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Debunking the Various Myths About Fashion Design & the Industry (Updated 2019)

Debunking the Various Myths About Fashion Design & the Industry (Updated 2019)

by | Dec 15, 2019 | Fashion Beyond Stitches

People tend to have misconceptions about what it takes to operate in the Fashion Industry.  Most of these misconceptions stem from certain mindsets about what people think rather than what it actually is.  So here I am debunking the various myths people have about fashion and the industry as a whole.


Whilst some aspiring designers seem to think being able to sketch is good enough and being a fashion designer is the perfect escape from a busy 9 to 5 job, others think we designers are a bunch of people who couldn’t really cut it in university or worse are just jobless people who will soon wake up from whatever cloud we always seem to be floating on.  And I don’t really blame them, some of us who operate in the industry give them this impression because we are too busy chasing irrelevant things to realize that we are running fashion businesses.  And what happens?  We become the perfect template of why fashion designers or the industry is too unsafe a haven for potential operators or investors.


Debunking the various myths people have about

fashion and the industry.

1.  You must learn the skill or art of sewing to operate in the Fashion Industry.

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NO you do not have to sew or even know how to thread a machine to operate in the Fashion Industry.  Believe it or not, you can actually use your current seemingly unrelated skills within the Fashion Industry.  I remember having a chat with a young lady who wanted to register for my course simply because she didn’t have a job.  I had to tell her if she didn’t truly enjoy fashion, she did not have to learn the skill to operate within the industry.  I asked her to spend some time thinking about how she could apply her first degree within the fashion industry.  I think she studied something within the chemical sciences so even I’m still trying to figure out how she can use that within the industry. And if she couldn’t (like I can’t at the moment), then she should spend some time researching the industry and having a feel of what it is like before she delves into it.  Otherwise, she’ll just get her fingers burnt!  And she promised she would and get back to me.


People!  You do not have to become seamstresses to operate in the fashion industry.  If you left university with an accounting degree then please look for fashion designers who are having problems keeping their books and offer your services to them for a token.  I know designers are very price-sensitive but I also know many of them are awful at keeping financial records.  Look for 10 designers (and there are many of them around), offer basic accounting and book-keeping services to them for next to nothing, say N10,000 a month and that is N10,000 a month.  And the best thing is that you can work from the comfort of your home.  I did that while I was in fashion school, helping a realtor keep his books and I got paid for it.  Easy.

2.  You must learn how to sew to become a good fashion designer.

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Another very common one.  No.  Being a Fashion Designer and being a seamstress are 2 very different things.  Yes I agree that learning how to sew is important but it is not mandatory!  You should focus more on learning the basics of sewing and not the nitty gritty to have an in-depth understanding of the production process so that you can guide your production team for those who want to run fashion businesses. I know people who struggle through our courses because they didn’t expect so much work to go into it.  And that to me is great.  Not everyone is cut out for sewing.  I, for one, enjoy sewing for pleasure but do not have the time to do so because I simply never saw myself sitting behind the sewing machine to run my fashion business.  And that is how we train - to guide your production team not to be the one sewing yourself.


I have heard many designers say “I want to learn how to sew so I can sew everything myself”.  How???  You will just burn out!  And besides, it is not sustainable in the long run.  It is not the Donna Karans or Tom Fords who sit behind the sewing machine.  Let’s bring it down to Nigeria.  Folake Folarin-Coker of Tiffany Amber revealed at a seminar I attended last year that she cannot sew.  Does that make her any less a fashion designer?  No!  Is she selling her clothes?!  Yes!  That is what counts!


So please… except you are sewing as a hobby, focus more on understanding the processes than on the sewing itself.  But if you really want to learn how to sew, then please by all means go ahead.  Just know that the sewing alone does not guarantee you will run a successful fashion business.  


Which leads me to Number 3!


3.  Being able to sew guarantees your success in the Fashion Industry.


NO it does not!  Read Myth No 2!  It just means you can sew.  Being able to sew and being able to run a profitable fashion business are 2 veryyyyy different things.  Yes it does brings you one step closer but it is just the beginning of your journey.

4.  You must be able to draw to be a good fashion designer.

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NO you do not!  That’s what you have illustrators for.  Of course it is better to learn how to draw so you can put your thoughts on paper.  BUT if you cannot draw, then work with an illustrator.  I couldn’t draw a straight line without a ruler before I went to fashion school but I had to learn it because it was part of my course.  And I draw very well now but don’t fancy it much because it takes a lot of out me.  So easy, I work with an illustrator who can easily spend minutes drawing my idea on paper rather than me spending 2 hours on a basic fashion croquis.


And this is also linked to No 1.  If you are a good artist, then look for designers having challenges with drawing and help them out with sketching their designs.  I have often used the example of a forensic artist who can accurately draw a person’s face simply from a description given by the victim of a crime.  Obviously if the illustrator is not drawing what you see in your head, then correct him there and then or better still, find similar images of what you have visualized in your head and give it to him to draw.  That’s why you do research!  Besides, the big fashion companies here and abroad have design teams.  It in only in this environment that people believe the fashion designer must do everything his/herself!  Like we are super-human or something.  Ask Mai!  He works with a design team.  He said so himself at Designers Connect!


5.  Being able to sketch makes you a good fashion designer.

Wrong!  Being able to sketch only makes you a good illustrator!  There is a big difference between a nice drawing and the practicality of it.  I have seen fabulous designs but when I ask question like "how will she get into it" I am hit with a blank stare.  It turns out the illustrator never thought of that.


There is so much more that goes into being a fashion designer than being able to sketch.  You must be able to convert your creative ideas into wearable garments.  Understanding who you are as a designer, developing the concept, conducting detailed research, understanding how colors and fabrics work, understanding body shapes, and a whole lot more go into becoming a fashion designer.  And it is a continuous process not just a a one-off.


6.  You can learn all you need to know about fashion in 3 months.

A common one I hear from those who want to register for my courses.  I want to learn everything about fashion.  In 3 months?!  First, you cannot learn everything there is to learn about fashion… and even if you could… which you can’t, definitely not in 3 months.  I also hear, I want to know all you know.  Well guess what?!  I learnt all I know after studying a 3 year (not 3-session but 3 full calendar years) full-time undergraduate course in fashion design AND did a lot of self study to do a lot of what I am able to do now…and I am still learning…


Many want to get the knowledge but are unwilling to do the time or even the work.  If you do not have the time, then register for a part-time course [MINE of course :-D] and do a lot of self study, learning and practising what you have learnt as you go along.  That is the only way you can excel at it.


7.  A fashion designer must be able to sew all kinds of clothes.

Ever heard of Jack of all trades?!  I am amazed when I hear designers say they specialize in menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, corporate uniforms, bridal wear and interiors.  Like seriously?!  Please focus on one thing at a time!  Perfect a certain one before moving into another line.

I have a very good idea of how to sew different kinds of outfits.  I learnt it all in school.  That does not mean I have to physically go into sewing each one when I start off my clothing line.  Which is what a lot of us do… and I can’t blame you.  It takes a lot of willpower to reject an income-generating project.  But you know what?!  You are better off rejecting it than spreading yourself thin.


8.  Operating in the fashion industry means I must provide clothing, run a production unit or specialize in customized clothing.

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Yes that’s the general idea here.  You must sew for people to be considered a fashion designer.  Well guess what?!  I don’t sew for people but I am still a fashion designer! 

True most times when you think about the fashion industry, you think of apparel.  But similar to point 1, there are so many job descriptions within the fashion industry that you do not even have to touch a needle or a sewing machine before you can make loads of money from the industry.  I know when I tell people I do not sew for individuals, the next question they ask me is “so what do you do?  Aren’t you a fashion designer?!”  Then I spend the next 10 minutes explaining to them only half of what I do with my fashion knowledge and more often than not, I get the wide-eyed “oh really?!”  And I’m like… yes really! TSK!


9.  That you must only specialize in high fashion to be considered a good fashion designer.  

HA!  Like seriously?!  Guess what?!  Even a t-shirt designer is a fashion designer.  And guess what number 2?!  He is probably making more money than you!  So please, if you are not into high fashion, please focus on your strengths instead of dabbling in an area that you have no business dabbling in.  Anytime I hear “we want unique never-before-seen out-of-this-world-pieces”, I laugh.  Like there’s any such thing!


10.  That your fabric is enough inspiration to create stunning pieces.

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Yes maybe 1 piece or even 1 collection.  But really… can you continue to rely on the fabric alone to get your inspiration?!  I don’t even think textile companies do that.  They work with themes and concepts.  My personal opinion?  No!


11.  That Fashion Design is Child’s Play!

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Guess what?!  I hope you know fashion is architectural in nature and history shows that fashion, architecture and even politics are related.  Just check out the history of fashion, for example the Ottoman Empire.


12.  Going into fashion will give you more time for yourself and your family.

HA!  What a joke!  The work has just started!  In fact, you are better off staying in your 9 to 5 job because when you get tired, you can simply say “You know what?!  I’ve had it!  I’m going home!  This is not my father’s company”.  But you can’t do that with your fashion business.  Why?!  Not only because you have to earn a living but also because you have workers depending on you!  I tell you, KPMG seems like child’s play in comparison to what my typical day is like now.  But you know what?  It gets easier as you go along… when you have a business process in place.


13.  Fashion Designers are losers who couldn’t cut it in the real world.

Really?!  Please wake up and smell the coffee!  Many learned professionals are leaving well-paying jobs to follow their dreams and passions and they are the happier for it.  Doesn’t Naeto C have a Masters Degree?  Oh wait!  Hold up!  Folake Folarin-Coker is a lawyer!


And look at me.  For those who do not know my background, I left Ife with a 2nd Class Upper Degree in Economics, a 4.23/5 CGPA for that matter, and worked a tax accountant with one of the Big Four global accounting firms, KPMG Professional Services.  I had a FAB career path ahead of me before I packed it all in for fashion.  So really… you must be clueless to think that way in this day and age!


14.  Fashion Design is your ticket to fame and stardom.  

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I think many who are already in the industry already know that this is all hogwash!  It is not about the glitz and glamour.  Even the popular musicians and actors will tell you how much time they spend in the studio and the sleepless nights on the road.  


Being a fashion designer is a lot of handwork and not really about getting into the papers and getting all the invites.  In fact, you find out that many who get the invites see it as part of their work.  Just read the many articles about the stress involved with fashion week.  Even backstage at fashion shows are crazy – forget the cool, calm and collected looks models put on when they strut their stuff on the runway.  Or better still, watch Project Runway and you’ll know.  It is sheer hard work!  


15.  Fashion Shows are a form of entertainment.

fashion show

Oh yes!  I can go on and on about this.  And this is targeted at the public really who think fashion shows are all about entertainment.    In fact this is a topic for another day!  


These days there are sooooo many fashion shows I just wonder if people understand the essence of fashion shows.  And this is no prejudice to any particular fashion show.  I have been asked to assist with quite a few shows and when I ask what the reason for the fashion show is, more often than not, I get the “just for entertainment” answer.  It’s almost like someone is planing an event but has no schedule of activities.  And then has a sudden brain wave!  “I know!  Let’s organize a fashion show!”


It seems many do not realize that fashion shows are a business tool for fashion designers.  And those who participate do not ask the relevant questions.  Many just get carried away by the “fame” to stop to think about who is attending the show, why the show is being organized in the first place and what to do when they get orders.  But like I said, this is another topic for another day!


16.  Everyone you see in the papers has hit the big one or is running a successful fashion business!

That is one big fallacy.  Everyone is facing the same challenges… especially in this industry.  Thankfully Mai told you this at Designers Connect so I need not say more!


17.  That the successful ones in the papers got there in 1 day.


Yes it may appear that they just seemed to hit the big one overnight!  But when you find out the true story, you find out that they had been around for a while and only just decided to take their businesses further.  Even those who just seemed to hit it fresh out of fashion school still spent time IN fashion school doing the hard work before they launched out.  


18.  That having lots of customers mean you are running a successful fashion establishment.

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Ha!  That’s a fallacy!  There is a difference between profit and turnover.  If you do your figures well, you just might find out that you are better off just having one customer than having 10.


19.  That the fancy business cards and websites will bring in the business.

No!  Your product gets you the customers.  You are better off watching your costs in the early days than spending all your time, money and efforts into producing expensive business cards and websites.  Because trust me, you need every naira you can get and save in the early days.  I made those mistakes but well… now I know better.  Those “effizy sturvs” don’t matter if you do not have a product to sell.  I even have business cards I hardly hand out but has that affected my business?!  No.  So please… focus more on creating a presence for yourself in as cost-effective a manner as you can.  There are so many free sites out there you can use to create a presence for yourself.  When you have made enough money and have developed your product, then you can start considering the branding aspect of it.  And that is my personal take on this.


20.  That you can successful operate in the fashion industry without investing in the knowledge and without doing your homework.

Fashion Courses at Martwayne Fashion School

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Yes!  My major challenge with fashion designers in this environment.  Many do not want to invest in the knowledge or the time.  Guess what?!  My friend’s adaptation of the popular Mark Twain’s quote on cauliflower and cabbage, captures it fully!


“The difference between a doughnut and puff puff is a college education” – Adora Neboh

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Training is key!  You need to invest in it.  And not just the design aspect.  Every other aspect….especially if you plan to operate a fashion establishment.  And many entrepreneurs have said this already. 


Like Pastor Ibukun Awosika said @ Platform “the minute a doctor decides to set up a practice, he is no longer a doctor but a business owner”.  Same thing applies to fashion designers.  We need to invest in the knowledge, either learn the trade or intern at a fashion company and conduct detailed research before we set up.


Phew!  I have said a lot and I can go on and on but I think I’ll just sign off here now!  Hope this makes you start thinking seriously about your fashion businesses and I pray that all works well in your various fashion endeavors!  Buzz me if you have any questions and do leave your thoughts in the comment section below.


Have a great week ahead!


Cheers!

About Me

Tope Williams-Adewunmi

Tope Williams-Adewunmi

A fashion entrepreneur passionate giving power through fashion

by sharing knowledge guaranteed to help fashion lovers

turn their love for fashion into a viable business.

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Specialization In the Fashion Industry

Specialization In the Fashion Industry

by | Dec 15, 2019 | Fashion Beyond Stitches

Specialization in the Fashion Industry remains a concept which is still so vague in this environment.  I recall a conversation I was having with a friend when my big day was coming up. 

 “I bet you’re sewing your own wedding gown right”?  

My response?  “Errr…. no.”  

Next question, “Why not?”  

My response?  “Well… first, I really don’t want to stress myself seeing I completed my outfit for my Introduction a few hours before the event” and “secondly, I am not really into bridal wear.  I am more into corporatewear”.  

Question 3:  “But I thought you were an all-rounder”.  

My answer?  “Well… yes… so are doctors but they still specialize in certain areas”. [Straight-face-emoticon]!

And I believe that was the end of that conversation.


Or what says you? I know I am yet to see a doctor who operates as a heart surgeon, a gynaecologist, a brain surgeon, an ENT specialist, a GP and a neurologist all in one right.  And I should know.  My dad and brother are doctors and I lived with like 3 medical students in University.  

Now don’t get me wrong… my position was not about the design or actual construction of the gown… after all a wedding gown is, more often than not, a corset with a half/full or double circle skirt and I have done both many many times.  My major concern was the fact that yet again, I am being put under unnecessary pressure by people who have little or no understanding of the Industry I operate in.  


Not that I blame them… we designers are too busy biting off more than we can chew rather than specializing in our areas of competence.  So as it is, I am being forced to go into an area I’d rather not go into yet, just to prove a point.  And THAT is where many of us find ourselves… taking on tasks we have no business taking on either to prove a point or to make ends meet when there are so many opportunities in the industry we can focus on outside the real area of design and production.


The Big Question


I recall once, a creative director in a fashion house in South Africa, confessing to me that he was almost chewed up in bits by his company because he wore another brand when he came out to take a bow at his fashion show.  Ok… let’s not forget the fact that he designs ladieswear, but does the fact that he wore a garment from another company make him any less competent in his area?  After all, every one gave him a standing ovation when they saw his garments.  

 

Yes I could see the point of the management team who criticized him but really, I didn’t really see the big deal.  Maybe because I don’t run a conglomerate yet.  But  I honestly don’t think you must ALWAYS wear your own clothes.  Else, all designers here and abroad might as well create their own underwear as well, after all, those who went to fashion school were probably taught how to do so.


Why Specialization is Important

I personally feel it is impossible and must be physically exhausting for a designer to offer services in casualwear, officewear, bridalwear, menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, maternitywear and school uniforms.  That’s the norm around here.  Like SERIOUSLY!  Talk about a jack of all trades.  So far, I haven’t seen a Victoria Secret bridalwear show with full ball gowns.  


Neither have I seen Ruff N Tumble stock adult ladieswear garments in their stores.  Who knows… perhaps it is in the pipeline but so far, I haven’t seen any.  So why should designers around here operate outside their areas of competence simply because they can and have the knowledge to do so.

 

Ok to further buttress my point, when you think of Vera Wang, what do you think of instantly?!  When you think of DKNY, what do you think of?  How about Chanel?  Alexander McQueen before he died (God rest his soul?)  Ok… let’s bring it down to Nigeria…  How about Deola Sagoe?  Ituen Basi? Jewel by Lisa?  Tiffany Amber?!  Surely many of these designers can operate in various areas but they have chosen not to.  At least I know Mrs. Ogunlesi cannot fit into many of her creations at Ruff N Tumble, though I cannot confirm if she does make her clothes.  


But my point is I am sure many of these designers have a pretty good idea of how to make various types of garments but many specialize in a certain area.  Now you can choose to set up a different “line” of clothing after a while but I believe this should only come after you’ve carved a niche for yourself in a certain area.  And that is a personal opinion.

 

My trip to China was even more of an eye-opener.  Some factories who offered the same type of garments did not offer the same type of fit or tailoring and they would tell you so from Day 1.  Many had specialized in offering a certain type of fashion style which they had perfected, that anything which fell outside their area would not have been accepted, regardless of how much you were willing to pay for it.  And I think it is high time we did the same around here.


Why Outsourcing is the Solution

One thing I do know is that those who offer branded t-shirts around here focus on that and do not bother adding on extras.  And I think that’s what we designers need to learn from.  We really don’t have to prove to people that we are all-rounded.  All we need to do is prove that we are good at what we say we are good at.  And if that is simply creating denim jeans, then so be it.  If the bottom line is suffering, yes you can take on just a few more areas within the industry just to make ends meet in the early days but focus on your goal.  Yes I know… easier said than done right?  I feel you completely.  But never lose sight of your dream entirely just to make ends meet.  I have often said “there is nothing worse than you doing what you love but not enjoying it”.  I found myself there once as well and was completely miserable.

 

I think what we need to do really before we start out is to understand the industry and the various job descriptions within the Industry and where there are loopholes, we carve a niche in that area.  Many  people have no clue that some jobs exist within the Industry.  I, for one, know the Industry is in dire need of pattern-makers.  Many of us just want to design and find someone else to churn it out.  That’s the way it’s done in other countries… and that’s why they are big.  Just look at many of the foreign garments you buy and check out where they are made.  And because I know this need exists, I have decided to groom one of my students in pattern-making so he can assist us.  And that is why our Fashion Courses include a pattern-making course for those who want to feature in the Industry but really do not want to sew.

 

Same way if you do not know how to sketch your designs, find someone who can draw well to help you out.

And please pay the person for his time.  Don’t stress yourself out trying to save the pennies and then end up losing the pounds.

So in conclusion…  Designers, please don’t let your clients or even friends and family set you up.  Identify what exactly you want to achieve in the Industry and work towards it.  Yes you might be an all-rounder but you do not physically have to do everything until you are sure you can cope with it.  I for one, decided to stop bespoke and that’s the best decision I ever made.  


And if you get a project that’s outside your area of competence, please by all means, take up that project BUT more importantly, find someone who specializes in that area who can help handle the project and split the profits.  That is why people refer clients to others.  It’s called collaboration.  If you can’t, please walk away from the project.  When you weigh the options, the opportunity costs of that project may not be worth the huge sum you are being paid for it.  I guess we have a lot more to learn from doctors that healthy eating and living. 

 

Here’s wishing you a great week ahead!

 

Cheers!

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About Me

Tope Williams-Adewunmi

Tope Williams-Adewunmi

A fashion entrepreneur passionate giving power through fashion

by sharing knowledge guaranteed to help fashion lovers

turn their love for fashion into a viable business.

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Want to Start a Fashion Business? Remember the words “baby steps”…

Want to Start a Fashion Business? Remember the words “baby steps”…

by | Nov 23, 2017 | Baby Steps, Fashion Beyond Stitches, How to Start a Fashion Business

 
Oh how I have missed blogging!  To be honest, I have not totally stopped! I do most of my blogging on Instagram now and my goodness we do have some healthy conversations up in there.  So I find it easier to just post and start a discussion.  I had one just a few days ago and with the feedback I got, I just thought wow!  Means a lot of people out there are in this position and perhaps this will help them  So why not also put this up on the blog!  After all some people out there who are not following us on Instagram and Facebook can still be encouraged by this story!
 
I am putting it up exactly how I put it up on Instagram.  Short and to the point!  Hopefully it will help you as well if you are currently in this situation.  So here goes!

 

 

 

 

 

This is to encourage someone out there. Starting a business is all about determination, taking little steps and asking questions. @therealklakla came to Martwayne all the way from Bayelsa to work on her dream of becoming a fashion designer. Funding was a problem but my advice to her was #littlesteps And as I follow her success story and seeing something materializing from nothing, I am so glad to be a part of it.
 
You might be at a point where you feel lost or you feel things are not just taking shape. Remember it happens to everyone! We’ve all been there and are still going through it. It’s okay to feel a bit down but only for a minute. Don’t stay down! Pick yourself up and move on! Find someone to lament to – perhaps they can give you a different perspective on things.
 
I posted some of my conversations with Clara to show you how this journey started. This is less about the testimonials but more about the fact that someone who once felt lost made the move. She did not wait till a new year like most usually do. She did what she had to do to make it work and I know the feeling of building something from scratch. It is a GREAT feeling I tell you!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some of us are waiting for 2018! And in 2019, it will be the same story. Why not start now with whatever you have no matter how little? Why put everything on hold till the new year like the New Year is just not another day. And you don’t have to quit your job either. If you really want to make it work, you will!
 
Congratulations Clara on your journey! I feel privileged to be a part of it! Soon your little drops will become a mighty ocean and we will only be too happy to have been a part of it! #martwaynestudentsrock ? Meanwhile… I LOVE those Chairs! Permission to adapt please. Adapt o not copy ? Muchos gracias!
 
—-
 
And that’s it really! The message is pretty simple. #babysteps That’s all you need! Start with what you have and watch it grow into something big! Stop waiting for that MASSIVE BIG BREAK so that if it doesn’t come, you won’t be disappointed and if it does come – GREAT!
 
Wishing everyone struggling out there – which is pretty much everyone – the very best! And always remember that the struggles always make for a great story someday!
 
You too can join our Instagram conversations. Simply follow us @martwayne
5 Tips to Prepare for & Live Your Dreams in 2017!

5 Tips to Prepare for & Live Your Dreams in 2017!

by | Dec 22, 2016 | @martwayne, 5 tips, Best Fashion School in Lagos, Fashion Beyond Stitches, Fashion School, hope, Lagos, Power Through Fashion, prepare for 2017, the audacity of hope

Image from: https://t4.ftcdn.net/jpg/01/14/06/19/240_F_114061948_bwndnGf8VLfcgOUgAZb2hWcdhICBrb1J.jpg
 
Planning actually begins before 2017 hits not on the 1st.  I see that happen too often where everything shuts down and people wait till January 1st – like January 1st comes with some major changes or something.  But guess what I discovered over the years…
 
a.  The sun will still rise – the same way it rose all through the year;
b.  The sun will still set – the same way it set all through the year; and
c.  You will still be YOU!
 
Not a brand new You like you have always promised yourself you will become once the clock strikes 12 on the 1st of each year.  Not a different you!  Still the same fabulous YOU!  SO why must you wait till the 1st to live your dreams or do what you’ve always wanted to do?!  As my favorite quote goes…  
 
“You are the You that Makes You the You that You are!” 
 
Besides many people seem to have forgotten that 2017 is just next week!  So why waste another minute hoping to change this in the New Year when you can start NOW.  AND guess what?!  You still have (what today is 23rd right?!) 8 WHOLE DAYS to make things work before the New Year hits!


 
It has been a really tough year for a lot of us!  The economy, the crime rate, the lack of power, the people who have duped you (oh yes – I have been through it at least three times this year – the Wajus, the Oluokuns and the Johns of this world who were paid to do a job but never delivered) BUT despite all, I still somehow, managed to make it work.  And we are still trying to make it work!  NOW is the time to learn from past mistakes and have a concrete plan (well as concrete as can be) for the New Year.
 
So how do YOU make a plan for 2017?  Well… without sounding like a motivational speaker or anything – that’s not what this is about.  I am merely speaking to those who have asked me this particular question relating how to start off something in 2017!
 
This is what I’m doing so maybe it can work for you!
 
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1.  Start with this: – your desires!  As this image says, it shapes your vision.  
 
What do you hope to achieve in the near future?!  Not 2017!  Think about yourself NOW.  What do you wish you were doing?  What have you always wanted to do?!  Remember, we still have 9 days to make it work!  Is it to learn fashion?  Is it to start a business?  Is it to leave your job or that abusive relationship – be it work, spouse or friend.  Be specific!  
 
 
Because it didn’t happen before now shouldn’t depress you.  2 projects that I was working on that looked so bleak earlier in the Year suddenly all came together in the last week or 2!  Imagine if I had told myself “oh nothing happens in December, I’ll wait till 2017”, I would not have made those huge milestones.  And 9 days is just a few days short of 2 weeks!  Plenty of time to still make things happen!
 
2.  Pick Your Catchphrase for the Year NOW!
 
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You don’t have to wait till 31st December crossover service or wait till what the church tells you your phrase for the year should be.  That’s living in a Fool’s Paradise in my opinion.  Those things are too general in nature.  Pick yours NOW based on No. 1 and stick to it!  I already have mine and I bet you’re dying to know what it is!  Haha!  
 
Well, I’ll tell you!  Actually, I have 2 (whoever said I had to have 1) but I’ll share just 1!  
 
2017 is my “Year of Praise & Thanksgiving” 
 
It might seem very abstract to you but it makes too much sense to me and it ties in directly into No 1!  I already know the exact things I want to achieve so all it takes for me is to work towards it. 
 
And based on that, I did No 3!
 
3.  Changed my phone’s ringtone! 
 
http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-visualize-this-thing-you-want-see-it-feel-it-believe-in-it-make-your-mental-blueprint-robert-collier-53-65-67.jpg
 
Haha!  What better way to create a “neural pathway” (a la Pastor Poju’s favorite term) of your vision than to listen to it every single time!  It gets imprinted in your memory!
 
Praise comes when you hit a milestone or when you WIN!  So based on my specific goals for 2017, I plan to WIN at each of them.  Of course, it takes a lot of prayers but I know God has my back so… I just have to do my part.
 
Truth be told, changing my ringtone happened by accident but that’s just the way God works right?!  But remember it all stemmed from 1.  
 
So I went for a wedding, [fab wedding by the way] and the DJ kept playing only the intro of one of my FAVOURITE SONGS of all time – “All I Do is Win” by DJ Khalid & Ludacris 
 
As I was leaving, and I was already at the gate, he played the intro again.  Excited, I literally ran back into the hall thinking he would finally play the whole song but alas, he broke my heart.  There and then, I had my Eureka moment!  Why not make it my ringtone also because it tied perfectly into my upcoming goals!   
 
And that was how I spent 3 PAINFULLY LONG HOURS till like 3am in the morning trying to figure out how to make it my ringtone!  I finally aced it!
 
So now, anytime people call me, it simply reinforces my goal to WIN every single time!  And when you win, you have no choice but to praise and give thanks to He who made  it happen.  
 
So my advice to you is to find something that will continue to reinforce your own specific catchphrase for the year!  It could be a typed one-liner or quote or something someone said that you will have no choice but to see or read wherever you go!  It could be a welcome message on your phone or laptop screen or even a typed piece of paper on your ceiling.  It will help to reinforce that vision!
 
4.  Use this break to study!
 
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It’s called research!  By now, you should know what exactly you want to achieve so asking the right questions should not really be an issue.  Now you need to find out everything you need to know about how to actualize that vision.  It doesn’t have to be like some serious jacking or anything or making an “outright effort”.  That will bore you out soon enough.  
 
An easy way to do this is to simply take your phone and run a quick search on your specific vision or goal on Google.  Click on one or two of those links.  What you have just done is store whatever your vision or goal is on your phone.  Chances are the next time you visit Facebook or Instagram, a lot of content about what you searched for will jump out at you!  They will literally stalk you! And the best part is, most of that content is free!   
 
Also read through… okay actually “scan through” people’s broadcasts and emails that manage to pop into your box.  I know it can be annoying but you just might find some hidden gem of information in there somewhere.  I always scan through every broadcast I receive and have learnt over time how to sift between the serious ones and the unserious ones.  If it is not relevant, I just move on!  Besides, some broadcasts even force you to do research and you learn even more from there.  You will also find that someone right there on your contact list may have the information you have been searching for for ages!
 
5.  Share Your Vision with Everyone and Don’t be Afraid to Collaborate! 
 
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The whole “what if they steal my idea is sooooooooo old-school”!  If you have done No.s 1 – 4, you will eventually discover that people with like minds will suddenly begin to gravitate towards you!  That’s just the way it works!  It has happened to me several times.     I guess that’s what the book, “The Secret” was talking about, though to be honest, I haven’t read it.  But I do know what my Bible says in Isaiah 55: 11:
 
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: 
it shall not return unto me void, 
but it shall accomplish that which I please, 
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” 
 
When you live, eat and breathe your vision and talk about it every single minute, it reaffirms the vision!  And you even begin to believe it, even when the evidence on the outside contradicts your vision!  Trust me, you will be shocked when things begin to fall into place. 
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And look for partners that can help you achieve that vision – even if it means collaborating with them.  Look.. money is tough to come by these days, so if you want to make it work without money stopping you, then find like minds to work with.  I am BIG on collaboration!  Why be a lone ranger when you can be part of something bigger and greater?!  There is strength in numbers so work with people and you all can own part of something than all of nothing!
 
And I am speaking from my own direct experience.  The projects that somehow suddenly tool shape out of nowhere, trust me when I tell you that I had no clue how it was going to materialize.  I kept telling people categorically that I would do it without having a clue how it would happen.  But now, I can safely say my willingness to collaborate with 2 of my students has moved us from 0% to 65% in just 2 weeks!  And there is no stopping us by God’s grace!  So don’t feel the need to do it on your own.  Put aside your egos and fears and find people to work with.  What’s the worst that can happen?  It does not work out and everyone goes their separate ways. Dasall!
 
And FINALLY… I know I said 5 tips but I’ll throw in a freebie!  
 
6.  TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH!
 
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It will never be perfect!  You just have to continue tweaking it as you go along!  But what is important if of you to just do it!  Don’t overplan.  A time comes when you just let go and and let God.  Call into existence those things which do not exist as though they did (Romans 4: 17b).  Remember your words will never return to you void if you truly believe in it.  And take action!  No matter how little!  
 
Remember, the only thing that’s worse than fear is the REGRET you will feel knowing another year – not even year – another DAY has passed you by, a day you will NEVER get back!
 
Left Image: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/20/1f/d1201f8f0e713a96e93d8ded840b0891.jpg
Right Image: http://www.courtneyluv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/quotes-about-your-vision.jpeg  
 
SO WHAT’S NEXT YOU ASK?!  
 
Simply start from No 1 and you’ll be fine!
 
I’ll leave you with this AMAZING Quote from one of my MOST FAVOURITE PEOPLE of all time who wrote a book with one of the best titles a book can ever have ” The Audacity of Hope” – which…oh… I also haven’t read by the way… 😀

 

http://www.stmartinsuc.com/images/hope-obama.jpg
 
Have a FAB day ahead and enjoy the looooooong weekend ahead!  
 
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
Oh PS!
 
I have not forgotten the audio series or podcasts.  Keeping my fingers crossed it goes live sooner than later! It is work in progress!
 
2016 is almost over! Isn’t it time to start that Clothing Line or Fashion Business?!

2016 is almost over! Isn’t it time to start that Clothing Line or Fashion Business?!

by | Nov 4, 2016 | @martwayne, Fashion Beyond Stitches, Fashion Talk, how to be a fashion designer, How to Start a Fashion Label, Start Your Fashion Business, Start Your Own Clothing Line

 
Good question!  I bet you have attended lots and lots for fashion seminars and conferences this year!  You have met so many people who have told you their stories.  I, for one, have chatted with so many people since Fashion Talk 2, who are just ready to go!  Some have even placed orders for samples with one of the speakers which is great!  We like action not just words!
 
So now that we got the ball rolling, how do we keep the momentum?!  And for those who haven’t, how do we start? 2017 is upon us so the planning starts NOW!



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Starting a clothing line is not about having grand plans.  Having a great vision is good.  I know because I had those GRAND PLANS myself until I was faced with the harsh reality that starting a business is tough but sustaining it is even tougher!  I’m sure you’ve seen the statistics about the number of businesses that fail within the first few years.  So it stands to reason that the biggest entrepreneurs who tell you to “start small” obviously knew what they were talking about.  Besides in this tough economy of ours, those with their heads above water are doing a GREAT job!
 
I remember a friend who told me he planned to start a microfinance bank with his friend.  I asked him why a microfinance bank since to me, you needed a lot of funds to start one and clearly from our conversation, money was a problem.  I would have thought an easier option would be to offer small soft loans to small business owners who have been neglected by the bank.  Even if all you make is 50k per loan, before you know it, you become the go to person for loans and make enough money to actually start and sustain that bank.  PLUS you would have learnt enough lessons from dealing on a small scale when the stakes are lower which you would actually use in that bigger business.  
 
Of course I suggested this but I am pretty certain he didn’t listen to me and I know he still hasn’t set up the bank.  The last I checked, he was trying to set up a logistics company with a “fleet” of trucks for FMCG but I’m guessing financing is still a problem.  
 
So see… you can dream BIG but if you don’t have the funds, then nothing can happen.  Which is why fashion is so great!  First it probably has the least barrier to entry and you don’t need a lot of money to start off depending on the kind of fashion business you want to run.  So why not start something on the side and test it first?!  You might even be surprised that the BIG VISION you have of that business might not even be the one for you.
 
SO
http://www.consolidated-const.com/images/home-slider/StartHere.jpg
 
1.  Read this Blog and Be Positive
I keep running into this young man at pretty much every fashion seminar I’ve hosted or attended – and I bet he has attended loads more!  Years later and he’s STILL complaining about the very same reasons that have prevented him from starting something and this is 3 years later!   In my opinion, if after all that knowledge, you are still telling the same stories years later, then you must be the one with the problem! 
 
Truth be told, you are your own limitation!  Whatever excuse you may give yourself is borne from you and only you!  And I hear them all the time… age, work, children, oh…. and the one I like the most… “you can’t understand”… whatever that means…
 
Well guess what?!  You are not the only one.  And if you are one of those people, I think it’s time you confront that fear!  Maybe this post I saw 2 days ago on Instagram will help you!
 
2.  Join a Network
Networks are all about learning and sharing really – and most importantly building a strong community where members can benefit from discounted rates from business professionals who can help move our businesses forward.  It is also about sharing knowledge and sometimes even just hanging out to let off steam after a frustrating week at work.  
 
At Martwayne, we have helped some designers out with tailors (though that has been the toughest task ever), helped designers out with their clothing labels, hooked designers up with graphic designers, accountants and even where they can source tools and materials they need for their trade.  Of course we all know that we are stronger when we work together.  
 
3.  And Finally, Follow Our New Series – How to Start Your Own Clothing Line / Fashion Business
 
This comment by ayerasthreads on Instagram really gave me the push I needed to complete this post.  Feels good knowing an encouraging word here and there goes a long way.  SO yes I have decided to resume the series I started on Bella Naija last year but this time on this blog instead.  
 
BUT I need your help!  I am torn between writing a blog post, shooting a video or recording a podcast or audio series.  I’ll tell you my issues with the first 2 and why No 3 is really the most appealing!
 
Blog Post:  Dragging myself to my laptop after a hard day’s work to type!  Each article takes me like 3 hours!  This particular one has taken me a week! Lol! Not easy at all!  And you have to be in the mood to write else your message comes across as flat!
 
Videos:  Would have loved this but honestly, the thought of getting all dressed up – donning on make up, fixing my hair, my nails, setting up the lights, getting the perfect angle with no shadows, etc is just one big hassle for me.  And gosh – editing those videos!  Takes ages!  I still have the one I shot with Mai still sitting on my desktop.  It’s a lot of work to be honest and not really for the faint hearted.
 
Podcast / Audio Series:  As I said earlier, this really is the most appealing because I can just sit and gist with you guys without having to bother about my looks. But I’m not really sure how this works so have to do my research.  But it takes the stress out of having to get all fixed up.  I can just sit on my bed in my pajamas and chat to you guys without the extra stress of getting all fixed up and if something comes to mind, I can just get out my phone, record and upload.  The more I think about it, the more I like the idea.  
 
So my question now is, which would you prefer? Blog post, Video or Audio?!
 
But anywayz, either way, whichever we (note the word WE) decide on, I know my limitations, so I won’t overpromise.  I will try and post one every week (or max every two weeks).  Yeah I know consistency is not my thing but I will try hard this time.  If you don’t see something from me in 2 weeks, please I give you permission to PING the heck out of me!
 
Some articles will be based on what I think you need to know, others will be based on answers I gave people who reached out to me with their issues.  I have always said, if one person is facing it, many more probably are.  
 
BUT… please note that we are all a mountain of knowledge in our own way so please if you have anything to add to what I have said (or you want to challenge what I have said based on your experience), please feel free.
 
OKIES!  I better stop here now!  I’ll leave you with these 2 powerful quotes:
 
From the internet

 

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See you in the next post!
 
 
  
For the love of all things Ankara… and a bit of a history lesson on the origin of Ankara

For the love of all things Ankara… and a bit of a history lesson on the origin of Ankara

by | Aug 11, 2016 | african print, ankara, cotton, fabric, Fashion Beyond Stitches, for the love of ankara, history of ankara, is ankara african, japanese cotton, Power Through Fashion, print, where is ankara from

Background Image Credit: www.allthingsankara.com

And so the verdict is in!  When I asked this question, it did not even occur to me that I was actually conducting a poll.  I just needed an answer to a question that had been on my mind for years!  And my goodness, the response has been overwhelming.  Wow guys!  Thank you all so very much!

The best part of (what I would now call a survey) is that I learnt a lot!  I even discovered this new kind of fabric I never knew existed called Japanese Cotton.  It is amazing what you learn when you do a bit of research.  And the best part it, it was great connecting with people and rubbing minds with them.  I could really get used to this social media thing…

But you know what the really interesting thing is… 

The general idea is that ankara is african.  Let’s even forget the fact that it is actually produced in Holland, from my little research, it turns out that ankara is actually Indonesian in origin.  I know right?!  

Here is just a tiny peek at the article without going too deep into a history lesson…

Image from http://www.afwchicago.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/batik-making.jpg



Images from: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/design/2012/03/african_fabric_where_do_tribal_prints_really_come_from_.html
Photograph of Gwen Stefani by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz. Photograph of Milla Jovovich by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Marni and H&M. Photograph of Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer by Samir Hussein/Getty Images.
_______________________________

 The Curious History of “Tribal” Prints 
How the Dutch peddle Indonesian-inspired designs to West Africa 
by Julia Felsenthal. 
So when we talk about these African prints, what are we really talking about?
The patterns found on Dutch wax prints. Dutch wax is a kind of resin-printed fabric that has long been manufactured in the Netherlands for a West African market. But to call these fabrics either Dutch or West African is to ignore a far more complicated set of origins. Yinka Shonibare, the well-known Nigerian artist whose work often features these prints, has made a career out of exploring the history of the designs. “The fabrics are not really authentically African the way people think,” Shonibare has said. “They prove to have a crossbred cultural background quite of their own.”
The story begins in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), where locals have long used the technique of wax-resist dying—basically applying wax to a cloth, and then dying over that wax to create a pattern—to make batik. These elaborately patterned handmade textiles bear some similarities to the prints we’ve been noticing on the runways: bold, repeating, intricate motifs set against backgrounds of varying hues. So what accounts for the overlap? One prevailing theory is this: In the mid-19th century, the Dutch enlisted a bunch of West African men—both slaves and mercenaries—to beef up their army in Indonesia. While there, these men took a liking to the local handicrafts and brought batik back to their home countries. And voila: A taste emerged in West Africa for these Indonesian designs.
In the meantime, Europeans were hard at work figuring out how to manufacture their own versions of batik, with the intention of flooding the market in Indonesia with cheaper, machine-made versions of the cloths (the handmade versions were labor-intensive and expensive). Finally, at the end of the 19th century, a Belgian printer developed a method for applying resin to both sides of a cotton cloth, and the machine-made wax-print fabric was born.
But there was a problem: The machine-made version of these cloths developed a crackling effect—a series of small lines, dots, and imperfections where the resin cracked and dye seeped through—that didn’t appeal to Indonesian batik purists. In need of a market for the new textiles, the Dutch turned to West Africa. As it turned out, West Africans were actually partial to these imperfections: They appreciated the fact that no two bolts of cloth were identical. The West African fondness for this effect was so pronounced that Dutch wax manufacturers still program those imperfections into the printing process today, long after the actual mechanical limitation has been resolved.”
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You can read the rest of the article here .  It is quite a long but very interesting read and it puts things into better perspective right? 
Here is also another interesting article on the history of ankara on the site “Beyond Victoriana”: #71 “African Fabrics”: The History of Dutch Wax Prints–Guest Blog by Eccentric Yoruba
Okies!  So now that we know that we don’t really own ankara, does it make us love the prints any less?!  Nope!  Not for a second!
And on that note, let’s go back to our polls!  Here are just a few snapshots of people’s responses to the question.  Such a diverse set of views on the one fabric we all love the most!  Here are a few snapshots of the responses I got:




And Kannie was kind to educate me on the Japanese cotton as well with pictures…


So there you have it!  People’s opinions.  It’s not like there is any right or wrong answer.  It just depends on the perspective you are coming from.  And of course after collating the responses, here are the results of the poll…..


Yup!  Most people said the prints made ankara “ankara”.  So the vibrance of the fabrics is definitely responsible for its mass appeal.

But you know what I think?!  I think it’s BOTH!  Why?!  Because ankara print on any other fabric is not really considered as ankara but an ankara wannabe. Lol!  So granted the print is important, but the print on the cotton makes it what it is.  

And why do we love it so much?!  Ruth could not have said it any better! 😀


Thank you all for taking the time to respond to this once again!  It is much much appreciated!