Adetoke Oluwo is the Creative Director of SGTC Clothing. Her online clothing label is quite famous online. Recently, she met with City People to discuss her journey so far.
How long have you been in the fabric business?
I launched SGTC Clothing in October 2016 as a “Ready to Wear” Ankara Line
How was growing up like?
Love, Fashion and Fun!…..Growing up in an Oluwo household was nothing short of Fun!! My Dad, Prince Toyin Oluwo, is a socialite and fashionista. So growing up was fun and full of life. And my Mum,Teju Oluwo taught me all I know about being a woman, love and sacrifices. God just blessed me with the best parents ever.
Were your parents in full support of you when you chose fashion as a career?
Yes they are. God gave me the best parents, they are super stylish and they taught me everything I know about Fashion as a child. Plus I still work as a TV Producer and Screen Writer, so this is just another feather on my cap
Why did you choose this business?
I have always been a fan of Ankara because I love Colours. Ankara gives this burst of Energy like no other fabric and the business started with someone in London telling me to replicate an Ankara Piece she saw on my Page. I did and posted a Picture and it sold out before I even left for London. The Idea struck from there and it has been amazing.
Tell us about your brand?
My brand is all Ankara. Trendy, Fashion Forward Pieces but affordable. We want the World to know that Ankara is not just for “aso ebi” but you can rock our Piece at any function and still stand out as a fashionista without trying too hard
Are your designs based on only African print?
We do African Prints with an Urban Twist.
But why did you choose only African print?
African Fabric is the “In Thing,” It has been here before our existence and will still stay Ankara is beautiful and very versatile will.
What are the challenges you face doing this business?
All designers would tell you this same thing. You can have a very beautiful piece sketched but for the execution,you need a Team of Tailors and more, even if you make pieces yourself. You can’t possibly sew for 200 people in a Week yourself. Being a tailors sometimes could be very frustrating. You have the pressure from Customers who don’t care about all that… they just want their “magical piece”. So really, Tailors have a huge part to play in this business and sometimes it gets really challenging executing one’s ideas through them
What keeps you going when you are down?
It is just God and knowing that I can not afford to fail because that is more expensive. Most times I just do the things I love outside my job, which is hanging out with my friends and just laughing and I also enjoy singing at Karaoke.
Where do you buy your fabric?
I deal with Ankara Merchants but we are working on importing ourselves
Seems like you send your clothes abroad too, can you tell us more about it?
Oh,I have a very wonderful Stockist/Partner in London, @ankaready, who is just God’s sent and we are currently finalising with other International Partners in Major Countries in the World. so it makes it easy to get our pieces anywhere without stress
Do you do bespoke too or your only base on ready to wear?
Our Line is Ready to Wear and Bespoke on special orders only
Give us 5 tips on running a successful clothing business
(1) Buy Quality and stick to it.
(2) have eyes for the right prints and colour pattern.
(3)Good picture is everything!!.
(4) Have a Passion for your Business.
(5) With God all things are Possible, without him, you will just hustle for nothing.
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