Segun Olatunbosun Olagbaju is a Lagos-based fashion designer and founder of Shigon Threads, a fast-evolving menswear brand redefining African contemporary fashion through innovation, storytelling, and scalable business strategy. Segun’s entrepreneurial instincts, sharpened early by necessity and discipline, have driven him to establish a model that integrates custom craftsmanship with scalable production and modern retail systems.

Early Career and Strategic Market Entry
Originally trained in education, Segun made an early pivot into fashion after identifying the gap between traditional tailoring and modern fashion expectations among urban African men. Starting with local demand in Osun and Oyo States, he initially operated a hybrid service that combined dry cleaning, styling consultation, and fashion resale. Within 18 months, he narrowed his focus to fashion production, launching the Shigon Threads brand in Lagos to address a more style-conscious and digitally connected customer base.

Shigon Threads: Digital-Native Fashion for the Modern African Man
Since its official incorporation, Shigon Threads has embraced a digitally native approach to building a fashion brand — from client acquisition to product delivery. Segun invested early in remote measurement and virtual fittings, enabling out-of-state and international orders. Instagram-led lookbook releases allowed the brand to grow to over 10,000 engaged followers within 24 months. Custom in-house production systems using design software cut pre-sewing time by 35 percent. A limited-edition capsule collection series sold out in under 72 hours in Lagos and Abuja.
To date, Shigon Threads has produced and delivered over 1,000 made-to-order garments, developed four limited collections, and fulfilled remote orders to diaspora clients in Canada, the US, Germany, and the UAE.

Brand Positioning and Creative Innovation
Olagbaju’s brand strategy revolves around combining minimalist Afrocentric motifs with Western tailoring codes — not just aesthetically, but structurally. He has pioneered the use of 3D mockups and digital illustrations in his client consultations, allowing for highly personalised design experiences. His “Urban Classic” capsule collection reinterpreted traditional agbada styling into a three-piece suit format, drawing attention from stylists, bloggers, and young professionals seeking hybrid formal wear.

In 2021, he launched the “Reclaim” series, focusing on repurposed denim and woven fabrics sourced from local tailors. This project aligned Shigon Threads with sustainable fashion goals while also strengthening local sourcing partnerships.

Skill Transfer and Local Production Ecosystem
Olagbaju established an informal production studio in Agege, which doubles as a training centre for junior tailors, stylists, and fashion interns. Since 2019, he has trained over 30 apprentices, many of whom now operate as freelance tailors or production assistants. He implemented a three-month rotation program in garment finishing, client service, and textile identification. He also collaborated with fabric vendors and machine technicians to provide business exposure for trainees. His community-based training model has become a small ecosystem — one that supports ethical labour, production excellence, and creative independence.

International Growth and Infrastructure Planning
In 2022, Olagbaju relocated to the United Kingdom (UK) to scale his brand beyond West Africa. He is currently engaged in sourcing strategic suppliers for European-grade material, building relationships with UK-based stylists for potential collaborative collections, developing a multi-channel sales pipeline including a Shopify-based e-commerce rollout, and exploring wholesale opportunities with cultural fashion retailers serving the African diaspora in London, Birmingham, and Toronto.

His relocation is not just for visibility — it’s infrastructure-driven. Segun’s aim is to convert Shigon Threads into a hybrid export-ready label, with localized production in Nigeria and international delivery fulfilment managed from the UK.

Commitment to Ethics and Creative Citizenship
Outside of business, Segun remains involved in service. In Nigeria, he volunteered with the logistics team at Daystar Christian Centre and supported church-run fashion expos for youth entrepreneurs. His personal mission is to foster dignity through dress and storytelling through style, a philosophy he carries through every aspect of his brand, from fittings to final delivery.

Scalable Vision for Global Creative Impact
Segun Olatunbosun Olagbaju is not only a designer; he is a fashion systems thinker. Through Shigon Threads, he combines creativity, operational insight, and mentorship to solve design, distribution, and development challenges in the African fashion space. His next chapter will scale these systems across borders — connecting African design to global runways, wardrobes, and retail networks.