Lawyer-turn-shoe maker, Monalisa Abimbola Azeh, prides herself as one of Nigeria’s finest shoe designers. That’s because, for over a decade, she has kept a culture of churning out choice designer shoes and bags that regularly stand out at social scenes. Though people talk about her creativity, Monalisa says shoe designing was never her dream. As a matter of fact, she insists that, “I didn’t have a childhood dream.” For one who had a close knit relationship with her parents, went through the rigours of studying and practising law for 15 years before going into shoe making, Monalisa is not drab! Instead, she promotes artistes, love music, dances and loves art related matters. She shares her lifestyle in this interview with PAUL UKPABIO.
You certainly were not doing badly as a practising lawyer. What led you into shoe designing?
What led me into shoe designing was a simple matter as not finding my shoe size in the market. I couldn’t find my shoe size in the market. The shoes that were coming into the country were coming in from China. But prior to that time, we were used to getting quality shoes from Italy. The period coincided with when people started going to Dubai, China to bring things, it was becoming more and more difficult to get the kind of shoes that I like, especially my size. So that motivated me to start thinking of how to make my own shoes; the type that I like and the type that would fit me.
I studied law and before then, I had worked as a lawyer for more than 15 years before I decided to go into business. It was gradual; I actually started making the shoes for myself. I started experimenting. I knew some people who were making shoes for men and I noticed that they were using real leather. Of course, I looked around to see if there was someone who could make for me. Eventually, I did get somebody. And got my shoes made.
When I wore them, people were asking me where I made my shoes. I told them that I designed them and had them made for me. People commended it and from there, I picked up interest in it and that was my first outing. Gradually, it led me to establishing the shoe stylish outfit called ‘Mona Mathew.’
Did you have this as your childhood dream?
I opened shop January 2002 and it wasn’t a childhood dream. I didn’t have any childhood dreams. Growing up, I was told I was going to be a lawyer. So I grew up preparing to study law. When it was time to go into the university, I went to study law.
I don’t know if it was a childhood dream. But I will not call it a childhood dream because a dream is far-fetched. A dream is something that you visualise and work towards. Law was not my childhood dream. I liked watching legal matters on television; I liked watching courtroom drama. Till date, I enjoy watching criminal investigations and stuff like that. But that was not my childhood dream. I did not have a childhood dream, nothing particular.
Did you do all the work by yourself?
I started out by working with very skilled shoe makers who knew and know what they are doing. ‘Mona Mathew’ is about craftsmen who make designer shoes. You can give the same materials to two people, but one will turn out a masterpiece, while the other will turn out junk. Our works have been standing out.
What happens to your law degree and your verse knowledge of the legal profession?
After Law School, I practised law; I had my own chambers along with clients. But I had to stop when the business idea came. However, I have recently started doing legal matters. I’ve found a niche in the legal profession that I am able to combine with what I am doing now. I stopped the law practice because I found out that I am an artistic person, I wanted an opportunity to express my creativity as it were and ‘Mona Mathew’ gave me that opportunity.
How did your parents influence your life?
My parents were the kind that admire, want and seek excellence. They were organised people, they were natural administrators. They were the type that insisted on things being done properly. The other thing is that I grew up with a lot of books in the house. My parents encouraged me to read and I love reading. That also helped me with what I studied initially because as a lawyer, one had to read a lot. I love reading, I love picking up information, getting to know new things.
I also grew up with music. We slept and woke up with music. My father organised the house in such a way that, loud speakers were all over the place. On a Sunday morning, we woke up and music will be playing. We used to go to watch films too at the theatre or go to watch life performances, drama presentations and things like that. I guess what all that did for me was to help me see creativity at different levels, it nurtured creativity in me.
I grew up in Ibadan where I spent my early years until my parents came down to Lagos; even then, while they were in Lagos, I schooled outside Lagos until I was admitted into University of Lagos. My parents were administrators. My father worked in the university community but later on, worked with Adeola Odutola Group of Companies. My parents were basically administrators.
Tell us about some of your memories
I went to UNILAG in its glorious days. I can remember that there were just two of us in the hostel; we had cleaners who came around to clean the hostel and washed our bedspread. Most of us didn’t eat in the school cafeteria. I was a sports person. I used to play hockey for the school. On Sundays when we were in camp, we were normally served Chicken, ice-cream, jollof rice and fruits in just one meal. That was our Sunday lunch.
Those were wonderful times as far as I’m concerned, we had 24 hours of electricity. I do not remember reading with candle or anything like that. Our lecturers were very good. Most of the books that were used by my generation of lawyers were standard law books written by our lecturers. We had first hand experience of people who were masters in their profession. My university days were a beautiful time and a beautiful place for me. Throughout my stay in school, the university campus was never closed down. So I spent only three years studying law because I did A-level.
What kind of person were you then?
I was an active person. Even now, I still am. I like people a lot. I like activities, I like projects, I like to do things that I will be participating. I don’t like to do things that I will just be an observer. I enjoy sports. I represented Kwara State in school sports; I represented UNILAG in two university games known as NUGA. I represented Amina Hall where I stayed in the university in hockey. I received the school colours, a honour given to people in UNILAG as a sports personalities.
Do you still do sports now?
No, I don’t (laughs) but what I do now is exercise, I walk a lot. I still believe in a healthy lifestyle. It is about being fit. I can trek from Maryland to Ojuelegba. When you go abroad, you walk a lot. It is in Nigeria that people enter cars a lot.
What kind of social life do you have?
My work and church take a lot of my time. What is left of that, I use for music. I like to work with gospel artistes. Right now, I’m working with ‘Oba’ a gospel artiste who is very versatile. She has a fantastic band with her husband. So we do shows in Bogobiri in Ikoyi once every month and another on the Mainland. I do social life with friends and family too.
As a shoe maker, tell us about your fashion sense…
My grandmother was a fashionable person. My mother is 77 years old and still fashionable. So goes for my aunties. They are real beautiful women, who are stylish and dress well. I grew up in that kind of environment.
My mother in the morning dresses up and takes time to make up her face. I normally ask her where she is going to but she would normally reply, that she’s going no where. Sometimes I ask her, ‘Who is looking at you?’ But she replies that she is looking at herself. So at 77 she still wears big ear rings, paints her toe nails, and ensures that her clothes are clean. She coordinates herself, her colours, jewelry and applies her make up.
If you see her, you won’t believe her age. I am actually the one who tells people her age. That is the home and background I come from. I guess fashion is innate in me. I recall that since I was in secondary school, I’ve always enjoyed dressing people up. I’ve always enjoyed making people look their best. When I see someone in an outfit, I always know instinctively what you can add or take away that will make that outfit a wow one. I’ve always had that kind of interest. My friends are tired of me. If we are going out, I’ll tell them, comb your hair like this or change the lipstick. I always say something that will enhance their looks. It comes naturally to me.
When I started making shoes, I found out that it was a great outlet for me. We actually make customised shoes and bags for women and shoes for men too. I set down and consult with them. If a bride comes, I have to ask her first what her outfit will be. I ask questions about the headgear, and where she comes from because all those will reflect on what she will wear on the wedding day. At the end of the day, by the time we design the shoe and bag for her, it will complement the outfit. I enjoy doing that; it gives me a lot of joy.
How expensive are your shoes? Are they only for the high society?
The shoes are not cheap because they are hand-made. They take a lot of time and energy to make. But they are good quality; we use 100% leather, the best gum, the best glue and good designs. It’s not really about whether we cater for high society alone or low society, it’s about if the person wants quality and appreciates it when he or she sees it.
How long does it take to get a pair of shoes done?
If you order from us, we ask for three weeks. You may want a particular shade of leather, so we go all out to get it. We also get the right ornament and so on that will make the shoe really outstanding. There is also the possibility that there were other orders before yours, so that’s why we ask for three weeks so that we can give you our best.
You dress up lovers of fashion and style, how do you dress yourself up?
(Laughs) That’s a funny one, I like dressing people up, it’s not that I don’t love dressing up too, but I like comfort. My style is simple, elegant but always comfortable. I don’t believe in wearing tight shoes because I want people to admire me. I like my shoes free. The truth, however, about shoes is that people have different types of feet. That determines what kind of shoes that they are comfortable in.
There are some very lucky people who can wear any type of shoes. It may be difficult to believe, but there are some people who cannot wear flat shoes. Their shoes must have at least one inch heel. Such people are even more comfortable in two or three inches of heel. There are people whose casual shoes must have some particular inch of heel.
What I have discovered is that people wear what they are most comfortable in. But then of course, there are people who just want to show off, but those are not many.
In making our shoes, we are very particular about customer’s comfort. My mother is 77, she wears my shoes. She still wears heels. When she goes out, she doesn’t put slippers in the car. She wears them everywhere she goes and removes them only when she gets home. Our belief is that our shoes must make you elegant and comfortable.
Regarding my personal style, I like colours, real bright colours. I like and enjoy playing around with colours but I am not a fashionista. I do follow fashion trends easily since it concerns my work. I pay attention to details.
Some women have 600 shoes, others less, others more…
Oh, yes, that is a woman’s thing!
What number of shoes should a woman have?
A woman should have as much number of shoes as makes her happy (laughs). What I tell people is that when it comes to shoes for women, the truth is that women have hormonal cycle, so women have times when they don’t want to wear particular things. At particular times, you want to wear particular things that make your body easy. Then another day, you want a shoe colour that goes exactly with your outfit or that contrasts with it in such an outstanding way.
If a woman has blue shoes for instance, you must remember that there is nothing like blue shoes for women, instead, there are varieties of blue. There is turquoise blue, royal blue, sky blue, that is three; the next thing is that a woman may want turquoise blue high heel, turquoise blue slippers, turquoise blue shoe, then turquoise blue shoe and bag. That is just turquoise blue alone, already four. So even the blue is not complete but she already has seven shoes.
A woman is entitled to have as many shoes as make her happy because if a woman wakes up and looks at her wardrobe and realises that she doesn’t have what to wear, it can make her depressed and unhappy.
When is a woman fashionable and stylish?
It is when she wears things that enhance her looks. Style and fashion should be subject to you. You shouldn’t be a slave to them. Style should come from inside of you. It must bring out the best in you. By the time you are following fashion and you are looking funny, then you are the one that is a slave to fashion. So it is not every fashion trend that everybody can follow. There are some fashion trends that are not for you and you just have to let it go.
The truth is that, the older you get, the more you know what fashion works for you. At that time, you ought to know the colours that work for you too, and the style of shoes that fits you too. So you just stick to it and generally play around with a few other things. You don’t start doing new things because they are new, like being 50 and wearing one funny shoe that doesn’t fit you just because it is the latest craze. No, you shouldn’t be a slave to fashion. Whatever comes out, if it works for you, you wear it, if it doesn’t, you let it go.
How expensive should fashion and style be for an individual?
It doesn’t have to be expensive, that is the truth. It is about you being creative and innovative. I remember when I first started my business, I really didn’t have a lot of money then, so I had this outfit, it was a friend that made it for me. There were three or four colours in it. I found out that I could wear it with a head tie, or with a hat. I could dress up in it and make it look like an English outfit and at the same time, I could dress up and make it look like a traditional outfit. I could wear it along with aso oke.
So it is more about how the individual interprets fashion and plays around with colours. If you are someone who does colours and accessories along with your outfit, then you can get away with a lot of things. If you are not comfortable, look out for a friend of yours who is good at it and ask for advice. There is nothing wrong with that. The important thing is that when you step out, you look like a million dollars even if you didn’t have to spend much.
What accessories do you not do without?
I love my rings, I love my bracelets, and I love my earrings. You are not likely to find me without those things. Oh, I love wearing them.
When are you most happy?
I’m someone who likes projects, that’s how my mind works, even my relationship with my friends, I treat them like projects; at the end of a project, when the thing is settled and done, and nicely put away, I am happy. That’s when I have this sense of fulfillment that I have accomplished something, especially when I set my heart to do something that seems impossible. It gets to the point where I take it to God prayerfully and He gives me an insight to how to go about it, and then I do it, accomplish it. I look back and then give God the glory. That makes me happy.
Do you dance?
I love to dance, I love dancing.
Do you find time for leisure?
My work is very interesting, it is not stressful, I am a people-person, and I love meeting people. Interacting with my customers is very refreshing. I make friends with my customers, so it doesn’t look to me like it is work. In addition to that, I love reading, I still read. I do that online a lot. It is very relaxing. I do social media; I use it to promote my business and my faith. I keep up to date with local and international news. I like being aware of what goes on around me in terms of current affairs.
I like television but I do not spend that much time watching though. I love good films and I do watch whenever I have the time. I go to Silverbird to watch films whenever there is one that is being popularly talked about. I love live music, so I go to concerts. I love musical concerts, I attend art shows and at church too, there are drama presentations and concerts. These are creative things that keep someone like me happy and going.
Your greatest possession
That is my salvation, I cherish it. I hold it very dear. I am someone who believes in Nigeria, I believe that we are an extremely blessed country. I believe in the future of this country, that there are immense opportunities here. I encourage people to see the good and the myriads of opportunities.
