Star Focus: Stellarita Asogwa

TELL us about yourself, growing up, family background, education and all.

My name is Mrs Stellarita Asogwa, I am the 2nd child and daughter in a family of five kids. My Father is a retired Colonel from the Nigerian army and my mother is a retired educationist. Growing up we moved a lot due to my father’s military career and so I changed schools every two years. But I had a great family. I am a graduate of Economics and I graduated with a 2nd class upper degree from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. I am currently married to my university sweetheart Mr Iyke K. Asogwa and we are blessed with three beautiful kids.

  I started business in 2004 as a Mary kay sales consultant before I ventured into the Salon and Spa business in 2009 which brought to birth Larita’s Beauty Spa. And after which I and my husband set up a franchise Chinese restaurant (Marcopolo) which is no longer a franchise and now called Marcoriano Chinese restaurant. So I am an entrepreneur.

  I have always regarded myself as a star. But I will say over the years through all of my businesses particularly from my Salon and Spa business people have gotten to know me. And often times I get notification letters for awards from various media houses and organisations both locally and internationally. Some want to interview me on TV, radio as well as in various magazines / newspapers.  And these attentions have increased since I ventured into the fashion industry through the establishment of my brand Zarita Kouture.

Which of your many jobs excite you the most?

I get a lot of excitement doing my jobs and wearing my many hats. But I would say the fashion business gives me the greatest excitement as it takes me all over the world doing fashion shows and fashion materials purchases in cities like London, New York, France, Dubai as well as in cities within Nigeria. I get to dress people up and make them look good in every occasion. It’s really exciting working with the Zarita Kouture brand.

What other areas of your career are you looking to explore? 

  I am looking to explore more of the international fashion industry.

What has been the highest point of your fashion career?

  The high point of my fashion career is getting to stock my Zarita kouture pieces in the Red dress store on Oxford street London. It is quite overwhelming knowing that my pieces can be bought from one of the busiest fashion districts in the world.

What has been the lowest so far?

 The lowest point in my Zarita Kouture business is having to shut down my very first outlet store located inside my Salon and Spa.

What are the plans for the future, short-term goals, anything new?

My plan for the future is to continue running successful business brands. And I am looking at having Zarita kouture pieces in other international stores. And most of all, work at making Zarita kouture a household name in the fashion industry.

The fashion industry is really expanding and is occupying a dominant position in the world economy and there is an intertwined relationship between the western fashion industry and the African industry in the use of fabrics and also in designer collaborations.

Do you think fashion is underrated?

  No I don’t think fashion is underrated. Fashion has taken a major place in the economies of the world.

What’s your day like in the fashion world?

My typical day in the fashion world starts within my production factory where I get to work on my designs and customer orders and make samples. I also spend time in the store to get to meet with some of my clients and take orders and look at the trends in purchases so as to know the direction to go in the area of production. But when there is a fashion event coming up this changes up daily routines and procedures as I would need to select models, take measurements, photo shoots and a lot of preparations. It is usually chaotic.

What’s your style preference?

My style preference is definitely chic and classy.

Do you have a style icon?

My style icon is Victoria Beckham. She is one stylish and classy lady.

Are you a trend/ designer buff or does anything go for you?

  I am not one that is a slave to current fashion trends or designer labels. Not all fashion trends works for me or my style sense. I pick what works for me per time and it has to be classy.

Have you ever suffered a fashion faux pas? if yes tell us about it.

I haven’t suffered any fashion faux pas at least none that I can remember.

If you had an opportunity of swapping wardrobes with anyone, who would that be?

  If I am to swap wardrobes with anyone it would definitely be Victoria Beckham, I just love her fashion sense and style.

What’s the most expensive fashion accessory you own and how much?

  Aside from my car, my most expensive fashion accessory would have to be my diamond encrusted Chanel watch.

Talk about being young and enterprising.

  Finally, my advice to young ladies out there who are trying to live out their purpose in life is to do what gives them joy and they are passionate about. They should start small with the immediate resources they have, keep at it and always pray and their breakthrough will definitely come.