A quick follow up I had with a woman I met at an exhibition that resulted to her sharing her experience on her journey so far by Boluwatife Owolabi. Her name is Temitope Akeju
I met with Temitope Akeju the CEO and founder of ‘Decortales…the event village’. She shares her story that beautifully defines, passion, resilience, and creativity. She introduced herself warmly, expressing how delighted she was to share her journey in fashion design and hand craftmanship of over two decades. She explained that her work is deeply rooted in handcrafting, from clothes to accessories, and that everything she makes carries a personal touch and she admits that the road to this point, was not a straight one. She began her creative journey as a teenager who just finished her senior examination back then. At the time, she would transform old clothes into new styles with her own hands using blade, thread and needle.
She recalled with amusement how she would reshape dresses and skirts, sometimes for herself, sometimes for her sister, and even secretly for her friends. Her mother, she said, did not immediately understand what she was doing and at the same time she will be surprised the style of the cloth has changed from this to that. But behind those closed doors, she was cultivating a skill that would later define her career. Despite her talent, she went ahead to further to study Nursing, as fashion design was once considered a path for dropouts. She eventually gained admission to a school of nursing and even practiced for a while. Yet, her passion for fashion never left her. She remembered how she would lock herself in her room so she won’t be victimised by friends and people around and they will say she is lazy and she is not studying rather she’s making clothes.
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She also recalls the way she works tirelessly with needle and thread, buying materials with her own money, and creating clothes for herself and others. Mistakes would happen, but instead of giving up, she would turn them into new styles. It wasn’t until after completing her nursing training that she became a mid-wife. Afterwards, she decided to pursue fashion design professionally. She enrolled in formal training, where she met a hat maker. Fascinated by his craft, she began learning hat-making alongside her clothing designs. Soon, she realized the practicality of offering both in a way that a clients could buy a dress and a matching hat in one place, saving them the stress of shopping separately. Bit by bit, her skills expanded, and she began weaving accessories, earrings, and beading, and many more. She recalled a wedding event where the hall unexpectedly is not decorated and she took it upon herself to improvise and she created a master piece where everyone in the hall kept asking about it. Yet, even those difficulties became stepping stones for her growth. Over time, her work began attracting recognition. She proudly described how her designs, though handmade, carried a finish and quality that stood out. During her school days, her secret skill often surfaced at parties. While she will make new dressed for herself for any events, her classmates kept their new fabrics for special occasions, she would transform hers into stylish outfits and wear them almost immediately. This drew admiration, though she kept her craft discreet for fear of being judged as unserious. Eventually, friends who noticed her work began requesting that she make clothes for them, further boosting her confidence.
It took almost seven years after her midwife that she was able to afford her first sewing machine. Until then, she relied solely on hand sewing, which made her work painstaking and slow. But once she acquired that machine, which she still keeps in her office today, her business took on a new level of professionalism. Now, after more than twenty years in the industry, she runs her brand confidently, offering a blend of fashion, accessories, and event-related services like bridal make-up, bridal hand fans, gele tying, artistry and more. For her, fashion is more than a business; it is an expression of passion, patience, and persistence. At the end of our conversation, I asked where her studio was located, and she gave me directions to her office. 6, Adetola Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos.