SOLA Igehin, general Secretary, Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), Oyo State chapter, and CEO, Beauty Clothing Label, is a gem in the fashion industry.The University of Ibadan Sociologygraduate, who unveiled her label in 2006, got into fashion business when she could not secure any white-collar job.Ever since, she has not only achieved her aim, but created jobs for people. 'After the compulsory national youth service, I was faced with unemployment, which made my father insist that I learned a trade instead of searching for non-existent jobs and since my mum was a couturier, I chose fashion designing,' she says.To hone her skill in the business, she enrolled at Odel Fashion Institute from where she began to make clothes for intimate friends and family members.'I started by making dresses for my relatives and friends at no cost. The encouragement I got from them made me to start off a career in designing.'She adds, 'the beginning was not promising. At a point, I was discouraged because I was confused if I could ever satisfy my client as a principled person, but my dad further encouraged me to move ahead. He said the great achievers of today started from somewhere. This made me to summon courage and pursue my passion; I thank God today, the story has changed.'With the ban on importation of textile materials, Sola now depends on local fabrics for her designs, she goes to the extreme to get the best that would bring out the qualities she wants in any attire.She notes, 'I use local fabrics, but I make sure they are of high quality and to the taste of my clients.'Though she admires the work of other designers, she says, 'I draw inspiration from God and His creations such as plants, cloud, television, people, sea and my children to bring out my eye- catching designs.'TO be on top, Sola says you have to acquire the right education and know what your clients want. 'Education is the key word in every business as it will take you from operating at the local level to international standards. When you are educated, you modernise your business and operate at a different level. Aside from that, you have to understand what your clients want and how to satisfy them.'Sola, who specialises in female clothes' corporate and casuals' believes that fashion is something the wearer is comfortable with.She informs that Nigerian women are elegant and fashionable. 'Anywhere in the world you see a Nigerian woman,believe me, they are always stylish and elegantly dressed.'On the challenges of the job, the designer states that lack of adequate electricity has been the major one.This problem, she says, makes designers to spend more on fuel for generator, which increases overhead cost.Added to that is lack of skilled workers and those trained leave sooner that they master the trade, which always make most proprietors to always train people.Sola advises an upcoming designer to be patient. She says, 'though the beginning may be rough, with time, everything will come into place. Just have patience and believe in God.
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