Adegoke Awalade-Ologbenla and Olabowale Elizabeth Erinle are showing why the fashion design business is a lucrative venture.
Awalade-Ologbenla, young and innovative fashion designer, is a graduate of Sociology from Crawford University. He is also the chief executive officer of St. Calypso Couture International, which deals in premium fashion, ready-to-wear collections, footwear production and general fashion merchandise.
He started his business in 2008 during his third year in the university and was inspired to go into the fashion world because of his love for designs.
“Growing up with an industrious parent birthed my passion for fashion in 2008,” he says. “I grew up being conscious of my appearance and looks. This led me to start sketching my own designs, creating new looks and making money with my creativity,” he says.
Unlike most entrepreneurs, Awalade-Ologbenla started his business with zero capital, which goes to show that there are many businesses in the country that can be started with little or no money.
Awalade-Ologbenla’s secret was that he so advertised himself that he got a major contract worth almost N300, 000. This opened doors for larger contracts and more opportunities.
He says that although running a business can be difficult, he has been able to record ample growth and even operates on a larger scale while fostering partnership deals with other enterprises. Because he runs his business on a large scale, he gets raw materials in large quantities from major markets in Lagos and sometimes outside the country such as from Turkey and China.
Ologbenla further says his company creates affordable outfits to suit clients’ tastes while being prompt both in delivery and time. These have allowed continuous patronage and generous referrals, he admits.
The young entrepreneur reveals that since its establishment, the company has attained high-profit margins and an extended customer database. It has over 10 permanent workers and 15 ad hoc staff members. He plans to expand his business by having the biggest bespoke and ready-to-wear garment factory in Nigeria. He has an eye on 30 percent of the Nigerian population, he tells Start-Up Digest.
Despite the love for fashion, the entrepreneur says he faces challenges relating to epileptic power supply, inadequate funding for business expansion, unfavourable exchange rate and the high tariffs.
He urges the government to address issues around high duty and tariff charges and unfavourable forex. He points out that providing business grants and encouraging skills acquisitions will go a long way in supporting the growth of businesses.
The entrepreneur attends trainings and workshops both digitally and physically as he believes there is a room for improvement. He believes that such trainings and certifications improve his business as he tries to deliver global values while running a local brand.
Advising other entrepreneurs, he says, “There is no shortcut to success. You have to learn by the ropes, be accountable, smart, different and know when to quit and, above all, nothing is impossible.”
On her part, Olabowale Elizabeth Erinle is a young and innovative fashion designer. She is the chief executive officer of Zabethrin Clothing, which is a fashion house where custom-made outfits are designed and created at affordable prices.
Although she has her bachelor’s degree in Estate Management from the University of Lagos, she enrolled in a fashion house to pursue her passion. She started her business in October 2017 after her National Youth Service.
She was inspired to go into the fashion world because of her love for fashion and modesty. “I was inspired by my love for fashion and penchant for transforming ordinary pieces of fabric into remarkable attires,” she tells Start-Up Digest.
She says that her love for what she does gives her inspirations to make innovative and beautiful designs from any piece of fabric.
She learnt the art of cloth-making from a fashion designer close to her while she developed herself using her mum’s sewing machine. She made outfits for herself and later started getting orders from others. She then built her clientele from there and eventually set up this business with N500, 000, which she got from her savings, from her siblings and profits from few jobs she got initially.
Elizabeth says her company creates affordable outfits to suit her clients’ tastes while being prompt both in delivery and in making distinctive designs. This, she says, is why her customers keep coming back while also recommending others.
She further states that since its establishment, the company has recorded tremendous growth both in terms of profits and number of customers. She has been able to register her business legally and has employed four full-time staff members.
She operates in Lagos and gets her materials locally from major markets and also online platforms. With the aid of social media, she is able to advertise her products and get more customers. These have helped grow her business to succeed.
Speaking about her business expansion plan, she says, “I intend to create an affordable, ready-to-wear outfit, easily accessible to people, and establish a fashion empire that will serve as an institute. I also want to incorporate sale of fabrics too.”
Elizabeth also attends trainings and workshops both digitally and physically as she believes there is still room for improvement. She gets these trainings and certifications to improve herself and her business.
Despite the love for her work, Elizabeth still faces some challenges.
“I find it difficult to access adequate and necessary funds to acquire some important tools. Cost of production is also high for me due to the epileptic power supply,” she says.
Although she is able to work round these challenges, she asks that the federal government and capable organisations help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through grants, low-interest loans, workshops, and sponsored trainings. She also asks that they set up necessary infrastructure to reduce the cost of production and aid faster and neater work.
The entrepreneur says she is inspired by God and herself. Her life values are hard work, honesty, consistency and self-development. She advises other entrepreneurs to build their people- network, be courageous, take risks and dare to be different.
Gbemi Faminu
