Fashion

I’m inspired by beautiful fabrics – Josenta

Josenta Ogbhemhe is the CEO of Jojo Bernard’s Couture, a budding fashion outfit in Benin-City, Edo State, that specialises in creating customised clothing. A graduate of Computer Science who says designing has always been her first love, Josenta is fervently working towards becoming one of Nigeria’s biggest designers. In this interview with FEYI BANKOLE, she recalls her childhood love for designing and lets us into her life as a young designer.

Why delve into fashion when you’ve got a B.Sc in Computer Science?

Fashion has always been my first love. As a child, I loved to sew and mend clothes, and Home Economics was one of my best subjects. I could remember I even once told my dad in the presence of his friends that I wanted to be a designer. He wasn’t quite happy, anyway. For me, I will say I was born a designer.

I’ve always been very handy and could make baby clothes, draw and even fix up things in the house at a very young age. So, after my service year, to perfect my skills, I went for a year training in designing, and then started my own fashion line. To God’s glory, Josenta Bernard’s Couture is actually improving and growing more than anticipated.

What inspires your designs?

I’m inspired by beautiful fabrics. When I see a fabric, from the texture and look, I could draw up ideas in my head, sketch them out on paper, make amendments if necessary, and a new design arrives! I have passion for fashion, and I make customized clothing for both men and women. I work with all kinds of fabrics.

You look very much like a model; have you ever been into modeling?

Yes, I am a facial model. I have graced the front pages of two magazines and also contested for several facial pageants; only made it to the semi-finals but never won, anyway. I’m however still hoping that one day I’ll be one of those faces on Delta soap’s billboard (laughs).

What’s your opinion on the Nigerian fashion industry?

The industry has really improved. Some ten years back, nobody had anticipated it would grow this big.  I’m sure many others would have gone into the industry if they could see into its future. You know, there was always this fear of not disappointing one’s parents by going to a fashion school, or even dropping a first degree and venturing into fashion. Today everything has changed, and parents now encourage their children to go into the industry.

Is the industry providing a level playground for budding designers like you?

It is helping, but still needs to do more by conducting fashion seminars, inviting young designers for fashion shows and events, and enlightening young designers more about the industry. This could be an inspiration for some of us who might be on the verge of giving up on the industry due to some kind of challenge. It could help us stay focus and aim higher!

What are your aspirations for ?

My designs are known for their beauty, perfection and elegance, so, I hope to see Josenta Bernard’s Couture become a household name in Nigeria and across the world someday.

So, what’s your definition of style?

For me, style is looking good but not over-doing everything. Simplicity is the best; it stands you out always, and that’s what my designs stand for- simplicity and comfortability.

What fashion item would you invest so much in?

My dresses and my shoes definitely! I’m crazy about these two. I can actually spend my last kobo to own a nice pair of shoes and a gorgeous dress!

Who are your role models?

All Nigerian  are wonderful and gifted, but my best designers are Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi and Lisa Folawiyo. I like them because their designs are exquisite and beautiful. They are my role models.

Style is individualistic to a particular personality – Adekelu Ogunleye

Adekelu Ogunleye is the principal consultant of KIC, an image consulting firm that specializes in providing unique and exquisite services to individuals: like image styling and first class advisory shopping tips at an affordable rate.

Kelu as she is fondly called discovered her passion for fashion and style several years ago. While in college, she helped friends with picking out and matching pieces of clothing, applying stunning make-up, delivering unbelievable make-over and is always giving out advice on looking and feeling good. After graduating from college; she birthed the baby of her dreams KIC five years ago and since then she hasn’t looked back. In this interview with Esther Onyegbula she talks about her career as an image consultant. Enjoy!

What would you say has kept you going, since the concept is really new in the country?

I am going to do this for the rest of my life; when you are passionate about something regardless of the challenges that you face, that passion keeps you going. I can almost do fashion styling for free, that is how much I love it. And there isn’t a career or disciple that does not come with its own challenges.

Adekelu Ogunleye

Fashion styling can be fun but if you work with certain people you might be weighed down, but it is the joy of what I do that keeps me going.

What is fashion to you?

Fashion is very individualistic; it is a way of life, it doesn’t appeal to clothing alone, it is how you live, it is how you express yourself; that is what fashion is.

What is the difference between fashion and style because most times people refer to both as same?

There is a big difference between fashion and style, fashion is a trend; fashion is something that flows around. But style is an identity, a niche, a separation between what makes you wear a dress on a flat shoe, and what makes me wear a trouser pant on a 4.5” inch high heel. So style is individualistic to a particular personality. It is what identifies and separates you from the crowd.

You have been doing this for several years now, how has it been, in terms of challenges?

In Nigeria image styling is yet to be fully embraced. Sometimes people mistake me for a costumer and I keep educating them that I am an intermediary between a fashion designer and an individual who wears an out fit, I am a professional, I am an image consultant, I just don’t go out there and pick clothes and put it on you. I have to understand your body type, body shape, where you are going to and find out if the outfit suits the occasion. It has been crazy but we thank God we are getting there.

What fashion item can’t you do without?

I love dresses, I love shoes, and if I were to choose I don’t know which one to choose. I find myself wearing dresses and shoes all the time, and I have tons of them I can’t live without them.

What is your beauty routine like?

I hardly wear makeovers, but one thing I can’t do without is my cleansing facial wash, it is in my bag, sometimes when I get irritated because of my very sensitive skin, I use the nearest convenience and wash off every makeup I have on my face. Once I do this I feel clean again. I can use powder latter if I have to, if not I just leave my face bare. I love my lip gloss as well.

What is one fashion item you can’t be caught wearing?

You will never find me wearing a short top on leggings.

Why?

Because when you wear leggings you are suppose to wear a top that covers your bum. For goodness sake leggings are like panties, you can as well just wear your g-string and wear a short top and walk the street of Lagos.

What does it takes to become a professional image consultant and fashion stylist?

Well the basic things are: you need to have an eye for beauty; you need to be able identify what is beautiful and what is not. Also you need to have the ability to combine unusual colours, not the regular things everybody does. You need to be innovative and different as a stylist. You can need to keep updating your skills by going for professional courses. Like: colour analysis, wardrobe styling, personal shopping, fashion styling etc.

Whenever I have the opportunity to travel, I update myself by doing short fashion related professional courses. I also do research online; this helps me to be on top of my game.