SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 26, 2012 —37
other things. Personally, I have never come across a clothing brand that just focuses on shirts.
How would you describe your designs? My designs are specific to my character and they are classy and corky What inspires your designs? My designs are actually inspired by one of the leaders of modern Architecture, Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe’s minimalist design style. I use the less is more approach to create an impression of extreme simplicity by highlighting the shirt in its pure form without distraction. That way, the, progressive beauty and craft can be seen.
How did you go from Architecture to designing shirts? I started Nkili in 2011, after attending art school for a year at the Architectural Association School of Architecture and the University of Dundee School of Architecture, Scotland. During my second year, I entered for a competition and developed a business plan. With the support and help of the Scottish Youth Business Trust founded by Prince Charles and Cultural Enterprise, I was able to
establish Nkili. They started with providing business advice to me and eventually I was given a financial grant. Basically that was how it started.
Are your shirts available in any fashion store in Nigeria? At the moment, I have managed to get just two stockiest in Lagos where people can get our ready to wear designs. One is at Deola Sagoe flagship store and Lespace in Victoria Island. Also people can place their order online.
What aspect of fashion does Nkili specializes in and what makes it unique? Nkili specializes in making beautiful, hand painted shirts. Nkili is a luxury shirt making brand focused on highlighting the most important garment in the female wardrobe. My collections are really unique because we design, print, and produce the most beautifully crafted silk shirts that people treasure. Every single piece goes through a journey, from design to print to production and is nurtured by h i g h l y s k i l l e d production team in Scotland. The process o f combining tonal hand drawing w i t h traditional silk screen printing and h a n d painting techniques on pure silk make each p i e c e unique.
How affordable are your shirts? They are very affordable and our price ranges from N8, 000 to N22, 000.
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ikili is a luxury fashion label the specializes in designing unique and exotic silk shirts for the discerning woman of style and class. Owned by Scottish based Nigerian, Tolani Nkili Onajide, she discovered and developed her passion for fashion while studying Architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London and the University of Dundee School of Architecture, Scotland. With a budding career and undeterred resilience in the pursuit of what she believes in, she has received a number of awards and support from business organizations like the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust and cultural Enterprise. In this interview with Esther Onyegbula, she talks about her love for fashion, her designs, how each piece goes on a journey from design and print to production, and her official launch party this weekend in Lagos. Enjoy.
Since you officially launched your designs outside the country how has the response been? For the short time I have been in the market, my brand has done really well in the sense that I have got a lot of attention and interest. A lot of people admire and are interested in the brand. My plan is to make it much more successful in terms of actually getting my people to be interested in the brand.
How would you compare the fashion industry with what obtains in the fashion industry outside the country? There are no basis for comparing both fashion industries because in Nigeria, we have just started. Yes, no doubt there a but there are great talents and potentials in the industry here.
With the support and help of the Scottish Youth Business Trust founded by Prince Charles and Cultural Enterprise, I was able to establish Nkili
Why did you decide to design shirts only? I decided that I wanted to go into shirt making because I love to wear shirts. It is like a stable for me and the most
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important piece in a wardrobe. I didn’t want to use generic prints in making the shirts. So, I decided to make it into something different. When you take a look at my collections, you will find something different. For instance, in my summer/
autumn collection, you’d find different contrast materials such as velvet and shapes different from the regular shirts you find around. I wanted to known for making shirts with my signature imprinted in it. I didn’t want to get distracted by doing
With so many fashion and clothing brand in Nigeria, how do you intend to cope with competition? I don’t see any competition. Please don’t get me wrong. I probably would say same thing if I were in the UK as well. I feel like I am in a world of my own because what I do is quite different from what other designers are doing.