WHAT is fashion to you? Fashion means three basic things to
me; it must be comfortable, artistic and stylish. Fashion is a personal
self-expression that reflects the radiance from within one's individuality.
How would you rate
the Nigerian fashion industry?
The Nigerian fashion industry has improved over the decades
with room for more improvement. Nigeria is a country with a lot of talented and
creative minds. The last decade has unveiled a lot of potentials in the
Nigerian fashion industry, with our designers featuring in famous fashion shows
in the world.
What are the kinds of
fabrics you experiment with?
Most times, I work with silk, cotton and some other fabrics
but usually Nigerian, African and Western fabrics.
How would you
describe your style?
My personal style is simple and artistic.
Tell us a little
about your background, education, career and how your fashion career started?
I am an indigene of Gombe State, but was born and raised in
Kano State. I attended St. Louis primary and secondary schools in Kano. I
studied Biochemistry and also had my Cisco-certified networking academy course
from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. After my youth service in Abuja, I got
married and moved back to Kano where I enrolled at the Alliance Francaise and
obtained an equivalent degree certificate in French. Thereafter, I enrolled for
a Masters course in International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) at the Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria, which I completed earlier last year. My fashion career
started as a hobby from the age of eight when I watched the late Maryam
Babangida on television. I began sketching and my fashionable parents also
helped me with styling my wardrobe and dressing me up smartly from a tender
age. At the age of 13, my mum sent me to a tailoring school at the women's
centre in FCT for a three-month course. I didn't like the classes because I
preferred the cookery classes and also because I was the youngest in the class
and was constantly teased by the other women that my parents sent me there
because they had plans of marrying me off as soon as I completed my secondary
school. They teased me and said I was going to be a tailor in the future. I
hated going for the classes. I eventually continued to sketch as a hobby for
myself, family and friends, but stopped after a while because people thought my
designs were too eccentric. Later on after having my baby, I decided to
continue without worrying so much about what others thought. I simply focused
on what I felt from the inside and put it down on a piece of paper.
Asides fashion and
designing, what are your other interests?
Before auditioning for the MTN show, I worked as an event
planner and also did some creative writing. I was asked at the audition how I
joggle all of that with family life and my designs too. It is quite simple
actually for me, because everything I do is creative and I get inspirations
from all over. Life itself is also creative from my own perspective. Fashion
design is something I have always done effortlessly, but I now intend to take
it up as a full time career and give it my best shot.
What inspires your
designs?
I derive my inspiration from the simplest things to the most
complicated. It could be architectural, nature-based, art or lifestyle.
How do you keep fit?
My personal regimen for keeping fit is dieting and a high
metabolic rate, which by the way, I think is genetic. The combination of these
two things helps me keep in shape.
What is your area of
specialisation?
My area of specialisation at the moment is haute couture. It
is a bit complex while putting together because of the amount of detailing
involved in creating one dress, but it's something I am passionate about. I
absolutely love it.
How did you come
about the name of your outfit?
That brand name came up because I want to infuse the use of
vintage designs with contemporary concepts to make any woman between the ages
of 19-55 feel comfortable, stylish and sexy without revealing too much. A woman
can be conservative yet stylish, sexy and fashionable without indulging in
indecent exposures.
What is your take on
love, marriage and relationship?
I think it's best to be married to your friend and someone
who deeply understands you. Love is an important ingredient in the equation,
but in the long run, it's those two things that keep a relation or marriage
going.
How do you unwind?
I hang out with my close friends and family. Sometimes, we
go to the movies but generally, I enjoy hang outs with my family and close
friends.
How do you balance
your personal life, home and family with your job?
Having a successful career could be hectic, but the reality
is that I'm neither the first nor the only woman to be in this position. I
enjoy the full support of my family on this job, even though adjusting was
tough initially. If there's anything I've come to learn in my few years of
experience, it is that eventually things work out and you'll reap the fruit of
your labour.
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