Young entrepreneurs urged to embrace fashion business

“THE Nigerian fashion industry can become a billion dollar entity, just as it is in the Western world and that can only happen if we grow together as a force.

We need several fashion brands to be a successful business and this is the catalyst we need to move us to greater heights.” This was the submission by one of the facilitators at a recent fashion seminar organised in Lagos.

Speaking recently at the Business of Fashion seminar organised by the Asake Oge Fashion Academy, four leading Nigerian fashion entrepreneurs, Tope Hassan, Subomi Plumptree, Tolu Awoyemi and Kola Kuddus shared their insight and experience on public relations, branding, networking, social media etc and also advised those who want to venture into the competitive fashion industry.

Mrs Tope Hassan, Founder of Isoko Africa, hinted on the role of knowing your product and customer to building your brand.

She said: “The steps to use in building a better brand includes price, product, place, position, promotion and production and also putting the product on social media platform and websites.”

On his part, Tolu Awoyemi, Business Analyst at Enterprise Route Solutions, implored fashion entrepreneurs to have a business plan, know them in details and do a periodical check-up to build their business.

Addressing participants, the multiple award-winning fashion entrepreneur, Asake Oge Agoro, said: “Some young fashion designers don’t get the foundation right and you see them after one or three months their business folds up.

To start off in the fashion industry, you have to be ready to pay your dues, gain more knowledge as much as possible and be an intern with an established fashion brand for at least a year before having yours.”

Agoro said: “I saw that there was lack of information, knowledge about the fashion industry, and fashion schools not up to the same level of London College of Fashion of central Saint Martins Business School.

The business of fashion is my own way of passing across knowledge to young upcoming fashion entrepreneurs including knowing the basics, which is called Fashion 101 before starting up their own fashion brand and getting the foundation right.”

She disclosed that the next Business of Fashion event will hold on May 3,2018 in Lagos, which will feature opportunities in the fashion and creative industry, networking, market research and how participants can finance their business.

“We aim to grow a new breed of fashion entrepreneurs who will make a difference in the Nigerian fashion industry and economy aside from our obvious passion for fashion and extensive experience in the UK fashion industry.

We have a team of business consultants and fashion industry experts with a combined experience of 55 years in the international fashion industry who are working with us at the business of fashion seminar.” she said.