Cossly Wears founder Says Nigerian fashion evolving rapidly towards global market

The future is global and digital. Cossly Wears is adapting by partnering with international logistics firms to ensure our ‘Made in Nigeria’ excellence can reach a doorstep in London or New York as easily as one in Lagos.”

Ibrahim Akosile, founder of Cossly Wears, said this vision reflects the broader transformation currently taking place in Nigeria’s fashion industry.

Akosile said that the sector had evolved significantly over the years, moving from small tailoring operations into a dynamic industry producing globally competitive designs.

According to him, Nigerian designers are increasingly gaining international relevance due to growing creativity, exposure to global trends and easier access to modern fashion tools and accessories.

“The industry is buzzing. There’s so much fresh talent and new ideas. With easier access to global tools and accessories, Nigerian designers are no longer limited to local markets.

“We are creating world-class pieces that compete on any stage. It’s an exciting time to be a designer in Nigeria,” he said.

Akosile, who has spent more than 13 years in the fashion business, said his entrepreneurial journey mirrors the gradual growth of the industry.

He explained that he started fashion as a side hustle during his university days, acting mainly as a middleman who took clothing orders and outsourced the sewing to tailors.

After graduation, he relocated the business to a small space in his father’s house, where he converted part of the building into a workshop.

“What started as a one-man outsourcing hustle has matured into a state-of-the-art factory, a fabric retail arm and a specialised embroidery production unit. It wasn’t overnight; it was brick by brick,” he said.

Akosile said his motivation for entering the fashion industry was deeply personal, noting that his father’s entrepreneurial influence helped shape his interest in business.

“Fashion was always personal for me. My father showed me how to run a business. When I realised I could make people look sharp and pay my bills at the same time, I knew I had found my path,” he said.

He added that one of the major challenges he faced in the early stages of the business was maintaining quality and meeting delivery timelines while depending on external tailors.

“In the beginning, my biggest headache was relying on outside tailors. I couldn’t control the quality or the timing.

“I had to sit down and ask myself how to solve the problem. I saved up, built my own capacity and brought everything under my roof,” he said.

Today, the brand produces a wide range of fashion pieces including bespoke kaftans, high-end suits, contemporary outfits and native wears that combine traditional Nigerian aesthetics with modern finishing.

Akosile said the company follows a structured design process that focuses on customer preferences and seasonal demands rather than blindly following trends.

“We look at what our customers are asking for and the festive seasons. My team sketches designs every quarter, we select the best, source the right fabrics and test them on social media.

“If people love them, we produce them. We also release two new designs every month to keep things fresh,” he said.

He emphasised that maintaining quality remains a top priority for the brand.

“We run a tight system at the factory. Every stage of production—from cutting to the last button—is inspected by a Quality Control officer.

“Before any outfit leaves the building, both the QC officer and the manager must sign off on it. We don’t joke with precision,” he said.

Akosile, however, noted that infrastructure challenges such as irregular electricity supply and poor logistics still affect the industry’s growth.

“If we had stable power and good roads for delivery, designers would spend more time being creative and less time solving basic operational problems,” he said.

Looking ahead, the entrepreneur said Cossly Wears had set an ambitious target of achieving one billion naira in profit.

He said the company planned to increase suit production and launch a ready-to-wear (RTW) line before the end of the year to allow customers purchase outfits directly from the store.

“2026 is the year of retail and business-to-business expansion for us.

“Beyond the ready-to-wear launch, we are upgrading our fabric and embroidery divisions so that other fashion entrepreneurs can also benefit from our services,” he said.

Akosile added that the brand was gradually transforming from a local tailoring operation into a global fashion manufacturing company.

According to him, partnerships with international logistics firms will help ensure that Nigerian-made fashion products can be delivered seamlessly to customers across the world.

“We are shifting from being a local tailor to a global fashion manufacturer,” he said