Fashion designing is one of the most lucrative small businesses in Nigeria today. The sub-sector of the textile industry has not only provided a means of livelihood for a greater number of households, especially the female folks, but has also proven to be a vehicle in reducing unemployment in the country.
The lucrative nature of the profession has attracted both the old and young, including graduates, undergraduates, school dropouts, primary and post primary pupils, as an alternative to white collar jobs.
Coupled with the downturn in the nation’s economy, it has served as a profitable means of navigating out of poverty.
It is as a result of the benefits inherent in the sub-sector that spurred Omosede Owie, a graduate of Linguistics from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), to take advantage of it and create a niche for herself in the clothing world.
The 25-year-old, who is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Omella Designs, says passion for creativity and determination to produce ready-to-wear clothes motivated her to invest all her N400, 000 savings realised during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the profession.
“I started nurturing the business during my compulsory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Niger State, where I bought a sewing machine and took advantage to make stylish wears for a lot of non-indigenes in the state,” she recalls.
Read also: El Dokani replaces Puchercos as Lafarge CEO
“After my NYSC, I was invited for an interview in a telecommunications company in Lagos. I knew then that I was not the 9-5 type of person. Thereafter, I returned from Lagos and took the bold step to open my fashion home with the N400, 000 I saved, and I am more than glad I took that decision,” she says.
“Today, I am proud to say that I am a fashion designer. I make clothes for ladies of all sizes. I started sewing in 2009, immediately after secondary school. My mum is a fashion designer, so I actually loved how creative she was and I had a flair for it,” the entrepreneur explains.
“We had a machine in the house, and I started learning the trade by loosening my already-made gowns and re-sewing them. By so doing, I started getting better and mastering the art on my own,” she also says.
The budding entrepreneur, whose target in 2020 is to commence the production of ready- to- wear clothes, notes that her motivation for the job is not only for pecuniary gains but the joy and satisfaction of making people look good and beautiful.
“My motivation has never been money, but the joy I derive when I see how happy I make my clients. We all know women can do anything for fine clothes. Also, my mum has been my utmost motivation,” she further says.
Owie, who says she has so far trained four persons while eight persons are currently under her tutelage, notes that the business has recorded steady growth in the past one year.
“Ninety percent of my client base came from referrals, and that just helps me get better because I believe I have to keep satisfying you so that you can tell someone about me. That has been the cheapest and fastest mode of advert for us,” she says.
“In spite of the downturn in Nigeria’s economy, there have been consistent patronage, particularly from foreign clients because of my alluring and creative designs”, she states.
She however, attributes poor power supply and numerous competitors as the major challenge militating against the growth of the business in the state as well as in the country.
“If there is anything that really stresses me out in Nigeria, it is the power supply.
“Businesses are confronted with the onerous task of dealing with rivals, and there is a large number of competitors in the clothing world. So, we need to stay focused and stand out,” she notes.
She realises that every business has its challenges, adding that Omella Designs is immersed in how to stay creative and know what to produce every season, including understanding what each client needs.
“Omella Designs is looking forward to commencing production of ready-to-wear clothes in 2020, and investors and partners are free to make commitment to the project which will hopefully yield a worthwhile outcome,” she discloses.
