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LAGOS Style Designer, TUNJI AYOOLA
Mr. Tunji Ayoola is a uncommon breed amongst prime trend designers in Nigeria. His deep data of the craft and understanding of the enterprise dynamics required to thrive within the trend business is prime notch. Mr. Ayoola is the CEO and mind behind Couture SimplyMenz, a trend outfit which types and adores males in one of the best of outfits. Couture SimplyMenz is positioned at 54 Falolu Street, Off the Akerele Avenue within the intellectual Surulere, Lagos. Although his designs don’t come low cost, you’re assured of getting a stand out outfit which makes shoppers at all times come again for him to model them.
Final Week Sunday, Mr. Tunji was honoured on the 2024 Citypeople Awards for Excellence held at Lagos Nation Membership, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. There he bagged the extremely coveted Particular Recognition Award for his exceptional contributions to the Style Trade.
In the midst of the ceremony, Metropolis Individuals’s JAMIU ABUBAKAR (08085185886) had an unique and provoking interview with the person of the second in trend enterprise, Mr. Tunji. who used to work within the banking business revealed rather a lot about his humble starting and the way he advanced within the trend enterprise after his early retirement from the banking sector. Beneath are excerpts from the interview:
How do you’re feeling about being celebrated and receiving the 2024 version of Metropolis Individuals Awards for Excellence?
I really feel excited and I sincerely admire the crew of Metropolis Individuals, particularly Dr. Seye Kehinde for taking out his time to offer me consideration. I’m extremely privileged and honoured.
For a way lengthy have you ever been within the trend enterprise?
I’ve been within the trend enterprise for a really very long time. I used to be born into it. My late dad was a Tailor and my late mother was a significant cloth vendor in Oyo State. So, I adopted of their footsteps. Although I didn’t plan to get into it. Accident led me into it.
What truly occurred ?
A tailor tousled my material and I needed to go and gather one other cloth, received to him and mentioned ‘give me scissors, give me tape rule, give me chalk, give me pencil…’ and I began reducing. He was dazed. On the finish of the day, I couldn’t use his machine as a result of he had industrial machines all by means of. And what I used to be used to was a guide home machine. We had been in a position to get a home machine from a tailor about 4 retailers away from him which I efficiently used to make the gown they usually had been stunned. That led to a collaboration amongst us, the two tailors and myself. At some extent I made a decision to interact them and to mentor them. That’s how the enterprise got here up. This occurred round 2012.
What’s your tackle the traits within the trend business?
Nigeria is making in-roads into the style business. Nigeria is changing into a pressure to reckon with. Although most of us that decision ourselves trend designers have to know the enterprise of trend. Understanding sew is completely different from understanding the enterprise of trend. Lots of tailors are simply craft males, they don’t seem to be enterprise males. Understanding the enterprise interfaces of trend is essential.
What precisely made you allow banking for the style enterprise?
I received an early retirement from the banking business. That was in 2006. I attempted a number of issues. Like I mentioned, I didn’t plan to get into trend. It wasn’t deliberate. An accident took me into it. And I can let you know, I’m having enjoyable as a result of I admire the God of grace. Giving me the grace to contribute my quota into the business in Nigeria and the world at massive.
What are the particular companies you provide?
I make garments for males and I do work on every part that males use relating to trend. Like we make very acceptable and cozy English wears that stand out from the group. We make native attires and briefly we do every part that males put on.
What would you say is the distinctive promoting level of your trend model?
We have now a straight dedication to excellence, we take note of detailing and each a part of the method is essential to us. It is because we aren’t simply clothes males, we’re clothes males who deserve to face out from the group. Our trend label is a label that stands males out from the group anyplace adorn our garments.
Have you ever accomplished or participated in any type of exhibition or trend present because you started your small business?
By the way, I don’t take part in exhibitions and I don’t do a lot social media advertising. Mainly, most individuals I encounter on social media can’t afford what I promote. Most of them, I’m not saying each one. Majority of them can’t afford what I promote. We take note of particulars. Earlier than we end making a gown, a mean tailor might need made like 3, as a result of each side of the method is essential. We pay detailed consideration to each material we make.
Your data in regards to the craft and enterprise of trend is prime notch, these painting you as somebody who’s nicely uncovered to the enterprise calls for. From the place did you develop your distinctive ideas?
I’m an IT skilled. I’ve labored with a number of Data Expertise organizations. Not solely in Nigeria however all through the world. I will need to have been to nicely over 53 international locations. There was a specific 12 months I used to be working with a multinational IT agency and I labored in 33 international locations inside a 12 months. In order that’s the sort of a Globalized Publicity that I’ve had. I’ve met individuals, I’ve come throughout a number of traditions, cultures and different human dynamics that enriched my expertise as a designer.
Are you able to inform us a bit about your background and upbringing?
I got here from Oyo city. I’m in my mid 60s. I used to be born by a well-to -do father however my childhood expertise wasn’t that improbable as a result of I grew up in a polygynous residence with all its dynamics that introduced a number of setbacks. At one level, I assumed I wouldn’t have the privilege of getting larger schooling as a result of circumstances took me to a village the place I sojourned for someday earlier than there was divine intervention and an escape. I began my secondary faculty schooling a number of years after I completed my main schooling.
How does your childhood expertise contribute to who you could have change into right now?
Very early in life, I received to know that life is a battle. And that made me notice that I’ve to place in my greatest if I need to change into anyone in life. On the finish of the day, I spotted that my belief in God, my private dedication to excellence and the dimensions of my dream are what I’ve to depend upon to stand up in life.
You’ll be able to go to and expertise the great work of Mr. Tunji Ayoola by visiting his Instagram pages @couturesimplymenz and @molatunjiayoola
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