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Ejiro Amos Tafiri is the eponymous label owned by
Ejiro Amos-Tafiri. The Yaba College of Technology graduate honed her skills at
Zizi Cardow’s fashion house- Zizi Ethnic Clothing. The young designer who
debuted on the fashion scene in 2010 shares her story with X2.
What do you do at Ejiro
Amos Tafiri?
I’m the creative director and chief executive officer.
As the head of the company ,I research, gather information that will aid
decision making when it comes to designs we put out, design collections, draft
patterns, source fabric and haberdashery (trimmings, thread, zipper etc) and
oversee branding details.
I see to the planning, building and day to day
running of our brand with a lot of help from my fabulous team.
What motivated you to go
into business for self?
I studied fashion designing at Yaba College of
technology; the dream was always to run a successful label. While interning and
working with some fantastic design houses, I was never really content and
fulfilled not because I didn’t love my job, but because I realised I couldn’t
rise above a certain level, no matter what I did. If I didn’t move on I would
be limiting my personal career goals and destiny. When the time came I just
knew in my spirit, that it was time to take a bold step, knowing that the road
will be rough.
Did you face any opposition
when you became serious with fashion designing?
Yes I did. I knew early enough that I wanted to
be a fashion designer in my secondary school. When I gained admission into
higher institution I wanted to study fashion instead of what my family had naturally
expected -medicine because I was a good science student. My parents were not
happy with my choice initially but I stubbornly stood my ground and eventually
won them over with various awards of excellence from hard work which helped
convince them that this is one of the major things I was born to do.
Did you have a regular
9-5 before starting your business?
Yes I did, as head of the design team at the
prestigious Tiffany Amber, where I learned and experienced a lot working
closely with Mrs Folake Folarin Coker.
What are the unique
selling points of your label?
Our designs are chic, comfortable and stylish.
Hence they are very ‘wearable’ largely because they are tailored to suit the
needs of target audience- the upwardly mobile young professional. They are also
carefully crafted to conform to international standards.
What are the upsides of
running the business?
There is this huge sense of fulfilment that comes
from doing what I love to do and the fact that people are loving and buying it.
Seeing the brand’s growth, a testament that the hard work put in is paying off.
Being able to affect lives by being an employer of labour and watching them
grow from training is very satisfying.
What are the challenges
you have faced over time running the business?
Nothing unexpected or peculiar, the same
challenges other entrepreneurs face – electricity, transportation, etc but they
only make us stronger and more resilient.
Have you ever thought of
packing up in frustration?
No, never. This brand is here to stay and grow
into an institution. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy so I’m prepared to
weather whatever storms. I’ve been groomed that way from my secondary school
days at the late Tai Solarin’s Mayflower. He always said, ‘‘may your way be
rough -so that you emerge truly victorious”. Besides that, God’s grace and
love is ever sure and sufficient.
What have you learned
that they don’t teach in books?
Loads of things are taught in books so I might
not be totally correct but I constantly look for shorter and efficient ways of
working.
What
projections do you have for the future?
That ‘Ejiro Amos Tafiri’ grows into an
institutionalised company with huge local and international recognition thus
becoming a world player in the fashion business.
What advice will you give
potential entrepreneurs?
Study the scope of your business very well,
understand it, master your product, work hard and smart, success is guaranteed.
