Designer of the week: Josephine Onotu (Divafrique Signature)

Josephine Onotu is a young talented lady with dreams and ideas as big as the universe. She is the creative designer and CEO of Divafrique Signature. They specialize mainly in the making of leather bags, purses etc. she takes us through her journey so far.

TELL us about yourself, growing up, family background, education and all?
My name is Josephine Onotu. I’m from Kogi State. I was born in Glasgow, Scotland and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. I am the third born of nine children. I had my primary and secondary education in Lagos and studied computer science at the University of Ilorin. Kwara State. Growing up in Lagos was filled with fun and exciting days,

What else do you do for a living?
I didn’t start my career in the fashion industry. I worked in a bank for 6 years, all the while knowing that I had a passion for something else. I started my business fully a little over a year ago, at the moment my primary focus is on growing my business, which still requires a lot of hard-work to take it to where I envision.

Please fill us in on your rise to fame and how did it all start?
It all started in secondary school. I have always been creative with a flair for fashion, colours and patterns. I would get bored in between and during classes and distract myself by drawing sketches of outfits from comic books, in time I began to incorporate my own ideas into the sketches. I had great reviews from my classmates. I soon bought a sketch-book and my sketches became more professional with practice. I tried my hands on clothes for a little while but it wasn’t quite what I wanted to do, and then i found bag making.

Which of your many jobs excite you the most?
I do not have many jobs in that sense. But every new design brings new excitement from the process of sketching the idea, sourcing materials, pattern and cutting till the final design is created. The goal is always to create something better than the last, in terms of quality, design and finishing

What are the areas of your career you are looking to explore?
There are two major areas, one of which I will not share here. But the other is to diversify, by venturing into men fashion accessories i.e. bags, leather wrist bands, wallets and maybe footwear. Our first samples of man bags have just been completed. In the past, we have done designs strictly for female leather handbags from Tote bags to cross-body bags, purses, hand stitched wallets using leather or combining other materials like Ankara, aso-oke etc.

What has been the high point of your fashion career?
My Highest point is simply having satisfied customers everyday and people who love and appreciate what I do and of course patronise my business. When I see someone with a D.S bag on her arm, the feeling of satisfaction is most rewarding.

What has been the lowest point?
Starting a business in Nigeria can be tough, transitioning from a 9-5 job into a fashion business with no previous business experience can be even tougher. I have encountered a few pitfalls along the way, but they have all been learning points and they have brought me to where I am today.

What are the plans for the future, short-term goals?
Our plan for the future is to be a brand that continues to create bags that seamlessly fit into your life and make your day to day easier for those who understand that your bag is so much more than a carry-on for your essentials, it’s a statement about your personality!  We also hope to start a bag making training school to empower aspiring artisans especially young women, when the time is right. We are very excited for endless opportunities that lies ahead for Divafrique Signature.

Tell us about Divafrique Signature and what it represents
Divafrique Signature is an African owned brand with a distinctive collection of handcrafted, uniquely customizable female bags ranging from business carry-all Tote bags to casual day/night time satchel bag, sling bag, minaudiere, printed fabric/leather clutches or evening purses and other leather gift items. Our products are stitched to perfection drawing on attention to the finest details. Our contemporary designs are created with a variety of animal hides including exotic animal skins with rich textures and colours.

What inspires your designs?
My mother is my greatest supporter and inspiration. She is a fellow bag lover, we talk about designs and ideas together, she constantly encourages me to push the envelope. Besides my mum, there are a lot of Nigerian designers who inspire me with the excellence of their work. I also get a lot of inspiration researching techniques and finishing of international brands as well.

What made you decide to pursue a career in fashion?
I think i can say it was innate, its just simply what I’ve always wanted to do. Making the decision to change career paths came from a sense of unfulfillment. I can also say I chose fashion because it is still relatively untapped in comparison to the “western world”, particularly bag making and some forms leather works.

What are the challenges you are facing in your profession?
The major challenges I face in my profession would be sourcing materials particularly hardware accessories.

Any tips for aspiring designers?
There are a lot of talented fashion designers and household names in Nigeria today, but don’t be intimidated by the big names and the big price tags, there is still room for you, Fashion is ever revolving and evolving at the same time, as long as you have your own unique flair to bring to the table, with focus and determination you will excel.