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360 Creative Hub marks first anniversary, holds talk on the business of fashion

By Tobi Awodipe
14 October 2017   |   3:42 am
Speaking to The Guardian, Ebere-Achu added, “This is an opportunity for anyone to be independent without breaking the bank. We have offices, sewing spaces and every tool any tailor would need to grow at very affordable rates.

360 Creative Hub

One of the foremost co-working and co-sewing spaces in Lagos, 360 Creative Hub, recently celebrated its first year anniversary, promising they were going to raise the bar even higher and set a solid example for others to follow.

Marking the occasion at its head office situated in Surulere, Lagos, the founder, Blessing Ebere-Achu rightly noted that they were providing innovative solutions for several problems creatives in the fashion industry face, namely work spaces and equipment, and enjoined everyone to partner with them. She revealed that the Hub was founded after noticing a gaping need as not everyone could afford a fully furnished shop almost immediately but were talented and wanted to sew.

Speaking to The Guardian, Ebere-Achu added, “This is an opportunity for anyone to be independent without breaking the bank. We have offices, sewing spaces and every tool any tailor would need to grow at very affordable rates. I can’t believe it has been a year already. We have greater plans for the coming year and beyond as we want to incorporate other things here as well.”

Speaking on the business side of fashion at the event was Yetunde Ogunnubi and she advised participants to collaborate with other creatives in the industry as much as possible. “Collaboration is very important with other people in industry such as photographers, make up artistes and so on. You also need to invest in yourself before others can invest in you. When you send material to fashion sites and newspapers to help you publish, there are hundreds of people sending also, what makes you stand out from them?”

She further advised participants to develop themselves and their craft, regularly. “Spend time developing yourself, it’s very important. Work on everything, your designs, your site, your models, your work ethic, your eye for detail etc. Take yourself out of your comfort zone, get mentors, intern as much as possible, improve yourself, work for free if possible to build yourself. Ask yourself, what am I doing everyday to better myself? Take online courses, go to events, scour the Internet for what is trending and what others are doing.”

“There’s a lot of people and things involved in d fashion industry, get and hone your passion, take yourself out of the box to better yourself. There are several fashion shows in a year, try to attend. Discover your strengths and work on them and allow others to help you grow as well. No matter what it is you want to pursue in the industry and think of it beyond passion, as you want to make sure you are the best at what you do.”

When asked the best time to exhibit at fashion shows, she said it is when one feels ready. “You need visibility but ensure you are putting out the right thing.” Lamenting flagrant mediocrity in the industry and the fact that designers have problems delivering quality, she added that we are not properly ready for the business of fashion as there are whole ranges of services in the fashion world that haven’t been explored.

Speaking on the role of photography in fashion promotion, Adewale Yusuf said fashion and photography go hand in hand and enjoined designers to use good photographers in showing their works as it goes a long way in determining if it succeeds or fails. “Not everyone can take pictures. As a creative, get good photographers as they can make or break your products. Don’t put out a mediocre product and start looking for press to cover you, if you have something good, the press will find you.”

He advised participants to leverage on existing platforms and strive to create something different as consumers are tired of the same old and want something different these days.

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