•Tells City People Her Success Secrets
Anike Animashaun is among the young celebrity fashion designers currently making waves in the beauty and fashion industry. She designs for ‘A’ list society ladies and movie stars such as Dayo Amusa, Tayo Odueke, Tosin Abiola, Bimbo Oshin, and a host of others. This beautiful mother of two is the CEO of House of IL located on Lagos Island. She started the business two years ago, because of her love for fashion and within a short period, she has been able to make a huge success, designing for top clients home and abroad.
Besides being a successful designer, she is also an aviation practitioner and married to a prominent family in Lagos. She is a beautiful daughter-in-law of Alhaji Fatai Animashaun, the Borokini of Lagos. In this interview with City People’s Senior Showbiz Reporter, Biodun Alao, she talked about what inspired her to go into the fashion business and how she has been able to combine the roles of a wife, mother, career woman and a designer.
How long have you been doing this and what inspired you to go into the fashion industry?
I have been doing the fashion business for 2 years now and many people know that I am a fashion freak I love fashion a lot. I always love to make fashion statements each time I step out. I enjoy looking good and people tend to always like what I wear. People mostly pay compliments to me and that was what inspired me to start my brand.
How has it been for you in the past two years?
Definitely, there have been ups and downs, different challenges when it comes to starting a new business, but, I thank God for everything. At a point, I almost gave up on doing this, but at the end of the day, that driving force kept pushing me, so I am so super grateful to God for seeing me through all the stress and giving me the strength to overcome all the challenges.
Why do, you focus more on clients abroad than those in Nigeria?
Should I say I have more clients outside the country than in Nigeria, I would say yes, though it is not a deliberate thing. I guess my job contributed to why it happened that way. I work at the Murtala International Airport, so I get to meet many clients in the line of duty.
How affordable are you?
We are actually very affordable. All you need to do is just to contact us for any of your glamorous outfits you are looking forward to rocking on your special occasion. With or without a crowd, you still need to shine on your special occasions. We also do ready-to-wear. We are always available.
How did you come about the name house of Tl?
Yes, I got it from the names of my kids Oyetade and Oyelade. So, I just picked a letter each from their names to form the house of Tl.
How have you been able to combine being a career woman, an entrepreneur, wife and mother?
I enjoy doing what I love to do. I am a complete family person. I love my family a lot. I love my job and I also enjoy fashion, so they are all things I love much, so combining them has been easy for me, though after God, family comes first before career and business, so I just set my priorities right and I don’t take anything for granted and that has made it easier for me.
What makes your brand different and unique among others?
We are dedicated and treat our clients as queens, so they keep coming back and even refer people. We always make them happy and don’t give them a reason to complain or regret trusting us with their fabrics.
Would you say being married into an influential family has helped your brand so far?
I would say in a way, but at the same time, my hard work has helped me grow too because no client will come back to you if you disappoint them the first time they patronise you. Mostly, it’s the work that speaks for me
You also tend to be close to many celebrities?
(Laughs!) Being married to an influential family has nothing to do with me being friends with lots of celebrities. I was already their friends before I even got married. The truth of the matter is that I value my friends a lot, so I have come a long way with many of them.
Your brand is just two years now where do you hope to see it in the next 5 years?
Greater heights by the special grace of God. I believe so much in hard work, dedication and determination and with God on our side, we will go places.
Who really is the brain behind the House of Tl?
My name is Anike Animashaun, an aviation practitioner, a fashion freak, I am happily married and blessed with two kids. I am an easy-going, caring and loving lady.
Why do you concentrate more on celebrities?
That’s not true, I have never been a social media person I’ve not been putting up all my designs on social media, but when my friends patronise me, they upload photographs then I will be forced to put the photographs on my page, so that is the reason it appears as if we design for only celebrities. We are available for everybody and I have been putting up designs on my page now.
