My Mom bought me my first sewing machine for N7,500, that was all her bonus from work- Creative Director TFP
By Kemi Mobuse - Saturday, April 02, 2016
Tolumi Abiola, is a beautiful lady, inside and out,i was privileged to know her in my university days, and i have always admired her, that if i were to use to use all adjectives i know, to describe her, there will be no space for her interview.She is a passionate lover of God, and a very talented designer of international repute, she has a fashion school and its the best of its type in Ibadan.
After chasing Tolumi all over the net, Lol! i managed to grab myself an interview with her, and here is the whole tale behind TFP, an absolute must read.
Kemimobuse blog: Can we
meet you?
Tolumi
Abiola: I am Tolumi Abiola, in my early 30's, from Ilesa Osun State ,Nigeria.
Retired Dietitian, lol, now Fashion Designer. I got a BSc in
Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Abeokuta. I have an MSc in
public health, human nutrition. I also have a professional certificate in
fashion courses from the London College of Fashion. TFP is currently an agent
for London College of Fashion.
Kemimobuse blog: What do
you do?
Tolumi
Abiola: I am the Creative Director and Head Fashion teacher at Tolumi, The
Fashion People (TFP). TFP is a fashion brand that clothes stylish women for
casual, coperate, formal and other special events. The other part of the brand
teaches professional fashion to creatives at an international standard.
Kemimobuse blog: Why did
you decide to become a fashion designer?
Tolumi
Abiola: For me, I didn't exactly choose
fashion. Fashion chose me! I started sewing when i was just a little over 10
years old and I never stopped. At the time, I only wanted to sew, i wasn't
thinking of a future career. But it so happened that in 2008, I started the
journey of my fashion career.
There are some of the
things about me.. I am a retired Dietitian.. 😀
Fashion took over.. I started small... I was young, Jss 3. .. But I knew what I
wanted... I wanted to make things... I wanted to teach.. I was teaching from
when I was 10.. I remember my first sewing machine after a long period of
bugging her.. My mum got a bonus from work and said Tolu, I want to buy your
machine for you today. 1999, 17 years ago, I remember we bought it 7,500
naira. It was a sacrifice to pay that sum for her at the time, I remember
how happy I was . My dreams were sealed!
When I shared my story with my students in July, I cried in class.. Tears of
Joy. I have come soo far! I have enjoyed God's favor... I have worked hard, God
has given me strength so far. The road is still long, but I see it, its closer
everyday!
Kemimobuse blog: What is
your favourite part about being a fashion designer?
Tolumi
Abiola: Oh my! So many things, its
difficult to pick a favourite. I love the fact that as a creative mind, I can
think of anything without limitations in my head and bring it to life just exactly as i have imagined it. I like that I am in charge of
my own fashion, I never buy clothes, I only buy fabrics.
I
like that I am in charge of my client’s wardrobe, and as a creative I can set
trends for the world to follow.
Kemimobuse blog: Who and
which things were your inspiration while creating such designs?
Tolumi
Abiola: Its funny I get inspiration from
any thing and everything! Moving objects, still objects, movies, music, spoken
words, poetry, in church, food, landscape, everything! I was once in a hotel in
Dubai, and in the night I found it absolutely impossible to sleep. Apparently,
I have had a cup too many of black tea. So i started to sketch, that day, i
created a whole collection; drawing inspiration from the drapes of the curtains,
the furniture, colours in the room and all! I couldn't believe myself..
Kemimobuse blog: Define fashion.
Tolumi
Abiola: For me, Fashion is life. Its a
language that we all speak and everybody understands without even having to say
a word, no matter what language you speak. Fashion connects the world, Fashion
is basic, its fundamental. God was the first fashion designer; see the way he
created all the colours of the skies, of the skin of animals, of the shapes and
figures of diverse living and non living things, of the textures, of the world,
its overwhelming.
Fashion
has been since before time, before we were! God made the first bikini for Adam
and Eve with leaves, such creativity! He's my ultimate boss and inspiration.
You
don't even need to be 'fashionable'. As long as you wear clothes, which you
have to, you are doing some fashion already. How well you do it is now what
determines your fashion and your style
Kemimobuse blog: What
skills according to you are necessary for a successful fashion designer?
Tolumi
Abiola: A fashion designer can have
informal or formal training, or a mix of both. I usually just advise that some
amount of formal training is very important if you are pursuing a career in
fashion.
Kemimobuse blog: What is the qualification that a fashion
designer must have?
Tolumi
Abiola: It’s a creative industry, so it
may be difficult to say here's a list. But there are basics; a fashion designer
must be able to create. Its not just enough for you to have those designs and
ideas in your head, you will be taken seriously when you can out those ideas
down and make it visible for your pattern makers, tailors and clients to
understand and relate to.
It
will also help to have sewing skills; it will help in creating functional
designs and in practical production processes.
The
fashion designer can have formal or informal knowledge, there are no strict
rules, but I usually advise those who have chosen a career in fashion to get a
form of formal training, to be taken very seriously in the international scene.
It’s not compulsory, but it does help and of a great advantage.
Kemimobuse blog: Do you use
computer and technology for designing?
Tolumi
Abiola: yes we do. We use softwares for
creating flats and 3D sketches and designs. I am currently learning how to use
Gerber in creating patterns.
Kemimobuse blog: What do you think about work ethics and what
kind of ethics do you believe in following while working with fashion?
Tolumi
Abiola: Ethics are very important and
they are like guidelines and standard requirements. Every profession has got
her ethics. We should all be guided by both our personal and industry
professional ethics, it allows for standardization of what we do. In developed
countries, we have organizations like the British fashion council, French
fashion council etc that guides all issues related to fashion in the countries.
We are growing and we will get better.
Personal
ethics are very important in our individual businesses. All my students and
staff know I am big on disciple, and at work, I take work very seriously. For
me, your age, sex, position and all doesn't matter, I have learnt not to apply
sentiments. It was difficult to learn especially because of all the cultural
and society conditions that surround us, so many friends and family that you
don't want be stern with, but I have come to understand that sentiments don't
work in business.
Kemimobuse blog: Can you say something about your background?
Tolumi
Abiola: I had a pretty normal
childhood... My mum in the medical line and my dad working in the teaching
line. I am the second child of 4, we are 3 girls and nobody else is interested
in making clothes in my family! They are only interested in wearing them..lol.
I
studied Human Nutrition and Dietetics at University of Abeokuta and did my M.
Sc in Public Health, Human nutrition at the University of Ibadan.
I
later went to the London College of Fashion for some formal training in
fashion.
Kemimobuse blog: Any advice for future entrepreneurs?
Tolumi
Abiola: Whatever you want to do, start now, start small. You have no excuses.
Kemimobuse blog: How can you be contacted?
Tolumi
Abiola: You can always contact us
Whatsapp:+2348155032337
Email:tolumitfp@gmail.com
Instagram:@tolumitfp
Bbm
: 58D52A1D
Website: www.tolumitp.com
more pictures below:
1 comments
Yayyyyy way to go Tolumy
ReplyDeleteFashion is life....I agree with you
You haven't even started yet.Your collections are lovely
Wish you the best in this chosen career
Welldone Kemi