Today, we celebrate of 10 years of excellence.
Our focus on this edition of "Entrepreneurs ' Watch" is multiple award-winning fashion designer, fashion stylist and wardrobe consultant, Olayiwola Ogedengbe a.k.a Lamas, the Creative Director of Lamas Clothing Nigeria ( @lamasngr)
On this edition ,the internationally renown fashion designer shares with us what his 10 years journey in the entrepreneurial world has been like.
WHAT INSPIRED YOUR DECISION TO BECOME A FASHION DESIGNER?
For me, fashion is something that has always been there although I discovered it in 2005 and officially started running my label in 2007. Dressing well and looking well is something I have always been passionate about and that's what inspired my decision to become a fashion designer.
CAN YOU TELL US ANY UNFORGETTABLE INCIDENT THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS?
There has been quite a few but one major one was when I had to sleep overnight behind the police station counter because of a client of mine. You know one can't know the kind of jobs all your clients are involved in before you decide to work for them. The police were tracking the person's number and it happened that my number was one of the numbers he had been communicating with and that's how I ended up at the police station and I had to sleep overnight where I battled with mosquitoes. I think It's one of the things you have to pass through when building a brand.
WERE THERE TIMES YOU FELT LIKE GIVING UP ON THIS JOURNEY? HOW DID YOU SCALE THE HURDLES?
There were many of such times but one thing has always been my bedrock and that is passion. There have been ups and downs and challenges. Life is not a bed of roses, so is entrepreneurship or business. There have been times I didn't feel like doing anymore but I had to come back because I knew that if I gave up, I would be disappointing three people; first is myself, second, the people who look up to me and third, the people who believed in me when I had nothing. So giving up wasn't an option for me, I had to forge ahead and here we are.
HAVING BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR TEN YEARS, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING FASHION INDUSTRY?
The first way I have been able to keep up is my creativity. I also have been able to keep up by moving with time. There are so many platforms such as social media, you can see what's going on in the fashion world. Also one gets to attend fashion shows, exhibitions, seminars e.t.c.
As a fashion designer, you also get to go out to events to see what's trending and you can derive inspiration for designs. You need to serve your clients with varieties, as they say " varieties is the spice of life" unless they would get tired.
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR MOST SATISFYING MOMENT IN BUSINESS?
That was in February 2017 when I got featured by BBC Africa as the most consistent entrepreneur. I think I was the only person that has been visited in Ibadan. For me, It's not really about the money but the fact that there are people looking at what we do and they can say " Go and look at Lamas"...There has been other high points but I think that's the major one and we give glory to God for that.
WHEN YOU STARTED OUT, WERE THERE PARTICULAR ROLE MODELS YOU WERE LOOKING UP TO OR MENTORS?
I had role models quite alright but I had no mentor. I know I needed to carve a niche for myself. There are lots of fashion designers in Nigeria, there are lots in Ibadan, even on my road here at Joyce B but what distinguishes us is how innovative you are. I had role models but each of them had their particular trademarks and that's what I decided to do also.
AS A FASHION DESIGNER, WHY DO YOU THINK TAILORS DISAPPOINT THEIR CLIENTS?
First, other businesses also disappoint, not limited to tailors alone. Disappointment can be in two ways, either concept disappointment or as regards prompt delivery.
I think in this case individuality comes in. Some are naturally lazy while some are just covetous. They collect more than they can handle.
Others have really busy schedules and they tend to forget the day they promised to deliver.
YOU STARTED A RADIO TOUR TO CELEBRATE YOUR TEN YEARS ANNIVERSARY, WHAT PROMPTED THIS?
Yeah, we started a radio tour, first of It's kind, asides artistes. The purpose is to inspire entrepreneurs. I have failed and succeeded. There is no successful entrepreneur that has never failed. Success doesn't come cheap, it comes with a price, one of which is failure, pain, burning the midnight oil,days when your friends are sleeping and you will be working but then, days are coming when they would be working and you will be sleeping. Although the radio tour has cost us many things, but we believe whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.
HAVING BEEN IN BUSINESS IN IBADAN FOR TEN YEARS, HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THE WAYS THINGS ARE PRESENTLY AND THE WAY IT WAS WHEN YOU STARTED?
There is a big difference. The perception ten years ago isn't the perception now as far as entrepreneurship, fashion and acceptance goes. Now entrepreneurship is the order of the day, back in those days,people tag you as the unserious one.
Lack of employment is what is making lots of people venture into entrepreneurship but the truth is that entrepreneurship isn't meant for everybody.
20 YEARS FROM NOW, WHERE DO YOU SEE LAMAS CLOTHINGS NIGERIA?
20 years from now, I see one of my children having taken over running Lamas Clothings. He/she would be taking the front seat while I take the back seat. By then we would be in ten different major countries of the world. I see myself sitting down on my balcony 8 a.m. Monday morning and when It's four p.m. , I walk into the office and ask how the day went.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO TODAY'S BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS?
First, as an entrepreneur, you have to know your calling, that is the foundation.
Then you need to believe in yourself. Belief in oneself is very important. Also you need to be creative and move with people of like minds. Friends that will challenge you.
Also you need to be resilient especially if you don't have any financial backup.
Set long and short term goals, that's how I did mine and it worked for me.
People will discourage you, directly or indirectly so you need to believe in yourself without any external encouragement.
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Our utmost appreciation goes to the Creative Director, Lamas Clothings Nigeria ( @lamasngr) for this inspiring edition of "Entrepreneurs' Watch"
Keep the flag of excellence flying as you continually showcase Ibadan and Nigeria as a whole to the world.👌
Happy Tenth year anniversary.
We celebrate you.
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God bless @lamasngr
God bless Ibadan!
God bless Nigeria
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