With a first degree in English Education and masters in Public Administration, Onome Ikhimioya, the CEO of MISTICS Couture, is being creative in her own way. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, the designer takes you into her journey into fashion, working with Vlisco, the challenges and potential in the sector
How did fashion designing start for you?
It was very interesting and when I got to the University of Benin, it took a new dimension. I was clothing virtually everyone on campus. They come to when there is a party, to put things together for them. For me, that was easy because it was what I liked to do. I spend the whole time on this and sometimes you are talking to me and I am sketching. My mind could be there and I would just be sketching out something that is really good. At the end of the day, I have something nice and there are times when I could spend a whole day doing this. Most times, I went to the market, get fabrics and combine it for people at no cost because it was actually my passion.
The name Mistics actually came from school because people would come to me saying Onomistics, and that was how it all started. Once they hail me this way, they were sure of getting free services. I would feel nice and do my sketches for them. I love putting colours together and for me this was so creative. At that point, I could wear an outfit that has up to eight colours. There are times when I would be going out and my mother would be shocked with all the colours that I had on. Fashion has just been a part of me; something I love and it is selfless and effortless. Not something that I have to rack my head on to get results.
Most times, people say fashion is expensive but I would say it is not. You can put one or two things together, no matter how cheap it is and look so good. For me, fashion is knowing what to put together.
You talked about sketching, did you study Arts?
No. That is the funny part; I actually hated arts in school and each time they put some things together and ask us to draw, and I couldn’t do it well. However, I discovered at some point that I could sketch people, I could sketch dresses. My first degree is in English Education and I have masters in Public Administration and then also did Human Resources.
Where did you work after school?
I worked in an insurance company and did the marketing thing, but I discovered that I wasn’t getting fulfilment from this. I left and went into interior decoration and I was designing things for people. I also did some painting and was mixing paints for Dulux but I was still doing my fashion thing. I did a number of decorations for banks and everything I did had to do with designing and creativity.
Where did you pick this from?
The truth is that nobody really influenced me, it was just in me. I first learnt how to sew without any training on my own. I got a machine myself, put it on the dining table and I just started. But I had to go and learn and the first with a Ghanaian somewhere in FESTAC.
When I was in school, whenever there was strike, I got something doing. During one of those strikes, I went somewhere to learn and my mates and people at home kept wondering what I was up to. I needed to know more and I went to a higher place and the business then started from my boy’s quarters. I love the bling thing and I do a lot of things in this category.
What are the other things we can see in your collection?
We have everything here. Basically, I am an ankara person. I love Ankara, because it is a fabric that you can do all sorts of things with; it comes in different colours and it gives you great inspiration. Once you pick up the fabric, you see a number of things that you can do with it. You can mix it with lace, chiffon or organza. It is a fabric that you can do a whole lot with. I also think that ankara creates itself in the sense that you look at it and it tells you exactly what you can do with it. This is not so with a number of other fabrics. In our collection, you would find ankara made into all kinds of things; from palazzos to shorts, dresses, caftans and more.
How would you describe the Nigerian fashion scene at the moment?
It is wonderful, our designers are going places, Years back, when I started, it wasn’t like this. People then went to the boutiques and embraced English wear. These days, you see people stepping out in ankara for important events. All they have to do is just jazz it up and the ankara stands out. All you do now is to put some stones, blings and make it interesting. So, you can go anywhere with the ankara in the Nigerian fashion market; everybody is doing a whole lot around the fabric in terms of creativity. I am creating mine while other designers are also creating theirs. We just had the St. Eves West Africa show and it was very nice. Ade Bakare came, he is one Nigerian designer doing great in the UK and most of the things that he showcased were done with ankara. That also shows you that the ankara is in a class of its own today. In one of the pictures, I saw Beyonce wearing ankara shorts with a jacket. If you walk into a place with ankara that is jazzed up, you are being differentiated. We have a number of our designers doing so well with our fabrics.
What about accessories, do you have them in your collection?
I must say that what I do usually is accessorising the fabrics to make it more interesting. However, overtime, I intend going into ankara shoes, ankara bags, arm bracelets, necklaces and ankara wrist watches. I also intend going into the production of bling items and having other designers come to me to stone their fabrics. These days, some women go all the way to places like Dubai just to stone their fabrics. Recently, I went there and bought the machines that do all this. So, now I have designers come to me to stone their fabrics. I am going into this full-time next year and I am getting more machines from the United States. This would reduce cost because they won’t need to travel all the way, get accommodation and the other cost that comes with it.
For a lot of designers, getting good tailors can be a problem. Is it easy with you?
It is a big problem and I think this is one of the problems every designer is faced with in Nigeria. For instance, FADAN is trying to have a central place with lots of tailors where designers can come. That was what they used to do in Aba or even abroad. Every designer does not have to have his or her own tailor. You go to a production place and give your designs to them and they do a whole lot for you. That is what we are looking forward to in Nigeria. Having to manage tailors is tough. You think you have given them the best, but deep down they are not satisfied. I remember there was a time that I brought tailors from Abidjan, Cote D’ Ivoire and Cotonou because our people were not doing it well and at a point they wanted to call the shots. I tell my children that they just must have a skill; it is not just about going to school. My daughter is a graduate of Chemical Engineering but she is in the fashion line with me because she must have a skill. Right now, we know that oil and gas is not as it used to be and so she needs to have a plan B. Now, instead of depending on tailors from outside the country, we need to develop the skills and capacity here.
Let’s talk about your personal style, what are we likely to find in your wardrobe?
I am a shoe freak and clothing is me. I can shop for about 20 or 30 pairs of shoes. In my wardrobe, you find everything name it. I dress up everyday and I am always ready, you don’t need to invite me somewhere and I say wait I need to go back and wear something. I wear Ankara every day. Some people have told me that I am the only person they see wearing Ankara 365 days a year. The secret of my smart outlook is that I work out a lot, I do this every day. For colours , I am a pink person but I work with every colour. When it comes to perfume, I love Gucci Rush.
When I make clothes for my customers I consider their body type, skin colour and fabric. I am also not a busy person, for me less is more.
What does fashion mean to you?
For me fashion had always been a part of me in the sense that I care about what I wear. I just don’t dress up. I am particular about what I wear, I just don’t follow trends and I know how to match things, how to combine colors and how to sketch. I think that was how it started for me.
