I have been fascinated with the beauty and elegance clothes give for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I loved to dress up, makeup, look pretty and take pictures. I envied people that had lots of clothes and accessories in their wardrobes. I realized early on how a change of something as simple as clothes changes the appearance of a person. I knew the power an outfit had on a person’s confidence, demeanour and mood.

I can’t fully recall when exactly the inspiration hit, but sometime during my final year at the university, I decided to attend fashion school as soon as I was done with my degree. I was skinny back then, I worked on getting my weight up, clothes became more fitted on me and I garnered more compliments on my outfits (that was the goal, to be able to model my designs). I told my mom about wanting to learn to sew and she was joyous, she knew the benefits of having a ‘handwork’ aside from your educational degree. She made payment for me to start-of at a fashion house and my dreams started materializing from that instance.

The fashion house I attended and still attend is called Just My Size (JMS) Stitches, it is located in Abuja, Nigeria. My boss is quite popular because of how talented and creative she is with her styles. When I said ‘fashion school’ you might have guessed I meant somewhere with formal fashion education. Contrary to that, JMS is an advanced tailor shop with apprentices and workers. I started in November or December 2018 and I had to stop in February 2019. I went for my NYSC program (a one-year program every graduate has to do in Nigeria to become eligible for employment). After NYSC in March 2020, I had intentions of going back but I was faced with some challenges.

My mom thought I wasn’t serious about fashion school again but I had my plans. I got a part-time job in 2021 and I started saving towards getting my sewing machine. It was a goal on my vision board; to get a sewing machine and go back to fashion school by 2022. I also started a perfumes business so I was able to save more and when my money was almost complete in December 2021, I went back to JMS because of the Christmas rush so I could learn a lot that month. That month, on the 30th of December, I got my sewing machine 🎉 A Raleigh Domestic manual. It is the swiftest, smooth, stress-free sewing machine I have ever operated. God did that for me. Since then it has been uphill. From making flimsy dresses for myself from scrap fabrics to getting my first customer at my part-time workplace, to making beautiful clothes for myself, my sister, my mom, more customers and even a 6 months old baby and 10-year-old girl in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧

My fashion journey is just beginning and I am excited and at the same time nervous about what is ahead. Sometimes I sit in my thoughts and I feel this is what I am supposed to do, this is a passion for me. I enjoy sewing and designing. I look at my boss and hope to grow like her (she has been a designer for 22 years). Fashion designing is not easy, it is tasking work, of physical strength and of the mind but it is so rewarding to see the final piece of something you made. The joy you feel is worth it.

I am only still an apprentice and the journey to freedom and personal establishment is long and daunting but it is one I am ready for. Nothing good comes easy and being a fashion designer is going to bring a lot of good to me. There are still some decisions I have to make, like what type of clothes to make, whether lounge wears, urban wear, ready-to-wear, swim wears, customs, bespoke, bridal dresses etc. When you find your niche in fashion, you can give it your all and stand out. I will flow into my right space in due time, but as for now I am simply enjoying the process and learning as much as I can, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I intend to share as I go on this blog, so buckle up dear reader, if you love fashion as I do, you are in for a ride along.