The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fashion business

  • Mai Atafo support Design Fashion Africa for new Fashion Designer

    AS Design Fashion Africa (DFA) has launched its search for the next superstar designer from the continent, fashion designers across Africa will have a platform, which seeks to discover, inspire and empower existing and upcoming designers to commercialise their talents.

    In its maiden edition, the announcement event held at Eko Hotel & Suites, and attended by celebrities like Idia Aisien, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Mai Atafo, outlined the goal the initiative hopes to achieve and the journey each designer is expected to undergo in their bid to become the next big thing in our budding fashion scene.

    These stages include an online fashion challenge, a fashion training academy and a runway fashion show where finalists will be exhibiting their works to the public. There are also plans for a marketplace where fashion lovers can pick up accessories and outfits that they fall in love with.

    Idia Aisien, who is the spokesperson for the project, expressed delight at the reception the programme has already received judging from the number of key industry players in attendance at the announcement cocktail and she believes the awareness would only get better.

    “We want the message to go as far as possible and reach everyone interested in fashion so we can expose the very best designers to the rest of the world,” she said.

  • Building leaders in fashion business

    The Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, in conjunction with the Lagos State Tailors & Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (LASTFADAN), has held a leadership training workshop for fashion entrepreneurs. It brought together stakeholders in the industry. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    It was a completely different gathering of fashion industry experts. It brought together movers of the industry and united them with the big thinkers and inspiring people shaping the wider world.

    From the entrance of the venue of the event, to the host and speakers, the event had insightful and knowledgeable tips for future fashion entrepreneurs and  leaders at various levels of  Lagos State Tailors &Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (LASTFADAN).

    Head of Entrepreneurship Department, Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation  and Employment, Mrs Taiwo Abiose,  said the goal of the government is to support and cultivate local designers  to  use their talent to help fuel economic growth.

    An officer of the department, Babatunde Dauda, who represented Mrs Abiose, said the training aimed at increasing leadership skills among officers of the state fashion designers association.

    She said the government was collaborating with the association to produce leaders with the skills needed on their jobs.

    Her view was supported by LASTFADAN, Chief (Mrs) Jariat Amida, who added that  leadership skills are critical  throughout the fashion value chain. The elderly woman has mastered the art of building a legacy, keeping up with the fast-paced and changing fashion industry.

    According to her, fashion is a vibrant and flourishing industry with a wide range of career opportunities, adding that fashion can indeed, help lift people out of poverty. She said efforts must be made to inspire young hopefuls.

    The focus, she said, is on combining knowledge of fashion with understanding of the business management if they want to make a success oftheir careers.

    She noted that aspiring young fashion designers’ successes can be    measured by their creativity.

    NISREL Consulting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ope Amusan, said the most brilliant characteristic of a remarkable industry leader is that they are willing to cross the realms of their comfort zone and think according to the trend-setting culture.

    According to him, successful business leaders always aim at setting the standards high for anyone to compete, adding that fashion designers have the opportunity to offer top-notch designs, which emerging fashion designers must emulate to overcome the challenges of reaching their markets. “First of all, you have to produce quality designs,”he said, pointing out the need for improved operational capacity needed to meet delivery orders on time. “If fashion designers manage to overcome this challenge, the industry has a fantastic future,” he said.

    He emphasised the need to ensure that quality requirements and standards are met by producers. The event also featured discussants, who provided the audience with inside view of leadership and its impact on the fashion value chain.

    They, however, highlighted lack of business skills and entrepreneurial training as some of the key challenges faced by fashion designers and the fashion industry as a whole.

  • ‘Urge to look good pushed me into fashion business’

    ‘Urge to look good pushed me into fashion business’

    Managing Director of Lagos-based Addas Fashion Store Omolara Adebiyi is making waves in the industry.  The Pure Chemistry graduate from the Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), shares her passion for fashion with KEHINDE OLULEYE. 

    How long have you been in   business?

    Addas has been in business for eight years

    What were you doing before going into fashion?

    Before then, I had actually studied Pure Chemistry at the then Ogun State University now Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). I did my NYSC with Guinness Nigeria PLC. Then I started working as a chemist in the laboratory at Berger Paint. I worked there for two years.

    While working at Berger Paints, I got married. With that I needed more time to take care of my children. My husband and I were both working, hence I felt should take some time out so that I would be able to take proper care of the children.

    What inspired you to go into the business?

    I have always had passion for fashion. It’s has always been in me. I remember when I was young, I would be at home yet, I will dress up stylishly but decently without going for a party. And my dad will be like, ‘where are you going?’.

    I derive pleasure from looking good. While in the university, though I was born again I still dressed well and in moderation. I have always been a simple person. I don’t do fashion that exposes body parts. Though I ‘m not here to judge anybody.

    Because it’s not in me, when I go shopping I am not comfortable buying things like that. I am not saying that I am holier than those that wear fashion that exposes body parts. Some of those that wear such their hearts are even better than those that claim to be holier.

    With my little experience, I have mixed with people with different kinds of religion and backgrounds. My mummy was into sewing, so all her children virtually knew how to sew. We always put things together. I think it started from there. The same thing applied to my school uniforms.

    A friend with whom I went to the same secondary school came around sometimes ago and she said to my daughter “So, your mummy is still like this?’ When we were in secondary school, she will iron her clothes over and over again. So, I have always loved to be in the fashion line.

    Though I studied Chemistry, in those days, you didn’t really have counseling or say over the course you wanted to study. My father actually wanted me to study Medicine because he believed that I am good with sciences. Most of my science subjects I had A’s in them.

    So, I was pursing that. But you know jamb. At the end of the day, I went in for Chemistry but they told me to change to medicine but I said no. Let me just continue with this because I don’t really have passion for it.

    What was your dad’s reaction when you dumped your certificate for fashion business?

    In the beginning, my dad wasn’t happy about it. It is only these days that fashion business has really gone to another level. In those days, fashion business was looked upon as a career for school drop-outs.

    As time went by, he saw the passion and the success by God’s grace, and he just allowed me to be. More so, I was married by then, so there was little he could say. He just advised and moved on.

    Who are your target audience?

    Every woman who wants to look good

    How affordable are your things?

    Addas products are very affordable. Moreover we always have sales going on. If it’s not 20 or 30 percent off sales, there will be buy and get one free. We always have something going on at Addas.

    There are lots of fashion stores here in Agidingbi/Ikeja axis, what stands Addas out?

    It is the affordability and durability of our goods. You can’t get that in most stores. With as little as N5,000 you can get something reasonable and nice because we are always doing sales and our products are very affordable.

    Where do you source for goods?

    We source most of our goods abroad. We go as far as Senegal to get some of our ankara fabrics. And at times, I sketch patterns for my designers for the ankara products. We get women dresses from United States, United Kingdom, Italy and others. We stock wedding dresses, dinner wears and others.

    Do you think Ankara will go-off the fashion radar anytime soon?

    As we all know, fashion trends come and go quicker than you can say ‘Hey” but come rain or sunshine, ankara will always be there in all forms of fashion accessories. Ankara has come to stay. No matter the changes in style, taste or pattern, Ankara fabrics have maintained their space despite fierce competition from other fabrics.

    Do you see any future for the local beads like that of Ankara …?

    Beaded neck accessory is going off.  Some people still use it but it is not the in-thing now.

    What would you like fashion designers to improve on?

    The quality of finishing matters. Their finishing must be neat and perfect. In other words, the finished products depend on the designers. In fact, it is the designer that determines whether your outfit would look cheap or out of this world.

    Where do you get the inspiration from?

    I get inspirations for styles during my quiet time and sometimes during my leisure time. I brainstorm with my children. I actually relax with my children; my husband is a busy man. So I relax with my children since I am not a party person.

    What are the challenges faced in the course of doing your business?

    Exchange rate is the major challenge for this kind of business, followed by electricity. Customers do not want to pay more for goods despite the fact that dollar rate increases most of the time. Even when you buy goods when the dollar was up, they still want to buy at the current exchange rate.

    What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a career in this kind of business?

    I believe whatever you want to do put God first. And then one needs to be hard working. And there should be a balance between working and the home, especially when you are married.

    That is because the home must not suffer. Anytime my children close I closed for the day. No matter what I am doing, once it is closing time, I pick them and we go home. That is the end of work for day. They are my primary assignments.

    Describe your style

    My style is simple but stylish.

    On label

    I am not a label freak. I go around a lot to buy thing and people that are very close to me will be like you are selling clothes and you still buy this?

    I can be going on the roadside and I see people selling things that I like and I will buy. It’s not all about label. Anything nice I see, I buy.

  • NIGERIA IS TAKING OVER FASHION BUSINESS –SASH ANWAKANG

    NIGERIA IS TAKING OVER FASHION BUSINESS –SASH ANWAKANG

    After a long absence from the from public space as a notable fashion and runway model, OBAJI AKPET caught up with her at the last Calabar Carnival and Festival during a photo-session. She talks about modeling, her fashion line, admirers, plus the qualities she looks out for in her dream man.

    YOU’RE a model, but you seem to have given yourself a break from public space, what have you been doing?

    Well, I was into modeling, seriously between 2005 and 2008, but back here in Calabar, where I am based, modeling is not giving much preference, and so since it was looking like every model needs to move to Lagos to be a supermodel, at that time I wasn’t ready to move to Lagos so I had to switch since I already had this flare for fashion.

    Despite taking a break from modeling you seem not to have lost your sultriness, how have you been maintaining that?

    (Chuckles). Secret? I wouldn’t say there’s no secret in particular. I would say it’s God, who’s been keeping me going; everyone knows God, everyone should know God, God is not a secret, He’s open to everyone who comes to him.

    But moving on, I would say, I personally don’t watch the things I do that keeps me sultry, in your words. I’m just the way I am, I’m just naturally this, but if one is so concerned about how he or she looks then the person should take the time to watch what he or she eats; not to eat late nor eat so much and take the time to exercise, just to keep fit.

    How do you handle advances in the industry?

    It is normal that men would appreciate any beautiful woman in sight. I don’t take it really seriously; I just see them as compliments, I see them just appreciating God’s creation, that’s all.

    What qualities do you look out for in a man you could call your own?

    The man should be real; not proud. Real in the sense that, he should be truthful, I hate lies; don’t try to impress me, just be real, and be you. He should also have much respect for me as a woman or women generally; he should also have regard for God.

    Are you engaged in any fashion projects at the moment?

    I’m looking forward to bringing out my own designs; before now, I do general tailoring or sewing, if I may say. So it’s now time for me to bring out my own exclusive creations, my own designs, stuff that I make all by myself.

    What inspires your sense of creativity?

    I just like fashion, I like to look good and where I draw up inspiration to do these designs is from within. I personally as a woman, I love to look uniquely good, and so try to do something that is unusual, something that’s not common.

    Would you still be modeling?

    Well, for me, once a model, always a model. It’s inborn and I’m not giving up at all, I’m still a model, I model my own personal brand, don’t forget.

    What’s your general assessment of the fashion industry in Nigeria?

    It seems we are really taking over because there’s nowhere in the world right now that you don’t find African fabrics, especially Nigerian made. Like you can find many pictures of Beyonce and other American celebrities wearing Ankara fabrics, beautiful designs, they just love it and I think we are really taking over. So I’m particular about African fashion.

    And so I see Nigerian designers as going to the top. If top five designers in the world are to be mentioned, I see Nigerians making it on that list.

    Who are those in the fashion industry, you’re looking up to attaining their heights?

    I admire a lot of designers both Nigerians and at the world stage, but particularly back home, I admire our very own Zizi Cardow, Ituen Bassey, Adebayo Jones, David Ofuka, a whole lot, I can go on and on and the list will be unending. They are doing great and I’m looking up to doing more than what they have done or achieved so far.

  • Ideas, colour matching as new frontiers in fashion business

    Ideas, colour matching as new frontiers in fashion business

    The fashion industry has become a huge sector beyond the conventional art of ‘cutting and sewing.’ The influx of well educated Nigerians into the industry has created opportunities for talented, young entreprneurs with creative ideas to explore other concepts in fashion This has not only resulted into fantastic designs, but swelling their bank accounts. Daniel Essiet reports.

    The evolution in the nation’s fashion industry over the last three decades has been phenomenal. From the traditional ‘cutting and sewing’, to exquisite designs by specialist, which is subsequently translated into sewn clothings, the evolution has not ceased. Now, entrepreneurs and idealistic Nigerians are cashing in on a growing phenomenon in the sector, matching fashion with their clients’ lifestyles and needs.

    One of such early birds in this emerging trend is Mr. Gbenga Samuel Olasele, Chief Executive, Fashion Concepts Abode Limited.  Olasele, a graduate of Botany from the University of Lagos(UNILAG), may not have had a formal training in fashion related vocation, his ideas, concepts, and incredible talent, have now endeared him to many in the industry and other fashionistas.

    Olasele’s journey with the art started when he was young. He  discovered  he was fascinated to fabrics, designs and splashes of colour.

    Motivated by this, Olasele started learning  fashion with his mother’s machine. After mastering how to sew, he  got two machines  from  an aunt.  While the interest was the burning, he  had to contend with  a bigger  ambition of reading medicine. Since he  couldn’t  meet  the cut-off point,  he settled for botany.  This   didn’t  diminish his  love  for  fashion.

    His talent was further honned while  in the university, as he was   making dresses for his colleagues,  which captured the attention of people around. In the process, he  learnt  skills  that  have helped  to  elevate  him  to a higher level of style.  He  began  to  pay attention to   artisanal details, luxurious fabrics and designs that flatter the form and spirit.

    Olasele can be described as an artist at heart, who works with several media and derives joy using them as means of expressing himself. These later   characterised the easy to wear, sophisticated and modern shapes which he seeks to achieve through his works.

    Now, his mentality about fashion has changed. Not only does he  sees the business  as  both  rewarding  and offering ample opportunities to work with  different  specialists, he  considers  the  business from a socio-cultural and economic aspects, including the whole gamut of delivering production capacity, quality control and management of workers. And to remain competitive and on top of his game, Olasele  kept  himself updated on current trends, including anticipating upcoming styles and creations in order to stay competitive in the field.

    When he graduated in 2002, he was already experienced to start something on his own. But he had to overcome the challenge of strong competition as a starter.

    His talent in colour combination  gave  him incredible  leverage, standing him out among the crowd..

    This is because when it comes to fabrics and colours, he ensures they gel well with the theme of his collection. He appreciates colours which carry a statement, and uses  colours that matches the mood of the collection or occasion. His words: “Colours are shining droplets that add to your mood illumination.”

    According to him, it is  “a serious work recognising colour trends and helping people make a statement by what they wear”.

    This is why Olasele has tried to create designs that  not only  reflect  a geographical location, but  connect colour to the environment.

    As  customers want  outfits  showing many moods- sunshine and happiness, whether at funeral, weddings and anniversaries, Olasele said  it is important to produce something  that  will  positively   lift  spirits, add the  luminosity and an ethereal qualities that undulate and vibrate.

    His experimentation and sense of what is current and modern, yet traditional, is what makes his combination remarkable. He endeavours to showcase class with cuts and colour combinations that are catchy and memorable to  survive  in an  industry  that  is not only glamorous and elegant but vibrant, dynamic, vigorous, challenging and competitive. Olasele does everything  to welcome innovation, creativity and freedom of expression.

    He  does not   shy  away from experimenting with  clothes and accessories. Above all, he  tries  to unleash the entrepreneur inside him.

    Beyond this, his   mission is to offer quality, colourful, creative, conscious, responsibly made clothing to people who are determined to bring about a positive change and spread their message through artfully designed and carefully handcrafted pieces of fashion that encompass peace, love and freedom.

    He  wants to  be   well-known for distinctive use of colours, quality of fabrics, intricate embroideries and gloriously rich aesthetics.

    From his look, the future of glamour business is bright, therefore it is attracting thousands of youths to make a living.