I built Elanway through dedication, commitment – Gerald Agbai, entrepreneur

Dedication plays a crucial role in building a successful business. It is the unwavering commitment and perseverance of the business owner or entrepreneur that drives them to overcome obstacles, stay focused on their goals, and work tirelessly to achieve long-term success. This best describes, Gerald Agbai, the founder of Elanway, a street wear fashion brand.

Shedding light on how he started Elanway, he said:”My journey as a fashion entrepreneur started after graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering, I returned to the industrious city of Aba, my home. I knew I wanted to create something of my own that truly reflected my vision and style. That’s when I founded ElanWay, then called Elan Signature, a brand that celebrates the spirit of urban culture and individuality.

Starting ElanWay was not an easy task, as my first official office was my home’s balcony. But quickly demand grew and I relocated my office to a larger space, and hired more workers.

“As I had established my office in Aba, I decided to expand into Lagos. It was a challenging, yet rewarding journey because this new city was a whole new world. Nevertheless, it was an untouched market I knew my brand would conquer. Utilizing networking with celebritizing and leveraging social media, I was able to gain traction in business.

Through my dedication and commitment, ElanWay has emerged as one of the fastest growing street wear brands in the industry today”.

On what makes Elanway unique he said:”ElanWay is a street wear brand that is committed to representing the essence of urban culture through unique and authentic street wear fashion. What sets us apart from other fashion brands in Nigeria is our commitment to innovative designs that are designed to stand out. Rather than following the latest trends, we focus on creating designs that are timeless”.

Agbai also noted that finances were one of the challenges he encountered when he started out in business.

“As a fashion entrepreneur in Nigeria, I have faced various challenges, especially in a highly competitive and saturated industry. One of the main difficulties is the lack of access to finances, which can limit growth opportunities, leading to the inability to invest in better equipment, designs, and advertising, amongst other things”.

Asked about the future of the Nigerian fashion industry, Agbai stated that he sees a bright future.

“I see a bright future for the Nigerian fashion industry, driven by the rise of creatives and style of Nigerian designers and entrepreneurs.

Nigeria is home to a vibrant and diverse culture with a strong fashion heritage and tradition, which creates endless possibilities for the future of the fashion industry in Nigeria. This, coupled with the growing interest in Nigerian fashion from international markets and investors, presents an enormous opportunity for local brands to establish themselves globally”.