Meet Temitope, young, talented fashion designer

Temitope Olubanji is the CEO of Temmy Stitches, which is in the business of fashion and designing.

As a young woman, Olubanji desired to have a taste of university education but issues around finance restricted her.

In order to overcome her financial challenge and attend university of her choice, Temitope decided to venture into fashion and design.

Temitope worked as an apprentice for 18 months before starting her own business. She makes majorly female wears, both native and English and is also involved in marketing fabrics.

“Being in fashion and design, you have to be passionate about the profession to succeed. If one is lazy, one cannot be a fashion designer. You need to be humble, patient, and ready to amend mistakes because one mistake can lead you to starting all over again,” she told Start-Up Digest.

“Sometimes some clients will insist that they collect their materials the next day, despite the fact that they know they brought their materials late. In order to keep my clients, I do my best to meet up to their expectations and even surprise them, but in doing that, they don’t mind paying more because they know the cost of what I did at the late hour and the stress I went through just to please them,” she disclosed.

Temitope said that she doesn’t have a shop for now but could, later, stating that she will be glad to get admission first into Yabatech, then get a shop in Yaba where she can start her business while in school. The young entrepreneur said she is learning how to make men’s wear now, and is using the opportunity to train students in school– both and female.

Temitope said that she loves everything about fashion, irrespective of the stress involved and that it helps her to build herself.

“I love doing it, because sometimes I just work without collecting money from my friends. I am now learning how to make men’s wear and I want to have knowledge in every area so I can make more in school,” she noted.

Despite the positives, Tope still goes through challenges like other entrepreneurs.

“One of my challenges is delivery. Some clients can be annoying, because when there is a slight mistake in size, they will ask you to go with it and make it better. They may not pay any attention to where you are coming from,” she stated,

Tope said she works at night if there is need to.

“I work at night and if there is any need to work during at night, I will work late,” she said.

Tope said the business environment matters, noting that in high-brow areas of Lagos, clents tend to pay higher.

Speaking about her long-term plans, Tope said that she would love to learn how to handle make-up, ‘gele tying’ and open a big fashion house, where she will train people, make unisex clothes, and provide make-up. Services to clients.

Tope advised young people like her never to allow anything hinder their success or limit them from getting what they want.

“People have to be humble. Humility can take one a long way. Yes, education is the best legacy you can leave or have. But even if you choose not to go to school, learn something,” she concluded.

ANGEL JAMES