E. I INITIALS | Exclusive Interview | #MyComeUpStory

Do you recall any embarrassing moments you had during your come up? Well yes. So many negative talks about how bad my shoes were and tacky lol.. I first started making slippers before I graduated into making shoes and sneakers.

Interview Questions:

Brand Profile

• Name: Ejimofor Ifeanyi
• Current title/ company? What’s your motto? E. I INITIALS. Real Luxury Is Understanding Quality.
• Year you launched the company: October 27^th 2012

My Come Up Story

• Educational background? I have a B.Sc (Ed.) in Economics from Tai Solarin University of Education.
• Are you self-taught or did you study fashion design? I am not into fashion designing but am into Shoe designing which makes me a Shoe maker or should i say a “Sole maker” .
• What sparked your interest in fashion? Describe the journey of creating your first piece? It was just like child’s play when I’ll buy a slippers from a shop and after a week or so I find out I have to get a shoe maker to mend and all that. Then one day I had to look internally at this slippers the way it was being made and all and then I opened it and saw there wasn’t really anything special to making it then I asked a few shoe makers around my area where I could source for materials then they mentioned Way street in Mushin there and then the Journey began.

• How did you start believing in your own work and talent? What made you take fashion more seriously and make a career out of it? Will I call it fashion? Not sure but what inspired me was the love for shoes. I just believed I can make a difference in the shoe making industry and I felt why not start to do something yourself and create something unique and different. Although am yet to do that.
• What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your company? Company is still growing but what I have learnt is that for you to succeed, you have to make moves by yourself and not allow people make the moves for you.

• Breaking into the fashion industry isn’t an easy feat. What advice would you give to up-and-coming designers? Marketing tips? Make use of the social media it helps a lot and also make your stuff yourself you know so when you see a fault or mistake and you are being told you can adjust quickly and also speedily. I would also advice that working fast to deliver also is a plus when it comes to delivery for clients.
• Do you recall any embarrassing moments you had during your come up? Well yes. So many negative talks about how bad my shoes were and tacky lol.. I first started making slippers before I graduated into making shoes and sneakers.
• Tell us about a time you were faced with insurmountable odds, yet persevered to overcome. I just held on and am still holding on tight. I never gave up and never will. Am strong like that.

My Daily Behind the Scenes

• What is your typical week day and weekend like? What do you do when not working? Well I tend to work smart not hard. When am not working am either on my PS4 or sleeping or hanging out with close friends or family.
• Where do you find your inspiration? My hands. From the first day I opened my slippers to see what was really making it cut all the time.
• How did you initially source materials and manufacturers? I go to the market to buy them and I have a few marketers who sell good stuff. When they are around I get phone calls to come and buy or probably come look at the stocks they have.
• How do you produce and distribute your designs? I produce mainly and strictly by order. I distribute my designs through the help of social media that is showcasing them for the world to see.
• Once you have the product, how do you get the word out? All I do is broadcast like I said via social media.
• Do you scope out the competition, or are you so tailored in your aesthetics that it isn’t necessary? I just do my thing and look at nobody.
• What songs do you listen to that psyches you up and makes you feel strong? It’s nothing by reminisce ft vector
• What is one thing you do when you’re feeling stuck creatively? I just leave what am doing and relax my brain with food or something else.

My Now, My Future

• What would you like to achieve before the end of 2016? Bigger brand and create my own stand in this country first before I start to think internationally.
• What is the most meaningful project you have done? What would your dream project be? Am still working on it.
• What’s one dream you’ve achieved that you’re most proud of and why? I have a hand work and it pays bills.
• Name a charity you are passionate about & explain why it matters to you. How do you show your support? I just do what I can when I can.
• If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your teenage self?To know more things I didn’t know back then that I know now.