1) Tell us about you?
Where do I start from, there so many sides of me, I am Zainab Ajisegbede, a young mother of one and the creative director of KHABODD.
2) How did you learn how to design clothes?
Designing clothes has always been a part of me as a child I would always like to dress up my dolls and stuffed animals in a certain way and would love to use needles and threads to make clothes for my Barbie dolls from pieces of clothes or my mom’s wrappers, I grew up with lots of cousins as well and I remember us playing dress-up and acting like we were having our own pageant or runway shows and my aunties would always be the judges with their bias selves if you were naughty you weren’t the winner; I would always love to style everyone and be behind the scenes running around looking for styles just to make sure my models were well dressed.
3) When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career as a female clothing designer?
While I was working for a telecommunication company, I knew there was another part calling out to me, it was part of the reason I quit my job. Although I didn’t start immediately because I was busy being a mom.
4) If you weren’t a designer, what career path would you have chosen?
I would have been an actress or a TV host, still considering it though.
5) How did you come up with the name “Khabodd”?
I really do not want to sound churchy, but I actually prayed about it… The meaning and everything the name khabodd represents is all I want my brand to be. khabodd means splendor, beautiful and glorious in Hebrew and I truly believe these are the qualities of women.
6) Why female clothes?
Probably because I am a woman, just kidding… It comes naturally to me, I find it easier to express myself as a designer when I design female clothes.
7) Did you have any fears while starting your clothing line and how did you face them?
Yes, I did! There were so many questions, who would buy my designs? The kind of people I want to design for, my pricing, above all my passion for designing clothes was far greater than my fear, so I did it afraid.
8) How have women’s clothes evolved over the years?
Women are more confident than they were in expressing themselves through the clothes they wear, there isn’t much cultural, age or class distinction or barriers about looking good.
9) What is the most challenging thing about being a designer?
Nothing really, only when I have so many inspiration jumping at me, in my head and in my dreams. And when I need to streamline my designs through the many, many clusters of ideas in my tiny head especially because I cannot draw to save my life, sometimes I truly wish I can do everything myself, design, cut, sew and package myself.
10) Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw my inspiration from everything around me, what I see, feel or eat, however, my debut collection was inspired by irregular shapes and lines.
11) How do you want women to feel while wearing a design from “Khabodd”?
I want women not only to feel but to know they are a living, breathing and walking art!!
12) Do you follow trends much as a person and designer?
No! I do not follow trends and I’ve never been one to. I enjoy creating my own.
13) How would you define your style?
I would say my style is simple, chic and classy.
14) What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion is confidence, fashion is art, fashion also takes me back to that little girl that enjoys playing dress-up and most importantly fashion is my second skin like my husband would always say you can buy fashion but you cannot buy style.
See also Designer Spotlight: Anthonia Igbukolu Creative Director Thoche Enterprises
