Friday, March 29, 2024

I almost abandoned my business because of customers’ ego – CEO of Olajiji fashion brand

For the Creative Director of Olajiji Cordwainer Couturier, Olatunji Onafuye, Nigerian designers have what it takes to compete internationally.
The fashion entrepreneur, who has clothed the like of Vector, Chidinma, Aki and Dayo Adeyeye, told The Point that he had received few mails about partnership from foreign investors and met with an Italian designer who was ready to invest in Made-in-Nigeria products.
According to him, with the right measures, Nigerian designers will continue to grow in leaps and bounds.
“The basic challenges in the fashion industry are consistency of fabrics and duplications of the original ones. Most people put the blames on the government for not providing basic infrastructures, but little do we know that if an individual can impact his knowledge to others, it will multiply and create more job opportunities. It makes no sense to duplicate products, which are always short of quality.”
He admitted that starting out fresh was not easy but he had God, his parents and siblings.
“Nothing comes easy for a starter but with time and determined mind, things will get better as time goes on.
“Has there been a time I felt like quitting? Yes! It happens, especially when it comes to managing customers and their ego or when service has been delivered but payments are not forthcoming.”
But despite the many challenges, he has never regretted abandoning his university certificate for fashion. According to him, this has always been a passion and creativity is what he has lived for all his life.
On how he came up with his brand’s name, he stated, “Olajiji is a native name from the western part of Nigeria, Cordwainer is simply a craftsman that makes footwears and Couturier is a stylist that makes and designs clothes to specification.”

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