Segun Ijiwande,a fashion designer Owns a fashion designing outfit ‘ShegzyKool Aesthetic’. He had a chat online.Enjoy.
What inspired the name Shegzy kool?
The brand "Shegzykool" was coined from both my nature and name. 'Shegzy' from my name, Oluwasegun; and 'kool' from my nature as a cool and quiet person.
Did you study design in school?
No, I am a graduate of English Language from the Redeemers’ University of Nigeria. ShegzyKool Aesthetic is my label’s insignia. I am a creative consultant of diverse sides, and I have been running my business for over 10 years now. It has taken me a lot in developing my brand, which I believe is one of Nigeria’s finest clothing and fashion accessory line today.
Can you give us an insight into what you do?
ShegzyKool Aesthetic houses a classic range of fresh and innovative designs that include corporate suits, jeans, native wears, linen suits and clothing, funky blazers, customised T-Shirts and a myriad of other styles. I provide first class services to both corporate and private individuals. My clientele includes top Nollywood actors, on-air-presenters, music artistes and many others.
Why did you decide to go into fashion designing despite your degree in English?
I have been passionate about fashion designing right from my secondary school days. Back then, I used to watch my mum design outfits. She was a top designer then. So, I was able to learn a lot from her.
How much was your start-up capital?
I can’t even remember. However, for me there was not so much needed to start up since my mum was a designer.
Who was your first customer?
My first customers were a couple of my friends, Tunde Ayela and Segun Olasoji. They paid me to make some jerseys for them.
What’s your current staff strength?
For now, I have six staff.
What are your biggest achievements so far?
They are many. The biggest achievement I can think of now was when I got signed by Nigeria’s renowned musician, Mr. Adewale Ayuba, as the official clothier for the ‘Bonsue Wears.’
What does it take to become a fashion designer?
It takes a lot of hard work, calculation and creativity.
How have you been able to deal with competition in the fashion industry?
I grew up knowing that no one knows your dream better than you do. Constantly improving on my creativity and trendiness has always given me an edge. And if I have to do what others do and/or have done, I try to be creative and put in some differences.
What are your major challenges as an entrepreneur?
Electricity is a major issue in Nigeria as a whole. Most times, we have to run on generators to work so as to meet delivery dates.
What are the life lessons you have learnt so far?
I’ve learnt that hard work pays. Like they say, nothing good comes easy; one has to put in one’s best to survive and thrive as an entrepreneur.
Who are your mentors and what have you learnt from them in growing your business?
My mother, Chief Mrs. F. M. Ijiwande, is my mentor. She is a ‘retired’ fashion designer. I learnt a lot from her that has helped me in my business. I learnt from my mother that hard work, patience, consistency, transparency, the fear of God and believing in oneself are vital ingredients for success in life; they are rewarding in different ways. Some clients can be nasty and nag a lot, but it takes patience to work with such clients.
As an entrepreneur, what are the most important lessons you have learnt about leadership?
I have learnt that humility is a major key in leadership. As a team leader, one has to be humble enough to take the views of one’s team members. I’ve learnt to carry my team members along while taking decisions. I welcome opinions from them even if it’s not needed immediately at that time. I have also learnt that we are all different people with different ways of thinking and behaviours. So, I try as much as possible to give someone a benefit of the doubt.
Were you ever sacred of failure when you first started out?
From the day I started designing, I have always seen failure as part of success. If you fail, you’re just a step ahead of knowing how to do something better. I’ve always overcome my fears with the sentence, “nothing good comes easy.” There are times I have had to go through a process twice or thrice just to get some designs right.
How has your academic degree helped you in running your business?
English Language is what we use in our daily transactions. Although, I don’t have to speak so much grammar before delivering, being a degree holder gives me an edge as a designer. It gives me room and opens doors to work for the elites both home and abroad. It also empowers me with more knowledge to train and manage my staff and students.
Currently we have designers who mostly use African fabrics, how versatile is your usage of different types of fabric?
Your fabrics determines the designs to settle for. Being a Creative Director, my knowledge for fabrics has been broadened on the usage of designs they could go for. As long as the quality of a fabric is good and sophisticated, inspiration for designs comes.
Who or what is your muse for your creations?
My muse for creations comes from fashion trend in vogue at a particular time, richness in Nigerian culture, and the society at large.
Is your designing everything you dreamed it would be?
Well, it is yet to be 'everything' I dreamt and envisioned. Still working out a whole lot of things.
As a Designer what is the peak of your career you envision yourself in?
There's no height for which I'm limited to. I've come to know that "you start dying when you stop learning". So I'm taking my career to the peak of it all.
Apart from designing what else are you involved in?
Wardrobe Management, Modelling Management, Image Consultation and Costume Management.
If it wasn’t designing, what else would you be doing?
If not designing, I consult generally for fashion and trendy styles, especially for artistes as per the best costumes for a photo/video shoot.
How do you unwind after a long day?
After a long day usually, I find my way to my house, have a cool shower, a good meal and sink into the bed for more inspiration before dozing off. I hang out with a couple of friends once in a while though.
Where do you see yourself in five years in your designing and personal life?
In five years, I see myself ten times better than what I am today.
What’s your advice for young entrepreneurs?
I will advise them to stay strong despite the competition in whatever field they operate in. Also, they should be more creative and keep to delivery dates as much as possible.
Is finance the most important requirement in starting up a business?
Yes and no. As it’s written in the bible, money answers all things. In other words, money is important in all things, because with money, one’s ideas can become reality. However, money is not everything, if passion is not there; the money one spends for something might end up being a waste. In as much as money is important, one also needs to be passionate about what one is investing into. One also needs to set goals and work hard towards achieving it or else the business might not last long.
From your experience, what does it take to become a fashion designer?
Please, explain what you mean by hard work, creativity and calculation.
Fashion design as a career is beyond sketching or making what one thinks people would like and embrace. A fashion designer must be good enough to think outside the box to create designs with reliable fabrics, and such designs must be relevant in terms of the fashion and style trends of that particular time. Hard work means being diligent and relentless until a goal is achieved in one’s endeavour; while creativity is going beyond the norm and doing something different artistically. Calculation can be said to be the carefulness in doing something, be it a work of art or a business.
How does having good relationships with your clients help the success of a business like yours?
In every business, relationship with clients/customers must be cordial and warm for such a business to grow. Before a transaction with a new or promising client/customer, I make sure I establish a good relationship with such person because it helps to knowing such a client’s principles. Knowing a client’s likes and dislikes also makes designing that client’s outfit easy.
Source: Naija lives
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