By Rita Okoye

The Kano Hisbah board, established to maintain the norms of Sharia, had on Wednesday, announced the ban on mannequins used by fashion designers, supermarkets and boutiques to display already made clothes.

The Commander, Sheikh Aroun Ibn Sina declared that the use of mannequins contravened the provision of Islamic injunctions as they are used for idolatry and immoral activities.

Vanguard Allure however, reached out to some Fashion Designers across the country to express their views and the possible effect of this to the fashion industry in general.
Excerpts;

Designers will come up with better means to display their wares – Emeremgini Uche Genevieve (Vice-President FADAN)

This has a great disadvantage because, the essence of Mannequins or hangers is to display dresses. Well, the Kano Sharia law has made it hard for designers and tailors to hang their already made clothes for display. This is a great disadvantage to them. I don’t think it is right, but based on their culture, they did what they did.
However, we designers are Creatives. I believe they (Those in Kano) will come up with better, creative ways to display their wares.

Sex Dolls should be banned not mannequins – Hafsat Shelleng, Designer and Image Consultant, Hafshelline

Islam as a religion condemns idolatry, but these mannequins are meant for advertising garments and not as statues for worship. We have Islamic countries like the U.A.E, Saudi Arabia who are, if not more religious than Kano, but they still accommodate mannequins without attributing religion like what Kano State just did. Kano is the state for commerce in Nigeria. This mannequin ban will affect the SMEs in the Fashion industry.
As an Image Consultant, I am aware that Kano State has been doing a very fantastic job in encouraging entrepreneurship especially in the Textiles and Garments Manufacturing sector in the past. As such, I want to believe that there is a misunderstanding somewhere in relation to the Ban of Mannequins.
There is a difference between the mannequin and the latest immoral product that has recently emerged in the obscene market called the sex doll. (Permit my language). This is what should be Banned, and not the mannequins used by Fashion outlets.
In my opinion, the mannequins should be viewed as a mere object. Instead, mphasis should be placed on how to fight immorality while self control should be taught in our religious house.

It is not a good decision – Makun Omoniyi of Yomi Casual

As a Fashion designer, I don’t think that’s a good decision. It sounds so laid back. I don’t know how someone would just wake up in the morning, and the next thing he thinks about is how to frustrate young entrepreneurs who are trying to get things right. As a designer, the easiest way to attract people to your showroom is with mannequins. Even as a boutique owner, you need mannequins to attract people to your showroom. You achieve that, putting beautiful pieces on mannequins. We are moved by what we see. If I see a beautiful piece on a mannequin, it attracts me to the boutique or showroom. I don’t know how else they want young fashion entrepreneurs over there to achieve all these.

Mannequins play significant role in fashion business – Prince Idowu Oyefusi of Nobelafrik, Ex-President, FADAN

Professional dress form or Mannequins are usually used by designers and tailors to fit, pin clothing or display both finished and unfinished garments. If such use is banned, then you are obviously denied the opportunity to see or appreciate the job done ahead of the customer or your buyers. Mannequins play a very significant role in the clothing and fashion business and its role can never be ignored. It is unfortunate that the Government did not see it more from the business angle. They see it from the negative which is more from their religious angle. This will obviously leave the designers with no choice than to improvise with hangers.

It is a ridiculous policy – Adebayo Oke-Lawal of Orange Culture

It’s an absolutely ridiculous policy and of course, it would affect clothing businesses, but it would also force brands to find creative ways to merchandise – which seems to always be the case for businesses in Nigeria ; government finds a new way to stifle us and we find a new way to thrive despite that. It is an absolutely backward ban.

This is the time to be proactive – Kiki Okewale of Hope Couture

It is a natural phenomenon that customers see the window display of the store first. The customer takes the decision to enter the store on the basis of the information he can gather from the window display. Mannequins add value to the merchandise. They draw attention to the collection of the shop and invite the customers to buy garments and thus, generate sales. So, banning the use of mannequins will definitely affect the sales of the fashion designers and boutique owners.
In fashion retail trade, visual display of goods can have a big impact on the sales and what can be a better option than mannequins to display ones products? However, I encourage every business owner to take advantage of the social media age and maximize it. They are banning in stores but not online; and so, take pictures from your home, put on social media, promote it, make sure it reaches your target audience.
Like anything else, in life, obstacles and set backs will arise but we most rise above them, think out of the box and make the best of every situation.
We wish it didn’t come to this but since it has, I believe there is no point crying over spilt milk. This is the time to be proactive.