick one of them, but I already knew how to do hair, and I like makeup, but I just didn’t want to do more of it.
I decided to try fashion because it’s something I had never done. The first time I made a circle skirt in that course, I enjoyed it so much that I realised it was something I wanted to pursue in the future. I had to take a bus and commute to attend that class. It was nice to get out of the house. The course had a lovely atmosphere; it was always cheerful, and I enjoyed meeting new people. After university, I decided to pursue fashion full-time, and that’s exactly what I did.
How did you evolve into founding your own label?
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I attended the University of Ottawa, where I studied business. After that, I attended Toronto, Lasal School of Fashion. That was a two-year program. I did that right after university, and I moved to live in Toronto full-time. While I was there, I worked at a coffee shop and at Kleinfeld, a bridal store, where I fell in love with bridal fashion. Seeing all those dresses and their details close-up, I just knew that it was something I wanted to focus on. Working there definitely influenced my niche.
After you worked at Kleinfeld, you had it in the back of your mind that you wanted to get into bridal. Was there a specific moment that inspired you to start?
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I had a coworker who was talking about her wedding and her plans to go bridal shopping. She was asking me for ideas, and then I asked, “Hey, why don’t I make your wedding dress?” and that became my first ever wedding dress client.
She appreciated that I asked; I think she wanted to bring it up but didn’t feel comfortable doing so for some reason. When I offered, she was like, “Actually yes, please.” And then we went fabric shopping; she just loved the fact that I brought her into the process of making the dress.
That’s when I realised I truly enjoyed making wedding dresses. I appreciate the artistry of couture, and it translates into the skills required to design bridal dresses.
It is also important to always upgrade your skills. You always need to build on the skills learnt in school. One time, I went to Ghana and I took this extra course for two weeks. It was very intensive and I learnt corset mastery, which actually translates into my business. Whenever I’m in Nigeria, I make it a point to find an atelier and spend a couple of weeks shadowing them. Just to learn more and acquire more knowledge. The willingness to learn has helped my business a lot. Being optimistic about challenges and having an open mind has pushed it forward.
Read also: Say I do! To 5 unique Nigerian brands making waves with one-of-a-kind outfits
Do you believe that your business degree from Ottawa helped you grow your fashion label?
If I’m being honest, it definitely helped me develop discipline, navigate group projects, and adjust to Canadian society. I had a lot on my mind and was mostly focused on just surviving in a new country. While it was great that I did well — and as a Nigerian student, I was usually able to pass any exam — I was really working through a lot personally. I would say it helped with my entrepreneurship journey, but in my business day-to-day, I had to learn by experience. You can learn everything about business, but you actually have to practice it or get mentorship. I receive mentorship from people who are already in business, physically, like my father.
Do you troubleshoot with your dad for Zoba Martin?
Yes, definitely! My dad has vast experience in business and with customers. I always ask him questions, and he definitely gives me some nuggets that I apply in my business.
What’s one piece of advice that he has given you for your business that you feel has been super valuable?
He always says transparency and honesty with your client will take you further. Be honest with your clients; that honesty is everything. Some things you may think they’re not going to know, but they have instincts; they can sense when they are being lied to. Honesty and integrity are two big lessons I learned from him in business. Just be good to your clients.
Zoba Martin is known for custom garments and made-to-measure bridal collections. How do you approach designing, and also how do you approach designing for different body types while maintaining your signature aesthetic?
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When I create something for a client, it’s a collaboration. I get as much information as I can about them and their preferences. Learning what makes them feel comfortable, and I infuse it with my own ideas on how I see them and what I think would look good on them. I also want them to feel comfortable in whatever they’re wearing. Sometimes, shopping for clothes — especially when making custom outfits — can feel very intimate; people can be quite sensitive about their bodies. I try to create a very comfortable environment for them to talk about their bodies and things that they want to accentuate or things that they want to conceal. Creating that safe environment makes it easier for them to open up and get their desired results.
You seem to always have a lot going on. What do you do when you start to feel burnt out, and how do you manage not to overwork yourself?
Burnout is just recognising when you’re feeling tired. I remember when I used to be so sore and I would not rest. A lot was on my mind, and I told myself that it was time to just stop and go to sleep. Sometimes, you just notice how your body feels and when it’s just time to reset, rest and take time off. I don’t like to make plans on Sundays, I just want to be home and chill.
Rest is important — always take time to decompress, because it’s an essential part of the creative process. Obviously, not sleeping when you have work to do, but resting and taking time to actually pour into your own cup. That is also a skill that has helped me navigate burnout . I believe that diets are important because what you eat affects how you think.
Can you share the support your family provided when you decided to pursue a career in fashion design?
I didn’t get a single pushback from my family. My dad is a businessman, and he was very supportive, my mum went to fashion school when she was younger, so she already had experience in that field. Dad was like, “You’re doing something business-related? Sure, let’s do it. Just make sure you learn a skill.” It’s such a Nigerian thing — parents just want to make sure their kids have a skill, something they can easily monetise. My dad was very supportive of me going to fashion school.
My mother influenced me when I was in school and when I was just starting my career because she’s really into fashion and clothes. Whenever she goes to the market, she would just start collecting fabrics for me, thinking of what I might like. Every time I come home to Nigeria, I have a heap of fabric waiting for me that my mum has collected over time. That has actually helped me manage my costs, since I use those fabrics in my work. She also checks in to see if I have questions about designs or colour combinations and helps me with that too. My mum has a very good eye for colours, offers moral support, and we work well together when we collaborate on designs.
I first discovered your designs when you made that incredible tissue paper dress a few years ago. Tell me about the Cashmere 20th Anniversary Tissue Dress — how did that come about? It was truly an iconic moment.
Every year around October, Cashmere has a fashion show where they just send bundles of tissue paper to designers across Canada to make dresses for them. It’s to raise awareness; the donations from each garment go back to breast cancer research and programs like that. It’s Cashmere’s way of contributing to society.
In 2021, I made a dress for Cashmere that went viral because I posted it on my Instagram. One of my friends also sent it to ShadeRoom, and then they posted it. That viral moment made Cashmere invite me to participate in their program because they liked my design. They invited me again to the 20th anniversary, which I attended, and I made a high-low dress with a lot of pleats.
Now, they have invited me again. I just made a new dress for them. I haven’t posted it yet, but it was for Canadian heritage, and I made a maple leaf dress that was just all maple leaves. It was also a passion project for me because my aunts passed away from breast cancer. I dedicated the dress to my aunt, my dad’s sister. They called me and they were like I saw you mentioned my sister in your interview, thank you.
You appeared on the TV show “Dragon’s Den” to pitch for your brand Zoba Martin. How did that come about?
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The “Dragon’s Den” moment came after the viral Cashmere tissue paper dress. I did an interview with blogTO, and after they shared it, the producers of Dragon’s Den reached out to say that they were casting for the show. They sent me an email, and I remember the email subject was “CBC’s Dragon’s Den wants you”. They wanted to have a chat with me to pitch my business on “Dragon’s Den” in 10 days.
It’s usually something that takes people months to prepare for. I had to make a quick decision. Am I going to take this shot right now, or am I going to wait for next year to do it? I decided on right now. I got my accountant to organise my numbers, and I got my friend to help me prepare for the pitch. On the show, you see people with their businesses, and they have all these numbers and information that I didn’t necessarily have at that time. I had to remind myself that this is a growing business, let me go and show them what I have and that it could inspire someone else.
Appearing on this show would also put me in an uncomfortable position that would force me to grow. I just prayed on it for 10 days. I was scared, and I did it even if I was very scared. Even walking into the Den, there’s someone hyping you, but my heart was about to sink into my belly. I was so nervous. When I pitched, I was just saying all the things I practised and time went by, and I got a deal, but I didn’t take the deal in real life. You don’t have to take it if it doesn’t make sense to you. I remember after Dragons’ Den I was just like, “Why did I take that deal on TV?”
I felt bad. For a few days, there was a heavy sadness that I felt after taking the deal until my friend came and basically scraped me off the floor. She was like, “Let’s go outside. Let’s get some fresh air.” She showed me bridal shops around the city. She was like, “You can do this. You don’t have to take the deal. You don’t have to wallow in that.” I hadn’t been answering her call, so she just basically showed up at my door.
That moment helped me come out of that, and then the show screened on TV. I remember thinking, okay, this actually looks good — not bad at all. Since then, whenever I get scared of doing something, I’m like “You went on “Dragon’s Den”, so you can do it”. That was very scary for me to do, but I’m glad I did it. I got some really good feedback from them that I applied to my business to help me elevate.
Read also: Nigerian bridal stylists are creating a new runway at weddings
Do you think that appearance on “Dragon’s Den” helped move your business forward? Did people start reaching out or offering jobs after seeing your episode on TV?
It definitely added a lot of value to my brand. People know I was on Dragon’s Den, and they often mention it when reaching out to ask me to create something for them. More than anything, it was about character building; it just made me stronger. When there are some things that you’re scared to do, just do it. Honestly, that thing that you’re scared to do, when you do it, you build that muscle of just doing more scary stuff, which is usually what makes you grow.
You’ve worked on a few projects with Drake. How did that come about?
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I worked on some music videos for a production company that was working on music videos for him. I worked with them on three music video shoots, and I guess they liked how I handled things — so they invited me to join them for a show in Chicago. This was at the beginning of the tour. I just made sure his wardrobe was fitting and fine, and then I did that one show, and then I did another show. The stylist that brought me on said, “Come for this one show, just make sure his wardrobe is fine”. After I did that, he was like, “Can you come for the other show in Boston?” I’m like yeah, sure, and then that’s how I ended up working the whole “It’s All a Blur” tour.
How does it feel working with Drake and OVO, doing the fittings for music videos, tours and also custom clothes?
It feels good, honestly, it’s like he’s super hardcore Toronto. A couple of years ago, I was thinking about moving away, but meeting him made me see a different side of the city and appreciate Toronto more. It felt like when you have to travel to appreciate what you have. You’ll always find your people just depending on where your mindset is. Working on these projects made me give the fashion scene in Toronto another chance.
How was it working at Wireless Festival this year?
It was super busy backstage that I didn’t have time to go see what was happening on the stage. But I did get to see Burna Boy, which was really good vibes.
I’ve created custom pieces from scratch for Drake to wear on stage, but we also tailor existing clothes to fit — handling the wardrobe needs for his performances.
You created that oversized bra for the It’s All a Blur tour — it was one of my favourite pieces you’ve made. I actually saw a similar version recently from the NYC brand Vaquera. How did that design come about?
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There was just something that would happen on tour where people would just throw their bra on stage. It’s almost as if Drake was encouraging it, So we collected a pile of all these bras. His dad came to me and said, “I want you to make me the biggest bra ever, so we can throw it on stage to Drake when he’s performing”. He wanted to have a little note written saying it’s a gift from his dad. I immediately thought, “How am I going to make this round?” Then we’re going to make it pink.
I actually worked on that with my mum, who said to add a little flower on the nipples to give it more flair, I worked on that in my hotel room, literally using takeout wrappers as my pattern. Then I went to a few fabric stores in the States and made it right there in my room using a sewing machine. And then I gave it to him, and he threw it on stage, and then I documented the process of making the bra that became a viral moment.
You were honoured with the Telfer 2024 Young Achiever and Pioneering Couture Fashion Designer Award from the University of Ottawa. What did that recognition mean to you?
I remember when I was in uni, always hearing about the dean’s list. It was just so weird that 10 years after graduating the dean was offering me an award. I didn’t even get one when I was in school, but by living my life. It just made me feel special, like my alma mater could see what I was doing and chose to celebrate it.
What are your favourite moments designing bridal?
I love bridal, just knowing that you’re contributing to someone’s very special day is my favourite moment. When they wear their outfit and say their vows in the outfit, it makes me happy. Many of them are already booking their 10-year anniversary dress or their vow renewal dress. The experience is very rewarding. If it’s not a bridal dress, just seeing them in garments that I made for them and them telling me how it made them feel like they stood out is a good moment for me.
Your latest collection is called “Take the Thanks.” Tell me a little bit about that?
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The collection is called “Take the Thanks,” which came about when I was having a conversation with Drake. I was talking about creating this collection and mentioned that I wasn’t sure how to approach it. He was like, “Just do the collection.” I’m like, “Okay.” So, I did it. I was also talking about how, sometimes, people tell you your work is good, and you instinctively feel reserved or modest about it. Over time, I’ve learned to accept and appreciate the gratitude people express for my work. And he’s like, “Why don’t you just call it take the thanks?” I started writing TTT everywhere and decided that’s what I’m going to call the collection. Making this collection was my way of holding myself accountable when I say I’m going to do something. I actually do it.
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