Case Study: How Tribal Eyes Scaled Globally with The Folklore’s AI, Retail Partnerships, and Community

Dr. Ona Utuama, a Houston-based physician turned entrepreneur, founded Tribal Eyes to reimagine eyewear design. What started as her passion for creating inclusive, culturally inspired eyewear has grown into an independent brand making waves globally.

Tribal Eyes designs have gone beyond the physical boundaries of a pair of glasses, infusing culture and fit into everyday wearable pieces. By focusing on bigger noses, wide nasal bridges, high cheekbones, or no nasal bridges, they are changing the narrative that eyewear is not a one-size-fits-all.

With The Folklore’s support, Dr. Utuama was able to scale Tribal Eyes — proving that with the right tools, anyone can build and grow a global fashion business.

The Challenge: Competing as an Independent Brand

Tribal Eyes faced common challenges for independent brands:

• Producing high-quality product images without high costs.

• Breaking into major retail channels like Nordstrom.

• Finding a supportive community for networking and growth.

Without these, scaling globally would have required significant time and financial investment.

The Folklore Solution

AI-Powered Product Imagery

The Folklore’s AI product image tools allowed Tribal Eyes to generate professional visuals quickly and affordably. This reduced the need for costly photoshoots and gave the brand a consistent look across retail channels.

Premium Marketplace Access with Nordstrom

Through The Folklore’s Premium Marketplace Selling feature, Tribal Eyes launched on Nordstrom.com. In just three months, the brand secured over a dozen new orders and saw a 30% increase in seasonal sales. With only a $447/quarter subscription, this translated into a 4.25x ROI.

Community-Driven Growth

The Folklore’s global brand community provided Tribal Eyes with connections, resources, and networking opportunities. Virtual mixers, educational resources, and peer support gave the brand a foundation for sustainable, long-term growth.

Results: Strong ROI and Retail Growth

By using The Folklore, Tribal Eyes:

• Cut content costs using AI-powered imagery tools.

• Drove a 30% seasonal sales increase through Nordstrom.

• Achieved 4.25x ROI on subscription fees.

• Built stronger visibility in the global fashion market.

• Joined a thriving community of independent designers.

Key Takeaway

For independent brands, The Folklore is more than a marketplace — it’s a growth engine. With AI-powered tools, retail partnerships, and community support, Tribal Eyes transformed its operations and scaled globally in just one season.

Ready to Scale Your Brand Globally?

If you’re a fashion, beauty, wellness, home, kids & baby, or accessories brand looking to sell in the U.S. and beyond, The Folklore is built for you.

Join The Folklore today to access AI-powered tools and international storefronts that save you time, save you money, and help you convert more customers.