Let’s meet the multi-talented fashion entrepreneur who is also a public health practitioner. She tailors to the everyday woman with simple yet elegant stylish designs. Her designs got the attention of Exquisite magazine, and we requested an interview. Let’s read up on her story.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND BRAND
I’m Jemila Abubakar. I am a Fashion entrepreneur, Founder and Creative Director of JaydaWoman brand. I am a Public health practitioner; I hold a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree and a Master’s degree in public health from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, England.
I have over 10 years of diverse experience in healthcare ranging from healthcare financing, and service delivery support to providing essential healthcare services, Community Health, Research, Project Management, Healthcare Delivery and Healthcare marketing.
HOW AND WHEN DID YOUR JOURNEY BEGIN?
My fashion journey began as far back as I can remember. I’ve been in fashion all my life. I grew up in fashion, I think it’s in the family’s DNA. My late Grandmother used to be a seamstress, my mother was a seamstress and owned a fashion house so I learnt directly from my mother and her team of skilled artisans. I have always loved clothes, fabrics, and art. I used to casually pass by boutiques or clothing stores and analyse the designs, the fabrics and the colour combinations.
I would say I have a flair for putting pieces together to come out looking good.
Fast forward to 2014 when I moved back to Nigeria and started working at a Healthcare financing company, I would frequently go fabric hunting in my free time. I would create my designs just to feel and look good at work and after work dates with friends. I constantly received a lot of compliments from friends, clients, family members and even passers-by about my outfits. When I directed them to where I sourced the fabrics from, they would always insist that I get the fabric and design exactly what I was wearing for them. It became so frequent for my friends to admire my outfits and ask me to source the exact fabric and make the exact design for them. They’ll often say “I like what you’re wearing where did you get it from“or “I want exactly what you’re wearing“ and when I respond by telling them where I sourced the fabric from and how I designed it, they’d always asked me to get if for them and offer to pay for everything and that was how JaydaWoman was birthed.
Special thanks to my friends and family for their motivation and constant support.
WHAT’S YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE?
The JaydaWoman brand aesthetics encompasses the simple yet elegant fashion style for your everyday woman. It is a brand for Simple, Exclusive, Elegant, Stylish, Modest and Chic outfits. Making a statement with your outfits but maintaining decency.
WHO ARE YOUR IDEAL TARGET AUDIENCE
We target all women from high-profile to everyday women. Women who appreciate quality, stylish and affordable clothing. Strong women with a sense of individuality who dare to be different.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BEST MOMENTS AS A DESIGNER?
My best moments are definitely when I get good reviews from clients. Utmost customer satisfaction is always a great moment and that’s fulfilling for me. It makes it all worth the hard work.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR WORST MOMENTS AS A DESIGNER?
Hmm… First I’d like to say running a business in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted (laughs). It’s one thing to set up a business and another thing to ensure it is successful, it requires a lot of effort. Not to mention a business that involves producing in Nigeria with the constant challenges Nigeria faces like our epileptic power supply, rising cost of gas, inadequate manpower, and limited fabric choices.
The other instance will be the few times we get some negative feedback from clients as you know it’s not always peaches and roses, we try to build on this and improve every single time.
ON A SCALE OF 1-10, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR RESPONSE FROM CUSTOMER SATISFACTION?
I would say 8
WHAT MAKES YOUR BRAND DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS?
JaydaWoman is a unique brand for the resilient Woman. We produce timeless and functional pieces that are accessible to every woman. We have a zest to bring out the femininity in every woman and I believe that every woman regardless of her social class and background has innate elegance on top of that. Our pieces are worn by stylish women worldwide. We have pictures of our clients wearing their pieces in different parts of the world.
KINDLY SHARE TIPS TO STAYING SUCCESSFUL IN THIS BUSINESS.
To remain successful in the fashion business, I would suggest:
- Creating a strong and memorable brand persona
- Create a distinct Business plan and Marketing Strategy
- Ensure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (S.M.A.R.T.). Your goals will help you stay focused and serve as a roadmap to success. In addition, your goals will serve as a criterion for evaluating all you have achieved and in the process identify areas that need improvement, thereby giving room allowing you the growth of your business.
- Improved customer service
- Maintaining the right pricing formula
- Competition breeds success and innovation, it is actually one of your best assets.
WHAT ADVICE WILL YOU GIVE TO START-UPS
Find your niche / create a brand persona and build it to ensure it is strong and memorable
* Be authentic
* Be consistent
* Never stop learning
SHARE 5 FUN FACTS ABOUT YOU.
fun facts about myself
– I started playing lawn tennis at the age of 7.
– I love theme parks, I’m like a kid in a candy store whenever I visit one.
– I won the award for the most beautiful girl in my class in high school.
– I once had a cat I cared for named Robbie.
– I used to play soccer with my brothers when I was a kid lol.
KINDLY SHARE CONTACT YOU WISH TO BE MADE PUBLIC
You can contact us via our Instagram handle: @jaydawoman
Also via our email address: JaydaWoman@gmail.com
