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Emifa Gafe

Founder & Creative Director, ISRAELLA KOBLA · 1 appearance on the record.

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Emefa Kuadey is a British-born Ghanaian designer who transitioned from civil engineering to found the Toronto-based minimalist fashion label ISRAELLA KOBLA in 2019. Known for architectural, made-to-order women's apparel, she won the 2022 Bay Fashion Fund Award and expanded her brand into major retailers, including Hudson's Bay and Nordstrom.

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5 disclosures · every statement was checked. none of them is a claim the record can settle: opinions, insights and disclosures never carry an assessment.

Everything Emifa Gafe said on How I Built This that made the record, most notable first. Filter by type, assessment or year in the ledger →

Disclosure
Gafe: Nordstrom became Israella Kobla's largest wholesale partner in 2023
“In 2023, we also launched with Nordstrom. And so they right now are our biggest retail wholesale partnership.”
Emifa Gafe Jul 16, 2026 ▶ 18:50 Advice Line with Kenneth Cole
Disclosure
Gafe: Israella Kobla nets 35% to 50% wholesale margins prior to markup
“Our margins, they vary between 35 and 50%, and then obviously we plan for them to have a 60% markup on top of that, so we are able to make money that way, I think, because of our flexibility.”
Emifa Gafe Jul 16, 2026 ▶ 21:48 Advice Line with Kenneth Cole
Disclosure
Gafe: Israella Kobla launched with Hudson's Bay in 2021
“In 2021, we launched with Hudson's Bay through their marketplace, eventually managed to scale that and getting to Three of their stores, including their flagship location.”
Emifa Gafe Jul 16, 2026 ▶ 18:36 Advice Line with Kenneth Cole
Disclosure
Gafe: Wholesale accounts for 85% of Israella Kobla's revenue
“I'd say a solid 85% is wholesale, and then the remaining 15 D to C.”
Emifa Gafe Jul 16, 2026 ▶ 19:09 Advice Line with Kenneth Cole
Disclosure
Gafe: Israella Kobla generated just under $400K in sales last year
“We were just under about 400 K.”
Emifa Gafe Jul 16, 2026 ▶ 19:19 Advice Line with Kenneth Cole

Appearances (1)

EpisodeDateSpeaking time
Advice Line with Kenneth Cole Jul 16, 2026 5m
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