Nwakor Chisom: Building a Crochet Brand One Stitch at a Time

At first, Nwakor Chisom Success was just a girl who wanted to do more than just be a student, until one conversation changed everything.

Starting With What She Already Knew

Chisom, a 200-level Actuarial Science student at the University of Lagos, did not always know she would go into crochet. Although she always knew she wanted a business. “From a very young age, my mum had already placed that mentality in me,” she said.

She grew up helping out in her mother’s baking business and was deeply involved in it. At some point, she even thought she would continue with baking, but she wanted something of her own.

Therefore, in November 2024, she turned to a skill she had learned in secondary school—crocheting. With the help of YouTube and TikTok tutorials, she began building what is now Somi Crochet.

Seeing an Opportunity Others Overlooked

Around the time she started, crochet products were becoming more popular. People were wearing them. People were talking about them.

However, Chisom noticed something was missing. “There weren’t many people around me that were visible or accessible,” she explained. So she decided to step into that gap, not just to create, but to be seen and to sell.

How Chisom Faced Early Struggles

Like many student entrepreneurs, her biggest challenge was money. “I didn’t have anything to start with,” she said.

To get her first materials, she relied on support from her mother, who gave her money to buy yarn. She started small, making scrunchies just to show people what she could do. Chisom recalled that her mum further supported her by buying two scrunchies just to encourage her.

Balancing school was another challenge. As a fresher, she had to focus on building a strong academic foundation. At some point, she even reduced how much she worked on her business to avoid distractions.

The Moment Everything Shifted

That conversation that changed her mindset was one with her friend.

While she was selling her crocheted scrunchies for ₦800 to ₦1,000, her friend was confidently charging ₦2,500.

It was a wake-up call. She realized she needed to improve her work, build her confidence, and raise her standards. From that point, her business became more intentional.

Chisom is Growing With What She Has

Today, Chisom promotes her business through Instagram and TikTok, sharing both her products and content to reach more people.

She also relies on her community: friends, family, and coursemates, who help by reposting and referring customers.

To manage school and business, she has learned to set boundaries. “I don’t take orders during exam periods,” she said. “So I can focus and prepare well.”

Lessons From Chisom’s Journey

Chisom’s journey has not been perfect. There have been slow periods: months without any orders. Instead of quitting, she sees those moments as a push to do better. “It doesn’t mean I should stop,” she said. “It pushes me to improve.” Her biggest lesson is that growth takes time, faith, and consistency.

For students who want to start but feel unsure, Chisom keeps it simple: Just Start. “Take it one step at a time,” she advised. “Connect with people ahead of you and keep improving.”

Her story is a reminder that you don’t always need a perfect plan to begin. Sometimes, all you need is a small skill, a little support, and the courage to start where you are.