Alero Fafowora’s label, Hallero Couture, is over a decade and still waxing stronger. The delectable fashion designer in a chat with ADETUTU AUDU shares her journey to the top and why she hates bright colours despite churning designs in these colours.
AFTER her secondary school education at the International School, Ibadan, popular fashion designer, Alero Fafowora of Hallero Couture, got admission to read Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, but she has been destined for the needle and thread business.
At the same time, she was offered admission at the Yaba College of Technology to study Textile and Fashion Designing and she jumped at the opportunity. To the chagrin of her elated father who thought he had gotten an Economist in the family, the talented designer explained that she pursued a career in fashion designing.
“My father was angry that I preferred fashion designing to Economics at Obafemi Awolowo University. He lamented that if he had known, he would not have bothered himself to send me to the International School, Ibadan,” she expressed.
So, how has it been since then? “It is been exciting and challenging,” Alero said. After her Ordinary National Diploma at the Yaba College of Technology, she explained that she proceeded to the London College of Fashion. After her course, she had a stint with the popular United Kingdom label, Red or Dead. The experience, she said, gave her control of the UK’s fashion scene. “The experience I garnered at Red or Dead helped me when I eventually set up my fashion house. While in the UK, I felt the need to come back home and do something. And I discovered that there’s always a ready market in Nigeria. Once you have a good product, people are ready to buy,” she stated.
Her breakthrough, however, came when a lady met her friend who was wearing her design in a church in UK. “Somehow, my clients can identify my outfit anywhere. My outfits simply stand out. For me, finishing matters a lot and I take the pains to ensure that my outfits have neat finishing because I believe that makes the outfit,” she enthused.
The Nigerian experience, she said, has been worthwhile and financially rewarding. Her major challenge is getting good staff to work with. “I have learnt to take the not so perfect ones, so that I can train them. I don’t like those ones who are already set in their ways because they find it difficult to take instructions. They often insist on doing it the way they’ve been taught and not the way I want it done,” she offered.
How has she been coping amidst competition in the industry? The mother of three pointed out that there is no market like Nigeria. According to her, “designers have a lot to offer and the sky is the limit. People are always willing to pay if you can give them a good product. I’m quite particular about my finishing. You can make a very simple dress but the finishing makes the difference. I believe my clothes should sell themselves and fortunately I’ve never spoilt anyone’s outfit. But the truth is, there are mistakes that you can turn into another style.”
But she also pointed out that people see things differently. She added that there are a lot of dressmakers but few designers. Many just get tailors to do it for them, and don’t have a clue about what designing is all about. Having been taught in school that one can get inspiration from anywhere and anything, the designer who also provides wardrobe for beauty queens said her source of inspiration is her environment.
“And I’m also not restricted to fabrics. I can work with any fabric. But I specialise in contemporary designs. Even when I’m using African prints, I make them into contemporary styles,” she emphasised.
Noted for flowing gowns, Alero said seeing her clients wear her outfits’ gives her joy.
She therefore promised that whatever fashion trend will give her clients an edge at functions, she will give her utmost best to satisfy them.
She recently opened an all-new outlet on the fashion high street of Bishop Oluwole in Victoria Island. The new flagship store which is simply called HEYCH (pronounced hey-ch) is Hallero’s first retail store. Under this brand, the main thrust is affordable style as the designer has an array of pocket-friendly ready-to-wear pieces and fashion accessories for the style sensitive woman and man on the go.
Another new style collection on Hallero’s label is “The Ibadi Aran, a European concept in iro and buba, which she said you can wear it with gele, some wear it with neck-cloth, it is very, very easy to wear and you can be creative with it. “While designing it, we were thinking of something that is not too much but solid and easy to wear and the patronage has been so amazing,” she gushed.
Alero Fafowora loves to pamper herself, especially her face and skin. Tell us that the best beauty advice she ever received was to wash her face before sleeping and always moisturise her face, get a toner and a cleanser. “Nothing on earth will stop me from washing my face before I sleep. I wear make-up all day, so I need to clean and cleanse, so that by night my skin can be renewed” she pointed out.
What would she not be caught dead wearing? Despite churning out great designs in bright colours, the mother of three cannot be caught in such colours. “Bright colours; I don’t like them at all.” Her style, she said, is simplicity; very simple and sensible.
What part of her body does she cherish most and what does she eat to keep in shape?
“My eyes. For me, my face is the attraction for me. I don’t just eat anything. For instance, I don’t eat fatty foods. I now settle for fish because it contains proteins. Anyway, I don’t usually eat much.”
Alero Fafowora’s label is over a decade and still waxing strong. Her loving father, she said, is now proud of her when he realised her creative ability. “When my father saw that I had the talent and I was doing so well, he has accepted his fate.”
