Interview With SFE Boss, Omoyajowo Sinuola

Omoyajowo Sinuola is an innovative fashion designer who refers to herself as the "Thread and Needle Bender", whose fashion designs have lived to tell the tales of her impressive designing.

Sinuola is not just your regular tailor, neither is she an "under the house" seamstress. What she is, is a seasoned fashion designer who knows her onions and the CEO of SFE (Sinuola Fashion Empire)

At SFE, every design is made to tell stories, create an aura and build confidence for the wearer. This is no surprise then that her designs appeal to the best fashionistas in the country. 

Hence, it is a huge pleasure to have her on this segment of the blog, which is tagged "Chit Chat with Up and Coming Entrepreneurs".

In this interview with the deletable Sinuola Omoyajowo, she shares her journey into the fashion world, her inspiration, influences and most importantly, her advice to other fashion designers out.

Sit back, relax and read more about SFE!

May We Meet You?

My name is Adesinuola Temitope Omoyajowo. I’m the creative director of Sinuola Fashion Empire and Academy.

 

When and how did your journey in fashion designing all began?

It started during my NYSC in 2013. I started my journey into the fashion world in 2013. Then, it was named Sinuola Collections, where I was into shoes, bags and accessories making.

It took a while before venturing into dress making properly.

 

What inspired you to be a fashion designer? What piqued your interest in fashion designing?

Been a plus-size lady, getting a designer who will make your dress properly without issues isn’t an easy thing. I make my shoes and accessories by myself, then the problem now remained “how do I get unique and fabulous outfits to pair them with without getting a “What I ordered Versus what I got?” (Laughs).

So, I made up my mind that I was going to learn dress making, if only to just make dresses for myself . But immediately I started learning, I realized that I want to do more and not just sew for myself alone.

 

What made you decide working for someone else wasn’t for you?

From the Onset I have never seen myself working for anyone. I have always wanted to be my own boss , I want to see people work for me, I want to train people, and I want to do what something I love and that would still give me all the time needed for my family

 

Are you self taught or did you study fashion design?

Forget it ooo, no designer can claim that they were self taught. Of course, you could pick a thing or two from watching people or watching videos, but the real designing requires you to learn..

So, to answer your question, I’m not self taught. I learnt fashion designing.

 

How was it for you when you were learning? How many places did you learn?

The learning was smooth because I knew what I wanted from the get go, so, I went for it. At first, I learnt from a road side tailor and I was working with that for a while.

Then in 2017, I realized that fashion had advanced so much and I wanted more, hence,  I enrolled in a fashion school for an advance class.

 

What according to you is your favourite part of being a fashion designer?

To be honest, I do not have a favourite part cause I love all of the process. Even when needle prick me and the machine get stuck with thread, I love it still. (Laughs)

 

Flipping the coin, What’s your least favorite part about being a fashion designer?

My least favourite part is sourcing styles and fabrics for client. That part of designing can be tiring, most especially when the client doesn’t know what they want. You keep sourcing to please them and they will still tell you “ I do not want any of this” . Hai it’s frustrating (laughs).

 

What, in your experience, is the most important quality that a fashion designer should have?

A designer must be able to interpret a style perfectly. Style interpretation is important in the act of dress making. You should understand a style properly before going ahead to make it.

 

Do you remember any design that you did for a customer that really stretched you?

it’s not the design per say, but the time frame. Making a complete fitted outfit in less than 24hours. Omoooorrrr! My eyes saw shege!!

 

Would You Say that Social Media has influenced Your Career?

Hmm, to some extent it has influenced because I learn one or two things there. And it has given me room to market myself, but I still hope i get more influence from there.

 

Was there a time you felt like quitting? If Yes, what made you not quit?

 About quitting, it has never crossed my mind. Even though it can be tiring sometimes when there’s lack of capital to make some things , regardless I keep moving.

Quitting is never an option cause I love what I do.

 

Who is your mentor? Which designer do you look up to either in Nigeria or outside the country?

Valdrin Tahiti a Kosovo designer. You need to see his designs, they are crazy!!! (Laughs)

 

What Do you Do Better Than Other Fashion Designers in Akure?

Every designer is good in their own way, but what I can say I do differently is my own way of drafting pattern and dress making. Most designers use the free hand method which is an outdated method.  

 Some are good with it though, but with the level that fashion is now, pattern drafting is the best when you need to get a good fit and the few that I have seen so far in Akure, who say that they do pattern drafting are not doing the right pattern.

Most of them still do the freehand on paper, just drawing out on paper like they will draw on fabric and cut.  A real pattern drafting (I mean the international standard) requires a lot of calculations (mathematics)😃

So, if there are any real pattern drafter in Akure, I bet we can’t be up to 5.

 

I have heard you say “I can work with this fabric, I can’t work with this fabric or this fabric won’t come out well with this outfit”, what makes your decision about what fabric would work for certain designs and which won’t?

Like I said earlier, the ability to interpret a style perfectly really goes a long way. As a designer you should be able to identify fabrics that will suit each style the same way you should know styles that will suit every body type. For example making a Cowl dress with a flowing effect with a stiff fabric will never give the same result.

So when a client picks a style and I see the fabrics, I know if it will work for it or not. So, everything still goes back to style interpretation.

 

If Not Fashion Designing, What Other Career would you have gone into?

Film Making.

10 years from now, what do you hope to have achieved in the industry?

Having a big Fashion factory, creating job opportunities for the masses.

 

What Do You do when you are not Designing?

 I write and read. I am also a script writer. So, if you need a script writer in Akure, I am game.

 

Do you have any advice for aspiring menswear designers?

Just keep doing you.

keep moving. it’s never always easy, but we will definitely get there and always remember in fashion business, we use money to make more money.

Above all, upgrade is important.

 

Wow, it’s been an amazing time with you Adesinuola Omoyajowo, and I can tell you that it is indeed a swell time spent with you. I want to say a huge thank you for giving us audience.

Thank you so much!!

To contact her for her services, 

IG - @Sinuola_fashion_empire

Phone Number - Check the poster.