Vanguard Allure

Top Menu

  • Vanguard

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Allure Magazine
    • Features
    • Magazine
    • Profiles
  • Allure TV
  • Celebration
    • Fashion & Style
    • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
  • Wellbeing
    • Allure Woman
    • Healthy Living
    • Beauty
  • Happiness
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Travel
    • Relationships
    • Career
  • News
  • Vanguard

logo

Vanguard Allure

  • Home
  • Allure Magazine
    • Ninety: Building A Legacy

      July 4, 2022
      0
    • Sandra Chukwudozie: The Energy Trailblazer

      June 26, 2022
      0
    • Oluyemi Orija: Heartbeat For Indigent Inmates

      June 20, 2022
      0
    • Blessing Ifeoma Dim and Chigozie Celestine Orji's Wedding

      June 16, 2022
      0
    • Gbemisola Olowookere: Raising Uncommon Generation

      June 6, 2022
      0
    • Wendy Ologe: On Better Parenting

      May 30, 2022
      0
    • Behold Nollywood's Game Changing Producers

      May 15, 2022
      0
    • Faith Morey: Supermodel Living Her Dream

      May 9, 2022
      0
    • Linda Uneze: The Transformational Coach

      May 1, 2022
      0
    • Features
    • Magazine
    • Profiles
  • Allure TV
  • Celebration
    • Fashion & Style
    • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
  • Wellbeing
    • Allure Woman
    • Healthy Living
    • Beauty
  • Happiness
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Travel
    • Relationships
    • Career
  • News
    • Nollywood Director, Wasiu Onitilo is dead

      July 4, 2022
      0
    • Babatunde Gbadamosi derides Funke Akindele over failed marriage

      July 4, 2022
      0
    • Ricky Martins, accused of domestic violence

      July 4, 2022
      0
    • Toyin Abraham celebrates hubby Kolawole Ajeyemi as turns a year older

      Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi's team debunks rumour of marital crisis

      July 2, 2022
      0
    • Anita to divorce Paul Okoye for sleeping with maid

      July 2, 2022
      0
    • Nollywood actress, Kemi Afolabi, begins lupus treatment in US

      July 2, 2022
      0
    • Sammie Okposo and wife celebrate wedding anniversary amidst cheating drama

      July 2, 2022
      0
    • Travis Baker admitted in hospital for pancreatitis

      July 2, 2022
      0
    • Togo University awards Honorary Doctorates to IK Ogbonna, Hilda Dokubo, Others

      June 30, 2022
      0
  • ‘Sallah will not be same without you’ – Singer Lami Philips pens late Sound Sultan

  • ‘Do DNA tests for all your kids! E get why’ – Destiny Amaka says in open letter to men

  • Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere hosts ‘homeless’ veteran actor, promises him houses

  • I want a child this year – Tacha

  • Uti Nwachukwu reveals tithing made him stop going to church since 2018

Allure MagazineFashion & Style
Home›Allure Magazine›Designers Revolutionising the Nigerian Fashion Industry – Part 3

Designers Revolutionising the Nigerian Fashion Industry – Part 3

October 23,2016
Share:

DIDI CREATIONS – Fascinated By Arts And Nature

Nigerian-born, UK based designer, Tina Ugo, is the face behind Didi Creations, a brand famous for its unique line of afrocentric accessory and serious craftsmanship to be reckoned with. Her luxury collection of bags and jewellery are distinct, bold statement-making pieces designed for the woman of class.
Having made a dramatic entrance on to the fashion scene with the unveiling of her women clothing line in 2013, Tina continues to excel in her craft even as she puts Nigeria in focus on the international fashion scene.

didi-creationsAt what point in life did you discover your creative flair?
I would say my days at the University of Ibadan in the late nineties. During this time, I enjoyed painting, shredding and altering already made outfits that I bought from boutiques. Around this time also, I would travel to Lagos from school and source for tie and dye (adire) fabrics from manufacturers around Sanya area of Surulere. I would then design mini-skirts and skimpy tops for my friends just for the fun of it.

What made you take fashion more seriously and make a career out of it?
It was almost certain that I would end up in the fashion industry as a result of my lifestyle and knack for creativity. Upon graduation after my first degree, I did work in three different corporate sectors for a few years. The truth was that I never had job satisfaction, at the time, so as awkward as it sounds, I kept changing jobs every year between 2002 and 2005.
While I was still working in the corporate sector and doing my fashion business part-time, I realised that I was actually making more money from selling clothes, bags and shoes than what I earned as salary. I finally decided to make a career out of fashion because I had done it as a hobby for over ten years prior to when I launched my brand. Hence, I was certain I was genuinely passionate about it.
I also knew that I needed to give it my all to enable me grow the brand effectively so after my education in the United Kingdom, for my second degree where I bagged a Masters in Business Administration, I decided I would specialise as a management consultant and a fashion entrepreneur.  This saw me launching Didi Creations Limited in 2012.

Are you self taught or did you study Fashion Design?
I would say it’s a mix of both, to be honest. Prior to when I launched the brand, I never went to any fashion school as I am creative by nature. I only designed and got my manufacturers to bring the design to life. However, in late 2012, I went to a fashion school to learn dress making and sewing. And, I have continued doing short courses in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising.

How has your work evolved since you began your own label?
The long term goal of the brand is to become a fashion lifestyle brand which every fashionista across the globe would love to be associated with. We are continuously expanding and have recently launched a kiddies’ line this year; Didi Creations Kids. I am grateful for how far the brand has come.  We now stock and sell through about twelve different retailers and online shops in the United Kingdom and Nigeria respectively.

You design bags and clothes mostly boubous. Which did you begin with and how did you move from one craft to the other?
I had always loved the kaftans and boubous from my teenage days because they were my late stylish mum’s signature look. I copied my mum’s style a lot back in the days and loved wearing boubous and kaftans as well.
However, professionally, I started with designing bags and accessories in 2012. This was what I launched the brand with. Hence, most people tend to associate me more with designing of bags and accessories. I formally introduced the women clothing line to the brand in 2013 when I had my very first runway showcase, during Africa Fashion Week London 2013, Kenya Fashion Week 2013 and TABNyc during the New York Fashion Week 2013 respectively.

You live in the United Kingdom and have participated in shows there and outside the UK. How is your work received internationally?
For all the shows I have done till date, surprising as it may be, I have received positive feedbacks from all of them which is part of the motivation that has kept me going even when we have low sale periods.
I believe my work is gradually beginning to gather momentum in the United Kindgom, especially after our advertorial features in the British Vogue, Elle, Tatler, Harper’s Bazaar and Glamour magazines. The footfalls to my website increased tremendously and I’m beginning to receive loads of enquiries on my pieces, which sometimes ends up in a sale. Back home in Nigeria, my brand was well received from the onset and, the truth is, I still receive most of my orders from my Nigerian clients.

Where do you get inspiration for your designs from?
My design inspirations are drawn from colour, nature, vintage African arts and culture; hence the colourful, retro, and afrocentric themes in most of my pieces.

Who is the Didi Creations Woman?
She is that bold, stylish and fashion conscious woman who loves to stand out from the crowd.

What are you fascinated about at the moment and how does it feed into your work?
I have always been and still fascinated by arts, nature and interior decor and plan to come up with something that will see my fashion designs and interior designs work alongside each other.

What is the biggest lesson that you have learnt since you started your company?
I have been let down a few times by different stockists and retailers who haven’t taken adequate care of my stock in their stores. Hence, the biggest lesson that I have learnt is that no one can be as passionate at your business as you.

You opened the AFWL last September. How did that make you feel?
It definitely made me feel great as I never planned to showcase on the runway this year, initially, and had to hurriedly come up with a collection just five days before the event – after the organisers rang me that they wanted me to be a part of the runway show.

Tell us a bit about your educational background.
I had my first degree in Philosophy and Political Science at the University of Ibadan where I bagged a Bachelors of Arts (Combined Honours) degree. I relocated to the United Kingdom in 2009 for further studies after I lost my mum.
In 2010, I was awarded a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management by the London Business College. I also have a Masters in Business Administration from Edge Hill University, Lancashire.

What would you like to achieve before the end of the year?
I would love to have more retailers and stockists to retail my pieces in the United Kingdom then, eventually, expand to the rest of Europe and finally the rest of the world.

How does being a fashion designer influence your personal style?
Prior to becoming a fashion designer, I already had my style and this hasn’t changed a bit. My personal style, depending on my mood and destination, is best described as classy, glamorous, chic, bold, fierce, afrocentric and sexy. I love to stand out from the crowd at any given point.

Outside the United Kingdom, where would be your best holiday destination?
I’m not sure I can name just one destination, to be honest.

TagsDesignerDidi CreationsFashionKing HakbalStyleTrish O CoutureVanskere
Previous Article

Designers Revolutionising the Nigerian Fashion Industry – ...

Next Article

HOW Foundation holds leadership seminar for Youths

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Allure MagazineFashion & Style

    Updated: Top 5 Runway Trends From Africa Fashion Week London 2018

    August 16, 2018
    By RITA
  • EventFashion & Style

    20 Celebrities outfits we love at Cold Feet Movie Premiere

    May 13, 2019
    By RITA
  • Fashion & StyleLook of the day

    Look of the day: Juliet Ibrahim

    July 24, 2018
    By RITA
  • Fashion & Style

    Men’s Fashion: How to wear suspenders the right way

    July 26, 2018
    By RITA
  • Fashion & StyleStyle

    Style tips for rocking the floral look

    September 9, 2019
    By RITA
  • Allure MagazineFashion & StyleStyle

    Allure Fashion: The Beauty Of Off White

    May 3, 2018
    By RITA
0

  • Allure WomanFoodHealthy LivingWellbeing

    15 most popular variety of potatoes

  • Entertainment

    Ruth Kadiri rains curses on politicians and yahoo boys

  • Allure MagazineNews

    Embattled singer, Stephanie Otobo reveals Apostle Suleman’s weird preferences

  • 5312
    Followers
  • 12744
    Likes

Timeline

  • July 5, 2022

    ‘Sallah will not be same without you’ – Singer Lami Philips pens late Sound Sultan

  • July 5, 2022

    ‘Do DNA tests for all your kids! E get why’ – Destiny Amaka says in open letter to men

  • July 5, 2022

    Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere hosts ‘homeless’ veteran actor, promises him houses

  • July 5, 2022

    I want a child this year – Tacha

  • July 4, 2022

    Uti Nwachukwu reveals tithing made him stop going to church since 2018

Categories

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates and to hear what's going on with our magazine!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • ‘Sallah will not be same without you’ – Singer Lami Philips pens late Sound Sultan

    By RITA
    July 5, 2022
  • ‘Do DNA tests for all your kids! E get why’ – Destiny Amaka says in ...

    By RITA
    July 5, 2022
  • Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere hosts ‘homeless’ veteran actor, promises him houses

    By RITA
    July 5, 2022
  • Tacha

    I want a child this year – Tacha

    By Ashimedua
    July 5, 2022
  • Chioma Jesus, Sammie Okposo, Midnight Crew set for #THUGGLA2018

    By RITA
    April 24, 2018
  • American rapper, Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer prize for 2017 ‘Damn’ album

    By RITA
    April 17, 2018
  • Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti drops new album titled ‘Black Times’ 

    By RITA
    April 23, 2018
  • Actor, Yul Edochie declares intention to run for presidency

    By RITA
    April 23, 2018

Entertainment

  • July 5, 2022

    ‘Do DNA tests for all your kids! E get why’ – Destiny Amaka says in open letter to men

  • July 4, 2022

    Uti Nwachukwu reveals tithing made him stop going to church since 2018

  • July 4, 2022

    Tana Adelana buries father, Igwe Patrick Okoro-Egbo in grand style

  • July 4, 2022

    Babatunde Gbadamosi derides Funke Akindele over failed marriage

  • July 4, 2022

    My greatest regret is not signing Teni, Patoranking – Soso Soberekon

Follow us