Ade + Ayo
Introducing kids to the beauty of African design
Culture, Community and Connection
A Shared Vision, One Mom to Another
Hello! My name is Ezi, and I’m the proud owner of Ade + Ayo.
As a Nigerian-American, this brand holds deep personal meaning for me. My heritage has always been an important part of who I am, shaped by a childhood rich in cultural values, language, music, and tradition. But outside of special occasions like weddings or church, I rarely saw African prints and patterns in my daily life. They weren’t in the clothes I wore, the toys I played with, or the books I read. That absence left a lasting impression. It’s part of what excites me about building something different for our children—something vibrant, playful, and filled with pride so they can see and experience African culture every day.
As a mother of four little ones, I understand both the joy and challenges of raising children while staying connected to your roots. It's this passion that drew me to Ade + Ayo: a brand that celebrates Africa's artistic excellence through high-quality, thoughtfully designed apparel for our families. This brand is inspired by African heritage and brings that spirit to life in every print.
I’m grateful to Temidayo, Ade + Ayo’s visionary founder, for laying such a strong foundation. Her heart and creativity will always be part of this community, and I’m committed to maintaining the quality, cultural authenticity, and joyful designs in every product this brand creates.
Whether you’re just discovering us or have been here from the start— thank you! Your support means the world to me. I’m thrilled to continue this journey with you, helping families like mine and yours build a lasting legacy together.
—Ezi, Owner & CEO
Created by a Mom
My name is Temidayo, and through Ade + Ayo, I design and curate a collection of beautifully crafted items that make the African aesthetic practical for the littlest among us, while keeping things modern and affordable for you. I love bringing the warmth, vibrance and joy of African cultures to your home through beautiful and practical pieces you and your baby will love.
Ade + Ayo is a dream of mine that was born when I was pregnant with my first baby. As a Nigerian Canadian now living in the United States, I've experienced a lot of changes in my life. The smell of Nigerian food, the sound of Nigerian music and the colors and patterns of traditional Nigerian clothing have made everywhere I've lived feel like home. My Nigerian culture has been a source of pride and joy for me, and I wanted it to be that for my son as well. As I excitedly started working on my son's nursery and wardrobe, the search for nursery decor and baby clothes that would remind me of home and introduce him to the beauty of Africa revealed a huge gap. I could not find clothes in my traditional colors and patterns that would be comfortable enough for daily wear, and any “African-inspired” nursery decor I could find either equated African design with a “safari” theme or was too expensive. I was saddened to see this, but also motivated to provide a solution. So, Ade + Ayo was born.
“Ade + Ayo” combines the Yoruba (Nigerian language) words for “crown” and “joy,” reflecting the pride and happiness children bring to their parents’ lives.
Thank you for stopping by and being a part of our story. I hope that Ade + Ayo can bring some beauty, joy and connection to your child's world.
—Temidayo, Founder
Designed for your child
Children are at the heart of everything we do at Ade + Ayo. We create products they'll love, help them build connections to their global community, donate to support their education and make choices that keep the earth safe for them.
Our Mission
Our hearts and minds are shaped in part by the things that we bring into our homes, the things that we are told are beautiful and the things that are normalized for us. Right now, across the spectrum of objects a child interacts with in the home – from books and clothing to bedding and toys – the African voice is missing from the average home. Ade + Ayo closes this representation gap by providing you with beautifully crafted African-inspired children’s goods that are comfortable and practical for your children, while remaining modern and affordable for you.
My vision for Ade + Ayo is to foster connection for children. For those children born to Africans or people in the African diaspora, our well-crafted items bring connection to heritage, imbuing daily play and exploration with culture. For all children, I believe that Ade + Ayo can encourage a connection to our global community. Our products will ignite curiosity and spark love and respect for the people and cultures whose stories these items tell.
Giving Back
Ade + Ayo’s collections are beautiful, comfortable and kind. The “kind” refers to our core commitments: the priority we place on artisan-crafted products and our focus on eco-friendly and sustainable practices. "Kind" also refers to our commitment to donating a portion of the proceeds from Ade + Ayo to organizations aiming to improve the education gap for young children in sub-Saharan Africa.
The organizations we'll be contributing are:
Fall and Winter
Imagine Worldwide
Spring and Summer
Ubongo