When Lola Atunrase first came to the United States in 1993, it was meant to be a short visit.
“I came to the United States for the first time on vacation,” she recalls. “And then I decided to relocate and come here as what we call missionary students.”
She never imagined that years later, she’d be planting roots in a new country—opening two businesses grounded in purpose, prayer, and passion.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Atunrase is the founder of International Cotoure, a boutique on North Olden Avenue in Ewing. She is also the owner of Agape Daycare, an educational center she opened in 2005. Her journey weaves together a lifelong love of fashion, a deep sense of faith, and an unwavering desire to serve her community.
“Everything I do,” she says, “is mission-driven. It’s about giving back. That’s what I was called to do.”
Lola Atunrase, owner of International Cotoure in Ewing, helps outfit a student at Cadwalader School in Trenton during its Black History Month celebration in February.
Growing up in Nigeria, fashion was always a part of Atunrase’s life. “My mother used to travel to Europe—London, France, Austria, Switzerland—to buy fabrics and clothing to bring back home,” she recalls. “Even as a high school senior, I would help her sell clothes to classmates and their families.”
That early exposure to entrepreneurship planted a seed. However, Atunrase didn’t go straight into fashion. Instead, she earned her first degree in psychology from the University of Lagos.
Eventually, she came to the U.S. as a missionary student. She attended Wagner College in Staten Island, studying management and finance. Her professional path led to Macy’s, and after years in the corporate world, she felt a new calling: education.
“As a concerned parent and someone who prayed for students, I knew God wanted me to open a daycare,” she says. “So I went back to school, to The College of New Jersey, and earned my master’s in education.”
The decision was about more than just business. “It wasn’t my idea,” she says. “It was a God-given mission.”
In 2005, Atunrase opened Agape Daycare, named after the Greek word for unconditional love. The mission of the daycare reflects that philosophy: a judgment-free zone where children are loved, nurtured, and supported.
“We serve everyone, no matter what,” she says. “You’re four years old; you had an accident; you didn’t make it to the bathroom on time—we still love you.”
Atunrase also takes pride in her academic summer camps, which blend two hours of morning education with fun and field trips in the afternoon. “I don’t believe in letting a child do nothing all summer,” she says. “If they come to us, they’re prepared for the next grade. That’s our goal.”
She also plans to open a second daycare in Ewing that stays open until midnight—an intentional move to meet a critical need in the community. “There are so many parents who work second shifts or want to go back to school, but they have no one to watch their kids,” she says. “We’re here to fill that void.”
While education was part of her mission, fashion remained in her heart. Eventually, she opened International Cotoure in Ewing in June 2023. “To dream of something for years and then see it come to life—it was beautiful,” she says. “The mayor came for our ribbon cutting. I’ll never forget that day.”
Staff members from Cadwalader School in Trenton show off fashions from International Cotoure in Ewing during the school’s Black History Month celebration.
The boutique specializes in global fashion—true to its name. “We are international in every sense of the word,” she says. “We carry Indian wear, Muslim fashion, and English designer labels. We serve everyone—Christian, Muslim, Hindu—it doesn’t matter. We are inclusive.”
What sets International Cotoure apart is its custom design service. “People come in and show me something they saw on Instagram or TikTok, and we make it for them,” she explains. “We’ll change the sleeves, add a slit—whatever they want. It’s made just for them.”
The name itself is a fusion of cultures and meaning. “People think it’s a typo, but ‘Cotoure’ is intentionally spelled. ‘Coto’ is an African word for land, strength, and excellence,” she says. “It reflects who we are and what we do.”
Atunrase is quick to credit her family and faith for shaping her work. Her husband, a pastor, has spent 30 years ministering in Trenton’s prison system. “Every Saturday, he visits the forensics center, serving the criminally insane,” she says. “That’s what we do. That’s our life.”
Their church, Cornerstone Bible Fellowship in Levittown, Pennsylvania, is another way Atunrase and her family give back to their community. “Our church is where people come when they feel overwhelmed, stressed, or in need of help,” she says. “My life is to give back.”
Atunrase’s children are just as accomplished, with careers in photography, fashion, and even the U.S. Marines. “We’re a fashion family,” she says. “Even my youngest, a Marine, has his own line of clothing.”
Her mission doesn’t stop at clothing racks and classrooms. A new platform is in the works—one that blends her love of education, culture, and conversation.
“We’re bringing people together to talk about their experiences,” she says. “It’s all about building community. If someone wants us to speak on a topic, they just email us. We want to bring awareness to issues that matter.”
Like many small business owners, Atunrase has encountered her share of obstacles. Running a for-profit daycare meant limited access to grants and public funding. But her mindset remained steady: “I’ve never worried, because the one who called me to do this has always provided,” she says.
Atunrase is especially passionate about mentoring women—particularly women of color—who dream of becoming business owners. Her advice begins with reflection.
“Start by asking yourself why,” she says. “Why are you doing this? Because without a purpose, the challenges will knock you over.”
She urges aspiring entrepreneurs to research needs in their communities. “You should look for the void in the community and then do everything you can to fill it. That’s how you build something that lasts.”
Looking ahead, Atunrase has plans to expand her mission. A second location for International Cotoure may open in North Brunswick or Princeton—strategic hubs where diversity and demand meet.
Through it all, one truth has remained constant: Atunrase’s purpose is bigger than fashion or education—it’s about love in action.
“I love people. You have to love people to be able to up and leave your country of birth to come to a different country to serve. You have to love people to beautify them with your experience from nations around the world.”