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Princess Akinruntan: Living her dreams with fashion

By Editor
08 October 2016   |   3:12 am
Having studied Accounting, Princess Akinruntan practiced in her father’s establishment for three years. “My dad wanted me to stick to the oil and gas industry but I wanted to be on my own.
Princess Mobola Akinruntan

Princess Mobola Akinruntan

Princess Mobola Akinruntan is the CEO of Login House of Fashion located in Lekki Lagos. The mother of two and daughter of Olugbo of Ugboland in Ondo state and Chairman of Obat Oil Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, worked with her father as an Accountant, and later moved on to pursue her passion, Fashion!

Having studied Accounting, Princess Akinruntan practiced in her father’s establishment for three years. “My dad wanted me to stick to the oil and gas industry but I wanted to be on my own. I opted for fashion and he supported me because he also loves to look good. Even though my resignation letter was rejected at Obat oil, I left unannounced to the UK to study fashion.”

She noted that starting up Login House of Fashion is an interesting and encouraging for her. “We make outfits for children with the conventional styling and I started with my daughter before support came from my family. The most creative part of my business is the children’s ready to wear clothes and parents are usually excited when they see our collection; there are English designs but I work with African fabrics.

“Now the business has taken shape and I have the support of my family, friends and clients. The fashion school has enhanced my creative side as well as my relationship with my staff. My clients are usually excited when I interpret what they wear and it comes out nice. I would charge my clients so low and they kept wondering why. For me, it was passion and it gave me a bit of problem because some client thought it wasn’t going to look good. I put a lot of efforts into it and gradually won them over and got a number of referrals in the process.

“My first runway show was the 2016 African Fashion week and I am looking forward to doing more. I will also be launching a fashion line by the end of the year called MO Couture, which will be in collaboration with some of my old clients. We will be working on a line of private stylists; which will cater a few of my dad’s friends who prefer privacy, that is the need that line of business will take care of.”

On challenges faced she said that it is usually with manpower. “I do a number of things myself. I usually bring my tailors from neighboring countries like Togo. Once they work for about a year, they would be willing to leave. No matter what you do for them, they just want to leave especially in December, which is our peak period. So, at such moments, I work till about 3am.

Speaking on the state of the economy on her business, Princess Akinruntan said, “The economy is affecting everybody. It is a bit challenging now but I believe that if you are focused and believe in God, He will see you through this phase.”

What is your definition of style? “Style is getting creative and working with things that suit and look good on you.”
Who inspires you in the fashion industry? “Deola Sagoe. I like the way she works with fabrics, the way she combines her stuff. For me, that was one of the inspirations when I started. Just before I relocated to Nigeria, I always searched for things online and most of her creations have been a great source of inspiration for me.

“In the next five years we hope to have expanded our Factory, to train more skilled tailors, explore more designs and have a line of business that will provide materials, accessories to designers in the industry.”

On her life as a princess, she said, “It is good, nice and I am enjoying it. I grew up in Ibadan, schooled in Olabisi Olabanjo University in Ogun state. We were all born and bred in Ibadan but after schooling we moved to the United Kingdom, then I came back, and worked with my dad for a while. Our grooming has always been very private; from private school to private this and that. The environment has been cozy and my dad has done very well for us. We put the name in the forefront and that has worked for us. My father does not give you the money to spend but tells you how to fish. None of us is spoilt. He did not spoil us with anything. He groomed us to stand on our own, to be focused in what we do.”

Continuing, she informed that while attending university, her father rented an apartment for them. “My siblings and I had always gone to the same school, he got the driver to take us to school and bring you back. At weekends, we have to go home because he has a church and we have to attend.

“My dad was firm and stood by his words even though he is a bit more lenient than my mum. Once my dad says don’t do this and my mum is there, you know this is certainly don’t do it.”

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