There are times when you have everything you need but somehow you just cannot pull it through together.

The most important thing is how you blend your combination.  What you need to stand out is vintage  fashion, which  is about mixing the old with the new; maybe even something borrowed and something blue.

The word vintage was first used in the early 15th century. It was the 1930/1940 dress code adapted from the old French vendage (wine harvest).

It was commonly used to refer to all old styles of clothing. In recent times, the old fashion is coming back to life looking more fabulous, comfortable and trendy.

Most modern clothing is not made with durability in mind due to the desire for trends.

Vintage clothing tends to be more durable because it was made in decades where endurance was more important than changing looks.

Clothing items you can opt for in this category to get the vintage look are T-shirt,  jackets, short sleeved shirt, sweatshirts, hoodies, dresses and  blouses.

Vintage fashion is really trending. It was brought back to Nigeria early 2018/2019. We see guys rocking baggy shirts and ladies also in nice vintage shirts and dresses. It is even a very good option for relaxation at the beach with denims or shorts.

It is loved by most people because it’s something that they don’t really have to stress themselves about when dressing. It is free, classy, trendy and has a strong relaxation style.

Every outing is special and the way you put together your outfits says a lot about who you really are.

For casual outings, there are a number of combinations that make you stand out.

But there are times when you want to jettison the usual and take a break from jeans, shirts, trousers and print designs.

Read Also: Get creative with smart jackets

At such moments, you can just rock a smart, classy outfit. Here all you need is just make it look unique, simple and stunning!

Here, the shorter length caftans and leggings come to mind and you find them in different designs, colours and shades that are exciting and trendy.

The caftan is a narrow cut, long robe with full sleeves either with deep open neck or fully open to the floor. This type of dressing is smart and classy if combined well and uniquely.

Designers now create the shorter caftan in unique styles with sequins, stones, stones, flowery patches as well as embroidery. The effect can be played up with off-shoulder, v- neck or round neck shape to bring out the beauty of the outfit.

The outfit usually looks fabulous when worn with jergens or leggings.

Rita Ofili is a physically-challenged wheel chair model, motivational speaker, actor and counselor. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde she takes you into her world, inspiring other people with disability as well as competing in the Miss Wheelchair World pageant.

Tell us about life as physically challenged wheelchair model?

My life as a physical wheelchair model has been quite challenging. This is because of the challenges relating to the rejection and stigma all because am I on wheelchair. If you look around, you will see that persons on wheelchair haven’t been seen as potential “Model” or a brand ambassador, influencer or celebrity.

In addition, you find that most people in the modeling and fashion industry discriminate against persons with disability when it comes to acceptance or endorsements for brands. But, the truth of the matter is that we do buy their clothes, eye glasses, shoes even when we don’t really walk on our legs.

For designers, I would say that the big question is why don’t they think that the disabled community need to be represented, I strongly believe that we are worthy of influencing what we use.

What are the things that inspire you?

I am inspired by a lot of things and this include God, disability, books, life experience, nature, meditation, visual and environmental art.

God is my number one inspiration. The above mentioned are the things that inspire me in life. In the course of my disability, I found abilities, creativities, diversity and other things that I can do mentally and they continue to inspire me from time to time.

Tell us about some of the memorable moments in your life career?

My first memorable moment in life was when I got admission into secondary school. The experience was interesting because   I was the only person with physical disability. That was at the Federal Government Girls College, Ibusa Delta state in 1996.

The second memorable moment was when an American man whose  organisation known as Beautiful You Fashion Tour endorsed me as an International Model from Nigeria.

Another memorable moment was when I won 500,000 thousand naira grant from British American Tobacco fund. This was to support a project that I was working on, creating a drama, documentary and YouTube content in 2019/20.

Looking back memory lane, I would also say that being the first wheelchair model in pageantry and representing Nigeria by participating in Miss Wheelchair World Mexico this year is also one of the biggest moments in life and career.

You are a finalist for the Miss Wheelchair world pageant taking place in Mexico this year, what are your preparations for the competition?

That is a very important pageant for me and I am going to give it my best. I am among 27 finalists of the Miss Wheelchair world pageant taking place in Mexico on October 23rd 2022. I must confess that my preparation for the competition is very tasking and demanding but I am very optimistic and not deterred by any of the challenges. It boils down in raising funds to support me in buying my tickets, clothes, have a National Costume that is awesome, wheelchair, visa amongst others.

What are your expectations for the pageant?

My expectations are to standout whilst sitting, wheeling, facing the panel of judges, as well as answering their questions with confidence. I am also working to have proper presentation skills, relating very well with the other contestants and to win Miss Wheelchair world 2022.

Let’s talk about life as a motivational speaker?

Motivating other people inspires me a lot. I actually use my life experience to tell stories, deliver speeches with the intention to motivate and inspire people around the world. I often encourage the disabled community to look at things from a different and perspective, and motivate them to take positive action in their lives.

You are also an actress, what are some of the things you have done and some of the people you have worked with over the years?

Yes, acting is another interesting and exciting aspect of my life.  I am a wheelchair actor and I have acted alongside with people like Akeem Abuduraman an A list Actor on Drama series and Richard Akindele titled Disability strays. However it is yet to go to the cinema and I have great hopes about my prospect in the sector.

What are the challenges?

Like every other sector, it has its own challenges. The challenges include lack of an office space, inaccessible buildings, transport system and lack of funds. However, I see every challenge as a stepping stone and they actually spur me to do more as well as find solutions.

Tell us about life as a counselor?

Counseling is already a way of life for me. The things I do as a counselor for persons with disabilities are done to motivate, inspire and open their eyes to a variety of opportunities that would help to change their world. So, here we have one on one admonishment, advice, therapy, mentoring, soliciting for funds to do give away among people with disabilities as well as free distribution of wheelchair through Ephaphata Hope Foundation.

This means that human investments and employment is the greatest achievement of life.

You have also done a number of Charity work. Let’s talk about this and what it means to you?

Yes, I do this through the Ephaphata Hope Foundation. The organisation is non governmental organisation where we reach out and touch the lives of the less privilege as well as people with disabilities. The Foundation has helped me accomplish my mission, vision and goals. My mission is 100 percent legit because all parts of the strategic plan have helped me to be focused especially with my team. I get a lot of inspiration and direction on what I need to work on pertaining to the development of the disabled community in Nigeria.

Our core objectives are to provide free wheelchair and other adaptive aids that will support wheelchair users. In addition, we also give scholarship to those on wheelchair, create awareness   on the different issues affecting wheelchair users and empower them through education, empowerment and skills acquisition.

Ephaphata Hope Foundation social events is always an occasion where people with disabilities, wheelchair users  particularly  gather for social interaction and entertainment such as shooting of documentary, drama,party,restaurants , networking, meetings and more.

This also involves the counseling for people with disabilities and their wards or Parents caring for special needs children in management of Mental Health issues.

What advice do you have for physically challenged people?

It’s a tough world and determination to succeed is very important. My advise usually is that people with disabilities must train themselves, go to school get educated, learn skills and be productive in the society.

In addition, it is very important for physically challenged people to be open minded, ready to explore different opportunity and never give up. Having exposure to different skills, opportunities and ways of doing things is very paramount in our lives.

How would you assess beauty pageant in Nigeria today?

The crux of the matter is that beauty pageant in Nigeria is not inclusive, accessible and there are no diversity measures in place.

What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

I have a lot of things that I am working on and I try to put in my best to stand out. The act of imagination and creativity of how to be creative in the disability market niche occupies my time hundred per cent.

Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

The greatest influence in life is God, my biological Sister Diba Anele and Pastor Chris Oyahkilome.

How do you relax?

I relax through praying and speaking in tongues. I also love listening to blues at a low tempo, dancing, reading, playing with kids and teenagers. I also engage in straight talk conversations with family and friends.

Nature provides us with a number of trendy design options that have turned out to be beautiful, exciting, irresistible as well as very creative.

Flowers, plants, trees, animal skin are great inspiration for our designers and they keep on evolving with styles that have become a must have.

Images from the Ocean are a great delight for many. This include  fish, prawns , shrimps, lobsters , shells , crabs, waves boats, sea turtles ,shark, dolphins, whales , octopus  waves and so many other amazing scenery that have become a great source of creativity on the fashion scene.

Read Also: Stella’s stellar exploits in fashion

You get this on fabrics, accessories and more.

Ocean treasures and aquatic treasures are a delight. These images are everywhere and have endorsed a number of fashion accessories items that our women just cannot do without in unique ways.

Apart from clothes designs with embroidery, patches and fabrics you find them standing on in bag designs, shoes as well as jewelry for that special effect.

A number of our designers have used these images creatively and churned out a number of creative pieces using additions that continue to set a pace and create unique fashion statements.

Adedoyin Babalola studied Chemical Engineering but her heart and hands were in the creative sector. This gradually took her to the fashion industry, learning at the feet of fashion and bridal experts like Kosibah , London College of Fashion and reading a lot of books for inspiration. Today, her passion and love of colours has changed her world. Now, she’s mentoring young designers with the brand Kaffykreate. Her time in retail in the UK has also been a great influence in her creations infusing western and African fashion together. In this interview with YETUNDE OLADEINDE, she takes you into life as a fashion designer, tutor as well as her recent exhibitions on local and international runways.

Tell us about your designs and the things that inspire you?

My designs are always a reflection of my state of mind. I am a happy person and you can see and feel this in what I do. Interestingly, my aesthetics can change depending on the mood of the collection that I am working on. However, one thing is constant, I always want the Kaffy woman to look her best, turn heads and still be comfortable. I love colors; I am more of a classic and timeless designer, though I try to incorporate trends.

I am inspired by so many things, my environment, climates, culture, people, trends, fabrics, seasons, the target market, all of these and more influence my designs.

What was the experience like at the beginning?

I have had a lot of beginnings in different aspects of my life. So, I would say  that beginnings are not usually the easiest, but because passion is the driving force for me, I don’t even realize how difficult the beginning is until I pass through it.

For creation and growth of Kaffykreate, the beginning was hard and slow, there were a number of hurdles I had to scale before real growth started. The challenges then centered around building a customer base, charting a course for the company, employing, training and retaining competent hands and finally, and most importantly, raising capital. But because my focus was on the goal and my passion was raging, I pushed a little harder and continued to push and fight especially now that I am scaling up.

Tell us about your recent Exhibition in Europe tagged Fashion through the ages?

This year’s Afro Hair and Beauty Show – the largest hair and beauty show in Europe was the show’s 40th anniversary and to celebrate this anniversary they wanted to show fashion and hair through the decades on the runway. This anniversary not only coincided with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration in London, United Kingdom but was also listed as one of the events to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

I, alongside other top designers, graced the runway with our designs showcasing fashion through the decades. I showcased two 50’s full skirt dresses and also a 70’s jumpsuit. I was privileged to be on the same runway and interact with great designers like Adebayo Jones, one of Nigeria’s biggest fashion designers. The experience was awesome.

I also had an exhibition stand and it was a great event for sales, meeting new customers and expanding the borders of KaffyKreate.

Let’s talk about some of the memorable moments in the sector?

There are a number of memorable moments for me since I started playing within this sector. I will touch on three among the long list that I have.

The earliest memorable moment for me in this sector will be when I came second at the annual FADAN talent hunt competition in 2010. The competition had quite a number of contestants from across the length and breadth of Nigeria that participated.  You can imagine my joy when I not only made it to the finals among all the contestants but came second overall in Nigeria.

Another memorable moment for me will be when I opened my fashion fabric and accessories store in 2018. It was a culmination of hard work, sleepless nights, huge financial and mental investment and also the birth of a dream.

The third and final memorable moment for me is the recent visit to the United Kingdom. Though not my first business visit to the United Kingdom but my first runway experience. It came on a very grand stage and with notable and reputable players within the sector.

What are the challenges you encountered?

Well, same as most other entrepreneurs in the country. Top on this list is lack of electricity. This is followed closely by lack of access to single digit interest loans that can spur the growth of SMEs, though the government has variously advertised availability of these loans and grants to SMEs, access has remained a huge challenge as one seems to never be good enough to benefit from them. These are followed closely by unprofessional behaviour or conduct of artisans, steady increase in prices of raw materials due to inflation, scarcity of raw materials, lack of access to global sales and payment platforms like Etsy, Paypal, Facebook Marketplace among others. As widespread as the use of Instagram is in Nigeria, Instagram shop is not available to Nigerians to list and sell products and services, how then do you go global.

Over the years, I have learnt to face my challenges head on and turn them into stepping stones for scaling my business.

You interned with Kosibah, a bridal expert. What lessons did you learn from him?

I interned with Kosibah at his King’s Cross London Studio. This gave me a big boost as I got access to top tier fashion designing at an early stage of my journey. The first thing I learnt from him is that you should carve a niche for yourself by narrowing down and becoming known widely for a particular style, product or service and then you can add other things as you grow. In other words, you should have a unique selling point that differentiates you from the next service provider and gives your product an edge.

I learnt how to make amazing corset from him, way back before corsets became the trend. I understood the dynamics of structure and making a wedding dress. I learnt precision, I understood contoured patterns and dress making, I learnt so much from him during our short stint together.

What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

Spending time with family, window shopping, strategizing, cooking, watching YouTube, fabric shopping, Filming and editing YouTube are some of the other things that occupy my time. I also participate in online courses, I love traveling and creative thinking.

Why did you study Chemical Engineering and what have you done with this? Has it helped your designs in any way?

Petro-chemical Engineering was actually my first choice, because I enjoyed that part of Chemistry that had all the carbon, methane, butane etc.  But Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) only had Chemical Engineering, so I had to settle for Chemical Engineering. Apart from having my “Industrial Attachment” at NNPC Towers Abuja and PPMC Takwa bay, Lagos, I have not done anything with this. However, it has helped a lot, maybe not in designing and creating styles but, in the area of developing skills in pattern drafting, in analyzing designs easily, breaking a design into bits of processes because chemical engineering is a production, manufacturing or transforming process through chemical reactions. Fashion also is a transforming, or manufacturing process through designing, patterning and sewing.

Tell us about the people you admire?

In the fashion and beauty sector, I admire Deola Sagoe and  Tara Fela Durotoye.

Who or what do you consider the greatest influence in your life?

God is the greatest influence in life. My dad also had a strong influence on my life.

What is your definition of style?

Style is personal, style is what you make of fashion or trend. I find that my personal style is a bit of casual, a bit Bohemian but it can change.

How would you assess the sector today?

I think there has been tremendous growth in the sector over the years, lots of people now prefer Made in Nigeria fashion apparels and the market has widened with globalization. We even sell abroad due to the help of the internet and social apps like Instagram and Facebook. We have more designers that have great skills. Recent advances in the area of fabric production like the use of Adire print on different fabrics like silk, chiffon, jersey among others, have further made the sector more vibrant and appealing to various segments of its customers.

What are some of the changes you would like to see in the sector?

I would love to see a robust retail experience, some form of structure in the industry, more skilled hands in production, access to single digit loans, availability of raw materials, more working fabric mills, updated training for young designers, power and labour.

What advice do you have for young people who want to go into the sector.

Keep pushing, your dreams are legit, you just need to keep fanning the flames. You also need to get training and mentorship or internship to deepen your knowledge. And most importantly, stay the course.

By Yetunde Oladeinde

One fashion item that women just cannot do without are bags. They treasure good bags and luckily there are a variety of bags that  play an essential role in the life of women.

From the cute totes, clutch bag , handbags and more. Bags are not only used for style purpose but are also useful in carrying daily items depending on the mood and event.

The raffia or straw bag is a delight. They have metamorphosed over the years and now, you have wide collections that are a collector’s item.

In the past thet were synonymous with beach and casual events. While some make use of them alone other combine with straw hats that are also usually cool and casual.

These days, you find a number of interesting bags in this category that you can use any time and leave that lasting impression. Our bag designers have churned out a number of creative pieces using additions like leather, studs, fabric and more.

The straw and raffia bags are creative pieces, art pieces that you just want to have for keeps.