By Omolara Adeniyi 

Ibadan, the ancient city and the capital of Oyo State has a rich fashion history that has existed for decades. It is famous for its vibrant colours, unique fabrics, and intricate designs. In the early years, fashion in Ibadan was simple and highly traditional. As a result, many people wore local fabrics made from Asọ Oke and Àdìre, and most of these fabrics were dyed in bright colours and infused with intricate patterns and designs. 

However, as years passed, fashion in Ibadan began to evolve as Western-style clothing was introduced. Bell-button pants, for example, became popular among young people in Ibadan in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, fashion designers have begun to create unique designs, merging traditional Yoruba elements with Western fashion trends. Many fashion brands have emerged and expanded, including Kay Bespoke, Datina Designs, and many more. 

Here is what Oluwakayode Ojomo, the CEO of Kay Bespoke, a well-known fashion design business based in Ibadan, has to say about his struggles and growth.

Can you give us a brief introduction about who you are and what you do? 

I’m Oluwakayode Ojomo, a fashion designer.

Can you give us a brief background about your business and how you started? 

My mom used to be a fashion designer, so I picked up my interest from there. Also, I would say Indian movies contributed a little. Their outfits were different. If you look around, many fashion designers don’t sew Indian attires since they are not Nigerian outfits. 

However, I had little time to train until after NYSC. I moved to Abuja and trained with my Aunt’s husband. I learnt fast because I was passionate about it, and in two months, I could sew very well. In fact, I landed my first client in the third month. However, I realised it would be challenging for me to start my business in Abuja due to the high cost of living and running businesses there. So I decided to come to Ibadan. I didn’t have a machine when I started, I was using one of my brother’s friend’s shops until my uncle got me a machine. I actually started my business in my room. And I would say my business has always been an online business. As I was training, I built my page on social media, bringing people’s attention to what I was doing. 

You mentioned moving to Ibadan because you thought it would be easier to navigate your business here. What have been your challenges so far? Is your relocation to Ibadan what you anticipated?

It wasn’t what I anticipated because, contrary to what I expected, I wasn’t posted to Ibadan. Besides the corp members, no one knew I was a fashion designer until the end of my Youth Service. The teachers in the school I served got to know about my skill and started patronising me. After service, I came to Ibadan and was confused about how I would start and grow my business. In fact, at some point, I contemplated taking a corporate job. However, I changed my mind and focused on my fashion design business. 

At first, the pay was little because few people wanted to pay for my service’s value. Familiarity was also a factor. Many people wanted to underpay because of our existing relationship. That wasn’t beneficial, so I focused on the online space, which has worked for us over the years. Currently, we have a few customers in Ibadan, but most of our customers are outside Ibadan, in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos and abroad.

One of our major challenges has been people wanting quality and class but not willing to pay for it. We’ve had cases where some of our clients will sew from other fashion designers whom they think are more affordable but will return the outfits to us for amendments because they weren’t satisfied. Many people don’t realise that investing in sewing comes with high value. At Kay Bespoke, we thrive on excellence and will never deliver below standard, even if this means remaking the outfit before delivering it to the customer. To us, that’s our selling point. 

How have you been able to overcome these challenges? 

Regarding customers paying for our services, social media has played a major role in bringing customers to us. We’ve been able to attract customers on social media through great branding, high-quality images and excellent designs. For example, we got our first foreign client after we invested in good photography, and since then, many foreign customers have been reaching out to us. Also, since we always try our best to do an excellent job, we’ve gotten referrals and returning customers. 

Does your brand have a unique style, and what inspires your creativity? 

Every fashion designer is creative, but the uniqueness in style differentiates your business; you shouldn’t copy other people’s styles or pretend other people’s work is yours. You should avoid posting other fashion designers’ outfits online and claim they are yours. Doing that affects the originality of your work. 

Our uniqueness is dynamic. The fashion industry is always evolving, and our designs and creativity evolve with it. However, our unique style is simple and classy. The kind of niche we want to attract is men with class, so our designs appeal to them.

What advice can you give a fashion designer who is just starting out and wishes to reach the level you are today? 

My advice would be not to give up and to continue doing what you are doing. Even at this stage, we still encounter challenges. Sometimes, it might be difficult and slow. So, my advice is to keep striving and put your best. If you come into the industry just for the money, you will be disappointed if you don’t make money in the first few months. But if you are passionate about fashion design, you will be able to keep pushing. Also, give your best and always do an excellent job because you don’t know who will see your work. 

Where can we find your business? 

We are currently located at Aje House, Dugbe, In Ibadan, Oyo State. We have a Google business page @Kay Bespoke. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook @Kaybespoke. 

Omolara Adeniyi is a content writer in Ibadan who enjoys exploring Nigerian culture and artistry.

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