"It was shocking to realize that a nylon bag I threw away today would still be around when my grandchildren are born." — Ayomide Amusan, Founder Arayii.

Some founders begin with a plan. For Ayomide, the problem began with a challenge that had been sitting in plain sight for generations. After discovering that plastic waste can take up to 450 years to decompose, she couldn’t shake the thought off. It wasn’t just shocking; it was personal.

That moment of realization led her on a path of discovery, failure, creativity, and eventually, innovation.

Now, through Arayii, she’s transforming nylon waste into durable, fabric-like materials used for stylish fashion accessories, giving waste a second life, and making the planet a better place.

Sit back and enjoy our conversation with Ayomide Amusan, and don't forget to take notes because you'll definitely get a lot of insights from it.

What Sparked The Idea Behind Arayii's Product?

"I’ve always been a curious person. One day, I came across the fact that plastic waste takes about 450 years to decompose. That hit me hard. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, how something so disposable outlives generations. I started asking, 'What if this waste could become something useful?' That’s where the idea started."

She noticed that while plastic bottles were already being recycled in many industries, nylon waste was largely ignored. Yet nylon, with the right touch, had potential.

As someone with a background in fashion accessory design, Ayomide began experimenting, slowly turning nylon waste into something usable and beautiful.

"It wasn’t just about recycling, it was about reimagining."

What Challenges Did You Face During Product Development?

"Oh, a lot! First, nylon is tricky. It doesn’t behave like other materials. Some days, it would burn too fast. Other days, it wouldn’t melt at all. I had to fail so many times before getting anything right."

One big challenge Ayomide encountered was the fact that she couldn't find anybody else doing what she wanted to do. So she had no blueprint she could turn to, so she solely depended on research, reading, experimenting, and learning through trial and error.

"I didn’t have anyone to copy. No mentor in this space. Just curiosity and stubbornness. I learned how to treat the nylon to get a leather-like finish. Every failure taught me something, and that’s what kept me going."

"Persistence taught me more than any manual could."

How Did You Source Materials In The Early Days?

“At first, back in OAU, I just asked people around me to give me their used nylon bags. Friends and classmates would hand them over, but I quickly realized that wasn’t sustainable. The vision I have for Arayii is big. I knew I couldn’t build a serious business just collecting nylon from friends.

It was actually this year that I finally found a solution. I discovered that there are waste pickers who make a living collecting materials like nylon. So I started working with them.

I paid them to supply nylon, and to my surprise, I was able to get up to a ton—that’s 1,000 kilograms! The supplier even told me that if I needed five tons, he could get it. That really opened my eyes to just how much waste is out there.”

But sourcing wasn't the only issue. Not all nylon behaved the same. Scaling production meant understanding not just waste, but the science behind it.

"There were times we’d prepare a batch, and it would be completely unusable for what we wanted to use it for. Then we'll have to use it for something else. It takes precision. I’ve learned to understand the materials."

"Working with waste teaches you patience, creativity, and chemistry all at once. With Arayii, there's no waste products."

What was the hardest part about getting people to believe in your product?

"The hardest part? Convincing people it was real. People looked at me like I was joking. ‘Nylon to leather? ‘How is that possible?’ I realized quickly that talking wasn’t enough. I had to show them."

So Ayomide began taking her products everywhere: conferences, churches, markets, and events. Once people touched the items, everything changed.

"They’d say, ‘Wait, this was made from waste?’ and then they’d want one. That’s when I understood: your product has to speak for itself."

"Seeing is believing, especially when you're building something unfamiliar."

How Has the Journey Shaped You Personally?

"I’ve grown so much. Not just in business, but as a person. I used to be shy, but now I can pitch, present, and network. I’ve learned content creation, public speaking, and negotiating."

Beyond hard skills, she also developed resilience and emotional intelligence.

"Entrepreneurship exposes you to pressure. You can’t give up. I’ve had to learn how to stay grounded, how to be patient, and how to lead, even when I’m unsure."

"This journey forced me to grow into the kind of person I never imagined I could be."

What books or resources have helped you most?

"One book that changed me was Think and Grow Rich. It made me believe in the power of vision and thought. Right now, I’m reading Diary Of A CEO, by Steven Bartlett."

She also learns by doing and by reflecting.

"Books give you frameworks, but experience teaches you how to apply them."

What Do You Think About Building A Team?

"It’s hard. Not everyone has the heart or patience for this kind of work. You need people with both character and competence. I’ve had people join who couldn’t handle the messiness of it all."

Emotional intelligence, she says, is non-negotiable.

"Arayii’s product isn’t just about bags. It’s about values. I need people who believe in what we’re doing, not just in making money."

"The right team doesn’t just build your business, they protect your vision."

What’s Your Vision for the Future?

"Global. That’s the word. I want Arayii’s product to reach people all over the world. But not just that, I want to maintain quality. I want people to buy our bags because they love them, not just because they’re recycled."

She’s currently working on a relaunch that will feature new product lines and better packaging.

"I want our next launch to feel premium. Because sustainability should never mean second-best."

"I don’t just want to be part of the sustainability conversation, I want to lead it."

Any Final Words for Other Founders?

"Start small. Fail fast. Learn quickly. You’re not going to have it all figured out; that’s normal. Just keep going."

And perhaps more importantly:

"You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to start, and be willing to figure things out along the way."

Follow Ayomide Amusan and stay updated on Arayii’s product launch via

Did You Know?

YouTube was originally a video dating site launched on Valentine’s Day, 2005.

When no one uploaded dating videos, the founders opened it to any kind of video, and that pivot changed everything.

Sometimes, the breakthrough isn’t the idea you started with; it’s what your users show you.

Keep building. Stay curious. Your pivot might be your biggest win.

In Case You Missed It.

• “I Wasn’t Inspired to Become a Founder.” Interview with LadyF, founder of Mentorix.
• “You can’t build for the market if you’re not in the market”. Interview session with Robert Bette, Founder of Skan.io and Reeplay.

See you in the next Founder Spotlight.