Meet Lola Ogundele | Founder of Lola Love Dolls

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lola Ogundele and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lola, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Well, I could not find dark-skinned dolls for my daughter in a high street store. I looked week after week but could not find a single dark-skinned doll. I only saw a single doll that was relatively light-skinned and had straight hair, whereas, at the Disney Store, the only black doll I found was Princess Tiana. I kept thinking, “why is it so hard to find a black dolly with an afro?”. My daughter would be upset over the fact that we could not find a single black dolly for her to play with. Kids grow up playing with things they connect with better if they resemble them in a way, especially when it comes to dolls. A study suggests that doll play activates brain regions that allow children to develop empathy and social information processing skills.
The lack of representation of dolls that reflect dark skin women and their features plays a considerable part in a child’s perception of beauty standards. Little black girls grow up seeing light-skinned dolls with straight hair, and they start thinking that they are not as important after seeing that there are no dolls that represent them. I wanted to change things for my daughter and all little girls. That is when I decided there was no point in complaining and that I should start my business of selling dark-skinned dolls with beautiful afros, feature outfits that represent African culture. I hope that my dolls will be the start of a movement that delivers a message about representation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I sell black dolls that symbolize our ethnicity online at Lolalovedolls in the UK. My inspiration behind the company, which has always been my daughter, sets my business apart from others.

The doll was a favorite of my daughters, but she recognized that the doll did not have hair like hers. Hence, I went back to the store, and to my disbelief, I discovered that there were no dolls with curls like my daughters. That was the day I decided to take action. Lolalovedolls was created after my daughter asked me if we could make dolls with which she and other girls her age could relate. This is a primary reason all our dolls at Lolalovedolls have kinky hair.

In the beginning, however, it was not easy, but I have always believed in aiming high, putting in the effort, and never giving up. I am genuinely very proud of this attitude that has always made me accomplish anything I have set my mind.

As a Black woman business owner, I’ve observed the lack of diversity and inclusion. I didn’t think my business would succeed when I initially started it. I didn’t have a plan or a budget, and, to be honest, I’m still learning. I wish I could one day have my crew and create a warehouse or shop.

Despite all the struggles, the most important lesson I have learned along the way is to be clear about who you are and own it.

Lolalovedolls is about the importance of positive representation and the impact black dolls can have on young girls. We believe that representation is everything,

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When you have set your foot in Kensington for a week, there are many things available for you to enjoy. Each day can be dedicated to every kind of art, culture, and history Kensington offers.
Starting with Monday, the day is beautiful, and I want to go out in the sun to have breakfast at the Holland Park Cafe right in Holland Park to enjoy nature and the people. We can dedicate this day to art and beauty. So, I would take my best friend to Victoria & Albert Museum, the exhibitions and displays of science and history are very intriguing. We can have lunch at a local cafe or a light snack as we head to the Bramham Gardens. The view there is something to be in awe of. When the sun sets, we can hail a cab that will take us to Churchill Arms, one of the liveliest pubs in all of Kensington.

The rest of the week will be variations of Monday. The difference would be that I will have my best friend get some taste of the royal history and places that are open to the public, like Kensington Palace. I have spent some days there with my daughter and would love to experience something similar with my best friend.

Although, when the weekend arrives, I will do something I have booked before my best friend’s arrival. A concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The philharmonic orchestra that happens on Sunday would be the best activity to opt for as their stay ends. As I wanted to show my friend the best my area has to offer I would say a concert like that would be a cherry on top!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My daughter has been the primary source of encouragement for me. I always wanted her to grow up loving who she is and where she comes from. Seeing her getting excited over something that finally represents her is something that keeps me going. The lack of representation was a driving force in coming up with my business idea and now, seeing my vision come to life and seeing little girls loving it brings me a lot of joy and the drive to keep progressing. My daughter and her desire to have something that represents her and something that she can connect with was the primary catalyst that started this whole movement.
Besides that, the story of Annie Turnbo Malone as a pioneer who made a revolutionary breakthrough through personal resilience, savvy business skills, and innovative products forever changed beauty’s face. She was the first black female entrepreneur to become a millionaire. After recognizing the lack of safe hair care products for African American women, she came up with her line of products. After seeing the huge impact that her idea had on these women, she shared her knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit with her community. Just as she recognized the lack of representation and used this gap in the market to start her own business, it inspired me too to do something that my daughter and all little girls out there can be proud of. There are countless stories of Black female entrepreneurs who paved the way for innovation, diversity, and inclusion, and their work still inspires women of today. Their stories of struggle and success are my true source of inspiration.

Website: Lolalovedolls.com

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