Okera Banks: The Power of Reinvention in Fashion and Faith
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Rhonda Coleman Wandel Podcast, Okera Banks, designer, style expert, and founder of the Okera Banks Collection and OTG Essentials, shares her remarkable journey from Charleston to Hollywood to building a global fashion brand rooted in purpose. From her early years in costume design to launching her own line, Okera opens up about courage, creativity, and the spiritual faith that has guided every pivot. Her story is a masterclass in trusting your instincts and designing a life that fits who you truly are.
Key Takeaways:
How Okera Banks turned her love of fashion into a purpose-driven brand
The difference between a stylist, a costume designer, and a fashion designer
Why every woman should learn to “be comfortable being uncomfortable.
How faith and intuition can lead your biggest life pivots
Lessons from working in Hollywood, fashion, and entrepreneurship
The importance of legacy, community, and building “brick by brick.”
Meet Okera Banks
Okera Banks is an American designer, style expert, and entrepreneur whose work blends elegance, confidence, and authenticity. She is the founder of Okera Banks Collection and OTG Essentials, created for women who lead with purpose and live life on the go. Her designs have been featured on CNN, VH1, and E! Online and are sold in boutiques including Hudson’s Atlanta Airport and the Bank of America Marketplace by Seneca Women. A graduate of Clark Atlanta University, Okera’s mission is simple: to help women “travel in on-the-go style.”
How She Pivoted
Okera Banks began her career as a costume designer and stylist in Hollywood, working behind the scenes on television and film. But her entrepreneurial spirit and design education kept calling her toward something bigger. What began as a birthday gift of handmade skirts eventually evolved into a full-fledged fashion line.
“I didn’t chase exposure, I just needed an outfit I couldn’t find. That’s how the first collection was born,” shared Okera Banks on episode 32 of the Rhonda Coleman Wandel podcast.
Through fearless pivots, Okera transitioned from entertainment to entrepreneurship, creating timeless collections for women who want to look stylish while living in motion. Each piece, she says, is designed to make women feel confident, comfortable, and seen.
Insights for Ambitious Women
Okera’s wisdom extends far beyond fashion. She speaks candidly about resilience, financial freedom, and how obedience to God shapes her creativity and direction.
“Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t let fear or other people’s opinions talk you out of what God told you to do,” encouraged Okera Banks on the RCW podcast
Her story is an empowering reminder that success is not linear, and that the real work of becoming who you’re meant to be starts with faith, courage, and the willingness to pivot.
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