Give Me 3 to 6 Months And I’ll Turn You Into a Superstar Fashion Designer

But today, I’ve had the privilege of sharing the runway with world-renowned designers including Jimmy Choo, Rocco Barocco of Italy, Mahrouf of Morocco, Anne Teoh of Singapore, and many others.

I have sewn for the likes of:

• Pastor Jane Pela of the Gracetrybe Church
• Pastor Deola Phillips of Christ Embassy
• Honourable Tolu Sadipe, Member of the Federal House of Representatives
• Doctor Tomi Coker, Former Commissioner for Health, Ogun State
• Senator Gbenga Ashafa and his constituency office staff
• And other confidential high-profile clients

Now, I’m not telling you all of this to brag or impress you.

I’m telling you this because I want you to know that everything I’m about to share comes from real experience—not theory.

But believe me, it wasn’t always glamorous.

Let me take you back to the very beginning…

The Accident That Changed Everything

After bagging a degree in Banking & Finance from UniBen, as I tried to do clearance for my NYSC, I got involved in a serious accident. The accident threatened to take my legs. But God so kind, it didn’t. That was when I now realized that my legs were given to me for a purpose!

So, 3 months after the accident as I was recovering, I decided that I wanted to learn how to sew.

When I told my family my plan, they didn’t support the idea at all, especially my mum. After a lot of back and forth, my mum finally gave in to the pressure and allowed me to learn.

Quitting the 9-to-5 Corporate Grind

After learning, I then finally went for the NYSC. After my NYSC, I got a regular 9-to-5 corporate job. It was a grind.

Quickly I got bored and tired of my 9-to-5. I wasn’t feeling fulfilled. After 3 years, I decided enough was enough and called it quits.

I decided I was going to be a tailor full-time, and I wasn’t going to look back.

When I told my mum of the new development, as you have guessed, if you could see the look on her face. There’s nothing she didn’t say and do to discourage me. But I stood my ground because I know where my heart lies.

So I went ahead and started my fashion design business. However, in the coming years, I struggled.

I used to be a struggling tailor. I couldn’t afford to give up, because I needed to prove to everyone I made the right decision.

The Missing Link: Business, Marketing & Branding

So, I discovered that to set myself apart, I needed to transition from being just an ordinary tailor to an extraordinary fashion designer.

So I went back to school, learning from the best of the best fashion designers both home and abroad. I invested so much in fashion books—if you saw my library, you’d be scared.

However, that still wasn’t enough. Sure, I started to get better clients and more recognition for my work, but I wasn’t making money that was commensurate with my skills.

Guess what I did this time?

Yes, I went back to school again. However, this time, I didn’t learn fashion design skills. I started to learn from business experts and consultants—acquiring business, marketing, and branding skills to help me build my little fashion empire.

And let’s just say the rest was history. I’m grateful for where my fashion brand, House of Thalia, is today. We have even represented Nigeria in the prestigious 3rd International Thai Silk Fashion Week in Thailand.

The little fame and fortune I have gotten over the years for my work is all good. However, the highlights for me are deeply personal (I’m tearing up a bit as I write this):

Also…

I remember a time when my dad was very sick, and the medical bills kept piling up.

My mum asked everyone in the family to contribute toward the cost of his treatment. I was able to pay my share comfortably without hesitation.

The look of pride and relief in my mother’s eyes is something I’ll never forget.

At that moment, I realized that fashion had become more than a passion—it had become a vehicle for financial freedom and a way to support the people who matter most.