THE LIFE OF A WEIRD FASHIONISTA

I am the third child in a family of six, which includes father and mother. From an early age, I have always love to do things differently. I love to question certain norms and dress in a weird manner, but the environment surrounding my childhood suppressed the fashionista in me.

I grew up in a religious family, a family where prayer was majorly targeted at enemies. My father became a Christian a few years after I was born. So I grew up learning things I was to unlearn in later years. 

My family was not a rich one, so I began to dream from an early age  how to become a rich influential woman. I was very serious about becoming great that I didn't really have time for boys.  In fact, I saw boys as distractions, so my brain and my heart made an agreement to stay away from boys until after higher education. I always loved TV presenters because of their accent and mode of dressing. I loved the media and would spend hours acting like a television character. Growing up, I had few friends. I was such a serious child. Such a workaholic from a young age. All I did was read novels and fantasize. 

As a young girl I would always correct my father's English and insist that my name be pronounced in a particular way. People tried all the time to, but were never able to figure me out. I was a guru in primary and secondary school and always had prizes to bring home at the end of every session. Once I represented my school for MTN testimania. I told almost everyone I knew to watch the programme. I was so excited that I would be seen by many Nigerians on TV.

I wanted to dress in a particular way, but my religious parents would never allow. I was taught that certain ways of life and dressing were demonic. In fact, I saw anklets and waist beads as terribly bad, and that a Christian should never be caught wearing them.

"Did you see that girl, na ashawo", my mother would say about a lady wearing anklets. My father was a demon destroyer. He believed things like that could be possessed by the devil. This was the kind of atmosphere I grew up. I could not express myself through dressing. I knew there was a part of me shut out. I was not an unhappy child, neither was I a happy child. I was torn between following the norm and allowing the me in me to come out. Nobody except probably my sister understood me, so I began to keep a diary. My diary was my best friend.

I began to rebel as I read about rebellious characters, who fought for a course. I questioned traditions that made women act like slaves. I question certain teachings in church. My parents did not understand why I could not just be a normal child. I was beaten up on some occasions, but deep down inside me, I knew I had to be more.

Alas! I went to the University and heard a gospel different from the one I have always heard. I began to break out of the norm. God birthed a vision in me to clothe the broken woman with strength. Years after I am still running with the vision. My designs speaks of confidence. I desire to bring out the beauty in African women through my designs. Fashion for me is beyond wearing nice clothes. Fashion is an art. It is about being creative. It is about bringing healing to the hurt soul, it is about clothing the broken one with confidence and class. It is about looking good and godly.

I am a fashion person. I  am here to inspire, beautify and clothe every woman. 

It is okay to be weird. It is okay to be different.