SEE INTERVIEW: Amb. John Fashanu Unveiled As Fashion Ambassador Of HYLOOK FASHIONS INT’L LTD...Makes Top Trending Brand By Trends & Rachel. (Photos)
Nigeria
famous Television presenter of Trends and Rachel aka the Piper
yesterday engaged the fast rising designer Destiny Eke Okorie of HYLOOK
FASHIONS INTERNATIONAL LTD to an interview after unveiling Amb. John
Fashanu as the Fashion brand Ambassador. He was clothed for an exclusive
photo shoot as Amb. Rachel Bakam listed him as one of the top trending
brands showing on AIT
6:00pm on Saturdays then NTA ENTERTAINMENT 7pm same day. Repeats: NTA
Entertainment (Startimes)12:30:00pm tomorrow Sunday then Monday
4:30:00am&1:00pm, Wednesday 8:00am then on AIT 2:30am Monday.
This Exceptional designer is spotlighted on Amb Rachel Bakam\'s award winning Television programme TRENDS & RACHEL as THE TOP TRENDING BRAND TTTB. See the interview below:
A: My name is Destiny Eke Okorie. I was born and brought up in Alayi, a town in Bende LGA of Abia State. I am the CEO of HYLOOK FASHIONS INT'L LTD, which was established in 2010. We design and manufacture here in Nigeria some of the best men's outfits in the world.
Q: what motivated you into fashion design?
A:
I have always loved to dress well and to read. It was while reading
Napoleon Hill's book –Think and Grow Rich – back in the nineties that I
learnt the idea that you should build your carrier around something you
love or are good at. So in the year 2000, I started my first fashion
business – making clothes in Aba and selling them to Nigerians in
Cotonou where many of my relatives lived. I stayed in the business for
about 2 years before I decided to join my brother in the importation of
used clothing business. Importation of used clothing was thriving in
Cotonou then, and my plan was to make big money and later invest it in
the fashion industry in Nigeria. I later began to travel to the UK for
used clothing business.
It
took a long time, but I did make lots of money in the importation
business. Then something happened in 2010. I had invested in some bad
businesses including a couple of companies that went bankrupt in the UK
and I lost a significant chunk of my capital. With the little money I
had remaining, fresh 5 years multiple UK Visa, and fresh 2 years
multiple American Visa, it was a moment of decision. But I was already
fed up with the used clothing thing. I was longing to create my own
fashion brand.
Q: why the choice of made in Nigeria design?
A:
well I thought of going to Italy, Turkey or China to buy new clothes or
make my own branded outfits, but the idea I had was more than just
another business. It was a vision to make world class clothing here in
Nigeria and supply other boutique owners in Nigeria and Africa instead
of them going abroad to source their clothes. And also to build a chain
of my own fashion shops all over Nigeria and Africa. I wanted to make
clothes that fit so perfectly. I believe that you feel so good when what
you wear fits so well. So I wanted to be in total control of the
production processes here in Nigeria. I also wanted to create unique
African designs with international appeal, and what better place to do
that than at home; while at the same time creating massive employment
opportunities for our people as the company grows.
Q: What kind of designs do you make?
A: At the moment, we are focused on African inspired designs with international appeal.
Q: Can you give an insight into some of your favorite designs and fabrics?
We
work with different fabrics like brocade, voile, Ankara, and suiting
fabrics. But our favorite fabric at the moment is suiting fabric which
is used all over the world. We use it for Nigerian suit (also known as
senators' suit), suiting caftan, and Nigerian safari suit. Every man
seems to be falling in love with the designs because they are elegant,
easy to wear, good for offices and all occasions, suitable for our hot
weather, simply classy. Business executives and professionals love them,
politicians can't have enough of them, and even foreigners are not left
out.
Q: what are your challenges in the industry?
A:
we all know the obvious challenges facing entrepreneurs in Nigeria –
lack of steady power supply, difficulties in accessing loans, etc. But
one of the major challenges we face is lack of highly skilled tailors.
It's amazing how many people are looking for jobs and yet very few are
willing to master a skill.
Q: what are your aims and aspirations?
A:
we make bespoke (custom-made) and ready-to-wear clothes. But our main
vision is to have Hylook clothes sold in all major boutiques in Nigeria
and Africa and to also have a chain of Hylook shops in major cities in
Nigeria and Africa. Our long term aim is to have massive factories
around Nigeria where we design and manufacture all manner of high
quality clothing for Nigerian and international markets.
Q: do you have a mentor in the industry?
A:
Amancio Ortega, the owner of Zara clothing brand, is one of my mentors.
He has built a fashion company where they design, manufacture, and
retail their own clothing brands. They have shops around the world. In
some ways, I modelled Hylook on Zara.
Q: What else do you do aside fashion design?
A:
Actually am a bit of a workaholic. Over the last 6 years all my life
has been work. But as we continue to reorganize and restructure the
company I'm beginning to create time for myself.
Q: are you married?
A: I hope to get married really soon.
Q: what stands you out from others?
A:
We don't just make clothes, we add values that are difficult for other
designers in our field to replicate. Hylook stands for style and class,
excellent finishing, perfect fit, quick delivery, elegant designs, world
class quality. Our designs are simply unique and our clothes are
specially cut for your perfect fit. The evidence is that Hylook clothes
are always on high demand. We never have off season. Our work-force
keeps expanding.
Q: Can u tell us some celebrities and personalities that wear your clothes?
A:
over the years we have been so focused on product quality and customer
satisfaction that we never had time to promote the Hylook brand. Our
success has been solely depended on repeat custom and referrals.
Celebrities like John Fashanu and Bob Manuel have literarily fallen in
love with the Hylook brand since coming in contact with it. We make
clothes for many past and present Governors like Gov. Liyel Imoke, Gov.
Babangida Aliyu, Gov. Nyesom Wike, Gov. Rochas Okorocha to mention a
few. Also countless distinguished Senators and Honorable members of the
Federal House of Representatives cannot go to the hallowed chambers
without adorning their classy Hylook designs. Innumerable top business
executives in Abuja and other cities are all loyal and happy clients of
the Hylook brand
.
Q: Who are your favorite Nigerian musician and Nollywood star? And why the choices?
Many
of our musicians are on top of their game. They are so good they are
taking over the world. But Timi Dakolo's Great Nation is one of my
favorite songs. We must love and believe in Nigeria despite all the
challenges facing us. The veteran actor Olu Jacobs is a great man. He
also promotes the made in Nigeria designs.
Q: As Nigeria celebrates its 56th year of independence what message do you have for Nigeria and Nigerians?
A: At 56 I think it is high time we Nigerians realized that we have all it takes to build a great nation. We should patronize Nigerian brands more and more. Look at the Arabs and Indians, what we will call their native clothing is what they wear as their official and corporate outfits every day. I will also thank our politicians for adopting Nigerian designs as their daily official wear. Imagine our banking institutions, government institutions, corporate organizations, pastors and churches also wearing Nigerian 'native'designs as their daily official and corporate outfits. Think of the amount of money we spend on the importation of western suits which is not even suitable for our hot weather. We should learn to be proud of who we are, our culture, and style; then foreigners who visit Nigeria will also be proud to join in dressing like we do.
Q: how do you relax?
A: well I love to read whenever my tight schedule allows me. I also play and watch football.
Q: what advice do you have for young Nigerians who will love to toe your line?
A: don't go into fashion just because of money. Do it because you love it and you want to make a difference. Your passion and the big picture in your head is what will keep you going. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Q: where do you hope to see yourself and your designs in next 3 years?
A: currently we have 2 Hylook retailing outlets in Abuja. We also supply the Hylook brand to 8 independent boutiques in Abuja. In the next 3 three years we hope to become a house-hold name in Nigeria and Africa supplying our brand to many boutiques in Nigeria and Africa. We also hope to have more Hylook shops in more Nigerian and African cities
.
Q: words of advice for Nigerian entertainment industry?
A: I will like our musicians to wear more Nigerian designs on their video shoots as this will help boost the appeal for made in Nigeria designs both locally and internationally.
Q: where is your favorite holiday spot?
A: So far I only go on holiday once a year during Christmas. And no place beats my home town Alayi in Abia State. It is the place to be in Christmas- lots of cultural dance and fun activities. I also get to catch up with friends and relatives who travelled back from all corners of the earth
Q: Your last words?
A: Hylook clothes are not too expensive. Our target customers are men of discerning taste in fashion. You can check out our designs or place an order @www.hylookfashion.com or visit our flagship shop at 4 Lobito / Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja Q: tell your name, about yourself, and the journey so far