Get Guardian on GoogleToke Makinwa has described moving away from visible displays of wealth toward quieter markers of quality, saying that “real wealth doesn’t shout.” The remarks came during Master of Craft Episode 3, presented by Pawnshop by Bluradish and recorded at the brand’s Lagos flagship.
She recalled an earlier phase in which newly available money led people toward recognised labels. “When you first make money, you are in with the trends,” she said, noting the desire for a Rolex or other items that “announce you.” She later reached a different stage in which “the understated ones are the ones that spell real money and real class.”
Durability defines quality for her. “Quality means durability to me,” she stated, preferring one item that lasts over several that require frequent replacement.
She values pieces that “stand the test of time” and named Christian Dior among designers she follows, while emphasising understated brands. “Beauty fades after a while, but if it stands the test of time, it will always be beautiful in and out of season.”
The same standard shapes a bag line she is developing. The project began from a personal interest in bags rather than a formal business plan; she wants pieces that people who cannot afford higher-priced labels can still carry and feel good about.
The product, she said, should be “just a part of who they are.” She aims for the bags to be purchased on their own merits: “I want to get so good that they purchase it regardless of knowing who owns it or not.” She characterised the approach as locally made and globally marketed.
The conversation forms part of the Master of Craft series, which examines how practitioners in various fields have developed their standards around value and success. Pawnshop by Bluradish has positioned the series around questions of ownership and worth. The full episode is available on the brand’s platforms.
