If Fashion is a crime, we plead guilty
Interview Questions:
Brand Profile
- Name: Omolara Cole
- Current title/ company? Elanred Store
- What’s your motto? If Fashion is a crime, we plead guilty
- Year you launched the company: 2014
My Come Up Story
- Educational background? Are you self-taught or did you study fashion design?
Answer: Yes (Both) I studied at Europeans School of Economics and FIT both in New york City.
- What sparked your interest in fashion? Describe the journey of creating your first piece?
Answer: While growing up I used to play with Dolls, make clothes for them and also my sister is very fashionable and I always wanted to be like her and make cloth for her.
- 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?
Answer: Fashion is a very lucrative business because it creates a lot revenue for developed country and that prompted me to put my all into it. I started believing in myself when my customers started referring more customers to me.
- What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your company?
Answer: The biggest lesson is putting our customers first, dedication and continually improving.
- Breaking into the fashion industry isn’t an easy feat. What advice would you give to up-and-coming designers? Marketing tips?
Answer: I will advise them to have a basic knowledge of designing, sketching, learn about what they are going into and also make use of their social media
- Do you recall any embarrassing moments you had during your come up?
Answer: There was a time I made an outfit for a customer and while she was on stage, the zip open up
- Tell us about a time you were faced with insurmountable odds, yet persevered to overcome
Answer: In life daily we have to persevere because we face so much challenges in Nigeria and therefore, I was able to overcome it.
My Daily Behind the Scenes
- What is your typical week day and weekend like? What do you do when not working?
Answer: Supervising and attending to new customers on Saturday watch movies and spending time with family, in addition, my Sunday is mainly for Church.
- Where do you find your inspiration?
Answer: Basically from things around me, when I travel, people’s culture and from creative minds
- How did you initially source materials and manufacturers?
Answer: I source for materials whenever I travelled abroad, from online manufacturers and I also source for materials locally.
- How do you produce and distribute your designs?
Answer: We follow the normal chain of distribution which from the Manufacturer- Retailer and to our final consumer both locally and internationally
- Once you have the product, how do you get the word out?
Answer: Through campaigns, advert and social media
- Do you scope out the competition, or are you so tailored in your aesthetics that it isn’t necessary?
Answer: Yes, sometimes we scope and sometimes through our aesthetics
- What songs do you listen to that psyches you up and makes you feel strong?
Answer: Alternative/pop music
- What is one thing you do when you’re feeling stuck creatively?
Answer: Taking sometime out, check my design archive and come up with new ones
My Now, My Future
- What would you like to achieve before the end of 2016?
Answer: I would like l on fashion show, runaway show and improve on my income
- What is the most meaningful project you have done? What would your dream project be?
Answer: Through large scale production and to collaborating with both international and local brands.
- What’s one dreams you’ve achieved that you’re most proud of and why?
Answer: Establishment of a thriving Department Store called “Elanred”
- Name a charity you are passionate about & explain why it matters to you. How do you show your support?
Answer: Freedom Foundation, they rehabilitate rejects, and infuse them as responsible citizens. I support them financially.
- If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your teenage self?
Answer: To study and aspire more
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