After a two-year break, Titi Adesa returns with ROOTED, a collection that feels less like a comeback and more like a thoughtful evolution. Shaped by motherhood, personal growth, and a renewed sense of purpose, the collection reflects the designer’s journey over the past few years, one marked by reflection and transformation. From relocating production to Florence to launching Mini Diamonds, a new children's line created alongside her daughter, Adesa has used this chapter to strengthen both her brand and creative vision. In this conversation, she opens up about heritage, resilience, womanhood, and the meaning behind ROOTED, a collection grounded in authenticity while looking confidently toward the future.

After stepping away from the spotlight for two years, what made now the right moment to return with ROOTED?

Over the last two years, I intentionally paused to strengthen the infrastructure of Titi Adesa, refine our vision and enable space for growth. During this time, we upgraded our factory from Milan to Florence, which has elevated our quality and scalability for the future we envision from here. It was important that we returned with the right set-up. I was also blessed to welcome my third child, a baby girl, which has been magical and refreshed my perspective as a mother and businesswoman. Coming back now personally feels like the natural next chapter and an honest mark, we have a deeper understanding of who we are, where we are headed and the community of women, we create shoes for. Our new collection, Rooted, captures this evolution beautifully. In many ways, this return reflects growth whilst staying true to our core.

ROOTED feels deeply personal. Was there a defining moment in your life that inspired the emotional direction of this collection?

Yes. The defining moment was during our hiatus itself, and I would call it a defining chapter instead. I gained a deeper sense of clarity about who I am, my faith and purpose both as a woman and a designer. During the design phase, the word that best described that chapter was Rooted. It’s about being intentional, grounded and planting something that is about to blossom - that feeling became the emotional foundation of the collection and inspired its design themes. We also expanded our offering range with our Mini Diamonds kids' line, made by the same artisanal hands as our women's collection, which is incredibly special. My eldest daughter frequently asked if she could design shoes with me, and I’m so glad she did with this collection! Such precious moments looking back.

You’ve described the collection as a reflection of womanhood, resilience, and purpose. How have those ideas evolved for you through motherhood, business, and personal growth?

It has given me a clearer perspective; motherhood continues to teach me strength in its most selfless form while entrepreneurship has taught me resilience, patience and perseverance. With personal growth, I’ve realised that the concept of finding your purpose is not necessarily ‘the thing’. Purpose is uncovered through life’s journey, over time while trusting your instincts and giving yourself room to evolve. As I’ve evolved, I've seen that womanhood is far less about perfection and more about courage; courage to remain true and authentically yourself through every season.

Titi Adesa has always celebrated femininity through a culturally rich lens. How did your Nigerian heritage shape the storytelling behind ROOTED?

I found myself looking back to move forward, drawing inspiration from my heritage as well as the people closest to me. One example is Ego, a style inspired by the cowrie shell, which was once used as currency across parts of West Africa in the 19th century. I named it Ego, which means “money” in Nigeria’s Igbo language, as a nod to its historical and cultural significance. I also wanted to celebrate generational continuity through this new collection, including a design created by my daughter, Jadésola. Watching her interpret creativity and her love for rolling beach waves was so beautiful and reminds me that heritage is not just inherited but also passed down. My Nigerian heritage has shaped my understanding of beauty and identity. With Rooted, I wanted to create pieces with depth using hues and silhouettes that also feel seasonally relevant and modern.

The introduction of “Mini Diamonds” adds a new layer to the brand. What was it like collaborating creatively with your daughter and seeing fashion through a child’s perspective?

Watching my daughter, Jadesola, design was simply wholesome! Hearing her perspective with footwear at six years old gave me insights I never knew I needed for the launch of Mini Diamonds. I’ve actually had the idea for a kids range since the brand and her were both one year old but launching it now, with Jadesola being old enough to contribute creatively and functionally, has been better than I ever could have imagined. Mini Diamonds celebrates the bond between mothers and daughters, or even aunties and
nieces as another example. It's about shared moments and the joy of creating memories together. I am so proud of what we've made and deeply grateful for the journey.

During your pause, you chose to rebuild the brand’s infrastructure rather than continue momentum. In an industry obsessed with speed, why was intentional growth important to you?

Speedy growth is always great when it works for a brand, however for us, an intentional pause was the honest step. We had incredible momentum following our launches in Harrods and Alára but those moments also showed me what we needed to rebuild to be fit for global scaling. We made the decision to focus on this rather than giving in to the pressure of maintaining momentum without having the backend required to support the vision. It was a very difficult decision, and there were definitely moments when I questioned myself but looking back, it’s one of the choices I’m most proud of. For me, longevity matters as much as speed. In a world that constantly pushes for more and faster, I hope our community appreciates the honesty and discernment in this choice. We’re back now, stronger, more intentional and ready to pour in a way we couldn’t have before.

Your designs have been worn by globally influential women. How has visibility impacted your sense of responsibility as a designer?

It has reinforced the importance of authenticity and using one’s voice thoughtfully. As the saying goes, ‘everybody else is already taken so be you’. I believe you owe it to yourself to show up as you are. To me, as a designer, that means creating from a place of
truth and clarity first. I’ve found that the more intentional I’ve been in representing my values, heritage and perspective, the deeper the brand has resonated with our women. That genuine connection is what I hope for when designing. Ultimately, I want every woman who wears Titi Adesa to feel even more like herself rather than someone else.

ROOTED balances emotional storytelling with refined luxury craftsmanship. How do you approach designing pieces that feel both intimate and aspirational?

I always begin with our woman, she has access to a variety of options so I think deeply about who she is, what she values, what she considers worthy of her spend and more importantly, what she wants in her wardrobe. I design for that mindset and lifestyle first which is where the intimacy comes from. It’s about creating a genuine dialogue with our woman and understanding how she wants to feel when she gets dressed. From there, I layer in stories and inspirations that I feel are worth sharing and preserving, whether they’re drawn from heritage, travels or moments of life itself. When a piece is meaningful and beautifully made, it becomes something you desire and hopefully return to for years to come.

Dubai played a key role in the collection’s exclusive pre-launch through Level Shoes. What makes the Middle Eastern woman such an important part of the Titi Adesa story?

The Middle East has always held a special place in the story of Titi Adesa. I resonate with the women here - their confidence, regal sense of style and appreciation for quality. Having lived in Dubai for the past two and a half years, my connection to the region has become even deeper. The culture, values and sense of community have naturally informed parts of my daily decisions and in turn, parts of my creative perspective. Partnering with Level Shoes for the exclusive preview of Rooted felt especially meaningful because they have played an important role in our journey. As we continue to expand, I look forward to thoughtfully weaving this connection into the brand.

This collection feels like more than a comeback, it feels like a rebirth. What do you hope women feel when they wear ROOTED?

I see Rooted as a continuation of the conversation we had with our woman which has evolved with time and growth. I hope women feel understood, confident and deeply connected when they wear styles from the collection. More than anything, I want women to feel like the best version of themselves when they wear Titi Adesa. There is warmth, care and intention behind every detail, from design to material choices and beyond. I want the collection to remind our women that softness and strength can coexist, and they can be who they are while becoming.