Nikky Odu-Khiran is a fashion designer of purpose and she doesn’t pretend about it. She is upscale and artistically inclined and doesn’t pretend about it. Over a decade she has continuously summed up her environment and recreated it in sumptuous fashion styles that relish the eyes in a very unpretentious manner. It is not surprising, therefore, that in the fashion design scene, the strong-willed designer remains all set apart, in a class of her own.
Even the casual observer of fashion and style immediately acknowledges the bountiful endowment of her piece of work. Perhaps because it is ethnic; perhaps because it combines prints delicately splashed on silk fabrics and others that flatter the eyes.
However, Nikky Khiran, as she is popularly known, agrees that her lifestyle just like her work is not hundred percent African. But though she agrees that the inner vision of her work springs from roots in her African background, the designer readily tells you that she’s uniquely different.
“My style is bohemian chic. I’m a modern day gypsy. I love ethereal clothing, layering, fluidity, asymmetrical cuts and bold prints. I like to do ‘sexy’ in an understated ladylike way without showing too much skin. It’s a turn-off when I see women showing lumps and bumps all in the name of fashion. I believe strongly that fashion should always accentuate our best assets and downplay the worst!”
In the realm of fashion and style, Nikky Khiran has a loud voice. And when she added ‘Grey Velvet,’ a fashion store to her success story, the circle of top fashion people and the upper class that graced the event, confirmed her pride of place in the fashion world.
The following year, Nikky Khiran moved up. She added yet another fashion store that parades not just her work, but the works of other famed international fashion designers last year. Exclusive African designer packages, right in high brow Lekki made further accessible to those who understand the taste and attraction of couture and fashion accessories.
The designer’s present outlook, she admits, goes deep into her early background. It also went a long way to influence the choice of her toeing the path of fashion designing.
“I grew up in three different continents around the world. My parents were both educationists. My life has been a melting pot of different cultures, strong values, and a strong belief in God. I’m a graduate of the London College of Fashion, where I majored in Fashion Design Technology.
My mother has always been my biggest inspiration. With a first degree in Fashion Design/Home Economics and a PhD in Education, she was extremely fashionable, a consummate homemaker and an all round entrepreneur.”
Having acquired the know how in a terrain that came natural to her, Nikky Khiran returned to Nigeria, and it was surprising that her studio made impressions quite early among fashion conscious elites. Her journey to being a top fashion designer came even much earlier than when she returned Nigeria.
Stylishly seated at her created angle at her Ikoyi office, Nikky Khiran shared more with us. According to her, “I started my line of clothing over 20 years ago in England. I started out with couture, one of my early pieces before moving to Nigeria 12 years ago. On return, I established myself. Though, I was still doing individual couture pieces. I, however, later started a ready-to-wear line with a range of dresses, skirts, kaftans and resort wear, which took off fabulously”.
Along the line, Nikky Khirran added “a range of ethnic handbags and accessories as well as a NK home accessories range with lamps, candle stands, duvet covers and beanbags”.
To one who breathes fashion and whose daily life is woven around the fashion industry, what does she think fashion is? “Fashion to me remains a relevant matter to today’s woman. Fashion is an expression of self and our moods. My thinking has always been that since we all have to dress up, we might as well have fun doing it. That remains an essence that features in my pieces.”
Ask the designer how she would love to describe herself, a flash of mood crosses her beautiful face. But amused she comes all out bluntly and tells you in a no hold barred manner: “I’m simple and complex at the same time. I’m outspoken, disciplined, hardworking, God-fearing and driven by passion. But I also know how to unwind and have fun. I hate pretence.”
And that is because Nikky Khiran is down to earth. As a successful lady, she still laughs freely and cheerfully. She takes time out to laugh at jokes and readily offers you a joke when in the mood. Notwithstanding, the designer has a serious outlook and downright business-like any time of the day. Success has not taken her away from herself. She may be a creative entrepreneur and a top fashion designer, but she is not all about fabrics, clothing and colours. Nikky Khiran still finds time to attend to lady’s things like going into the kitchen to cook.
“I love cooking because I’m someone who likes food and is fussy about it.” The designer has created for herself a lifestyle that complements her kind of work, gives her an opportunity of relaxation and keeping stress at bay.
“I love great music and I love to dance.” She admits with genuine excitement of one who values the beauty of life. “I travel a lot too, I eat out and hang out with great companies, and of course, I love shopping. My shopping takes me to Dubai because it’s a melting pot of different cultures. So I love shopping there. I also found out that I can find everything there. I love to shop in the USA for great casual wear and beddings. I go shopping in India for saris and exotic jewellery. I also shop in Italy, Paris and Spain for ‘unusual finds’ and a dose of culture and great food.”
Shopping is every designer’s work and pastime. Nikky Khiran loves it and she possesses women items, collections that certainly would make many a lady green with envy. Apart from shopping for her work, her numerous travels bring her in contact with rare items.
“Like I said, my style is bohemian chic. I’m a modern day gypsy.” With her, being stylish has no apology. And she expresses it in her peculiar words when she said: “Style is knowing what to wear, how to wear it and when to wear it. It’s being confident enough to try different looks, individuality, grace and elegance. Style is having that little extra something, without trying to be hard.”
With a well endowed natural beauty, looks which she are regularly complemented, the designer confesses that she is not a great fan of make-up. “What make-up means to me? I am not a great fan of much make-up. I favour a more natural look. And my dressing depends on my mood, which of course, depends on where I am going to, at any particular time.”
Nikky Khiran’s work and brand are somewhat intertwined. She is a lover and fan of her own brand. She wears and models her clothes and many say it fits her ‘like a glove,’ just as it fits her clients too. For her business acumen and ability to turn her passion to a success, the designer offered a few tips on what success means to her.
“I believe that success is a state of the mind. It’s being the best you can be at whatever it is you are doing.” In the pursuit of success however, the designer insists that she values her peace of mind. “Yes, I value my peace of mind. I value real friendship and I try to be content at all times.”
Marriage may not have come yet, but it is never ruled out because the designer commends it. She, however, knows that it is not easy as said. “My view on relationships and marriage is, I think one of the greatest achievements is to find that person that understands you and can complete you; that is, your better half, which is easier said than done.”
She believes in the ability of women to excel in life and combine a career with family life successfully. “Women are built by God to be multi-faceted. We have the ability to combine so many things and do them well. We see so many examples of successful married women and single mothers all around us.”
Seeing her so endeared to her work in a conducive, posh atmosphere she has so created, one is led by curiosity to ask her: ‘If you were not what you are today, what else would you have loved to be?” Nikky Khiran had a ready answer: “Since my orientation has always been geared towards the arts, I would have been a textile designer, architect, jeweller, interior decorator, which I do dabble into from time to time, or a lingerie manufacturer.”
She doesn’t miss what she is not, what with so many shows that she has featured in at home and abroad. With it all, is she fulfilled? She responded: “I’m a highly motivated person who strives at constant self-improvement, so there is always room to be better.”As she recalls, her childhood mirrors her perception about that.
“My parents were highly disciplined people, with respect for others. They had a high level of integrity. They were extremely intellectual with an unusual devotion to God. They instituted a strong moral and value system in us and taught us the importance of personal sacrifice, integrity and contentment in all things. Their life lessons to us were worth much more than money and they loved each other to bits.”
How about designers? What is her perception or view about designs in Africa and designs abroad? “African designers are just coming up with infrastructural challenges, especially in Nigeria and not much access to good quality materials and trimmings as well as poorly skilled labour. It becomes double hard to produce. It’s very hard for us to compete on an international level.”
One wonders where such fabulous designer her sources of inspiration come from. “I’m inspired by many things such as sight, sound, exotic places, art, music, fabric, the middle east, Asia, my moods, life! And of course my greatest inspiration is God,” she replied.
