Are you a classy style lover? Do you love to make a fashion statement when you walk into that room? If yes then Ayodelejayne Lagos got you covered.
Exquisite Magazine had a private interview with Ayodele Adetmehin, the creative director of AyodeleJayne Lagos. Read up!
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
My name is Ayodele Adetmehin, I am the owner and creative director of AyodeleJayne Lagos, a female ready-to-wear fashion brand.
I hold a BSc in Sociology from the University of Ibadan and an MBA from Business School Netherlands. I have about 15 years of experience in financial services and started AyodeleJayne about 5 years ago.
HOW AND WHEN DID YOUR JOURNEY BEGIN?
During the course of my career in the financial services sector, the brand’s concept was conceived. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with style and how it can transform and or complement a woman’s confidence and personality.
My interest in fashion began to develop when I was a young child and would watch my mother sew. She was a sous-chef and radio presenter by profession, but she also loved making beautiful pieces with her singer machine.
As I started my career, I was always happy to give my colleagues and friends styling suggestions and shopping advice, which invariably metamorphosed into my personal shopper services.
All these served as the building blocks from which the idea for AyodeleJayne Lagos was born and about five years ago I decided to concentrate on building a fashion brand properly.
WHAT’S YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE?
I’m mostly a classy style lover. Having developed a sense of fashion and style from the corporate workspace, I have always gravitated towards the classy style.
But I can also be sexy with my style. So classy and sexy are my two go-to styles.
WHO ARE YOUR IDEAL TARGET AUDIENCE?
Our target audience are mostly career and entrepreneurial women between the ages of 24-34 and 35-45.
They are contemporary women who are strong yet feminine, confident yet fun, sophisticated yet quirky, and modest yet edgy.
They are women who aspire to be acknowledged, recognized, admired, and invincible.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BEST MOMENTS AS A DESIGNER?
My best moments are when we get positive reinforcements from our clients and how they love the style and how it makes them feel.
That’s very fulfilling for me. Similar moments will be when we are able to figure out a style even when it had seemed impossible or extremely difficult from the start.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR WORST MOMENTS AS A DESIGNER?
I won’t really say I’ve had the worst moments as a designer. We’ve had instances where we experience some challenges, and we strive to overcome them and improve on them.
Negative feedback from clients who have challenges with their items, we strive to resolve as best as we can, take the learnings, and improve on our quality control process to prevent it from happening again.
Other challenges would include fabric sourcing and quality accessories. We need more options for the local markets.
Starting a business is never easy, especially a fashion business in Nigeria. From ideation to set-up to execution and growth. Some of the other challenges we have experienced as a business will include scale-up and visibility challenges.
ON A SCALE OF 1-10, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR RESPONSE FROM CUSTOMER SATISFACTION?
On a scale of 1-10, I will grade our customer satisfaction a 7.5 as most of our clients give a lot more positive reviews than otherwise.
WHAT MAKES YOUR BRAND DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS?
We believe that the everyday woman doesn’t have to trade in their style for comfort and convenience and can be stylish across all aspects of their life, hence the inclusive essence of our brand.
One that allows for convenience and versatility. As such our brand positioning is quite unique from most. We offer clothing items across different categories of styles all locally made. We offer work, outing, and casual wear outfits, as well as a handbag line.
KINDLY SHARE TIPS TO STAYING SUCCESSFUL IN THIS BUSINESS
To stay successful in a fashion-producing business, I would list the following tips
1. Define your niche and understand how it works.
2. Know how to generate pricing for your items since production costs are in your purview.
3. Listen to client and staff feedback and incorporate those that align with the business brand.
Not all feedback will be what you can accommodate.
4. Seek help and advice from professionals and be willing to implement it.
5. Have a short and long-term business plan and goals.
6. Allow room to evolve. Your goals may take longer or change completely and that’s ok.
WHAT ADVICE WILL YOU GIVE TO START-UPS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR VISION AS YOU DO?
My experience is unique as I remain active in my 9-5 job in financial services while running a full-time fashion business.
Because of my personal situation, we set longer-tenured goals for the business and this is reflected in our business plan and how it is set up to operate.
Create plans that are unique to your situation and not unrealistic, business proof your idea before venturing into it, by ensuring it is scalable, defining your UVPs and the capacity, skills, and time required to build it.
No matter the challenges faced, it is essential to not lose focus on what started the journey and where you are headed.
It is important to celebrate every victory, no matter how small it may seem, and to consider each step forward as a success. The motivation you will receive as a result of doing so will encourage you to work harder and achieve your goals faster.
SHARE 5 FUN FACTS ABOUT AYODELEJAYNE LAGOS
I am an extroverted introvert.
I am not a morning person but rather a night owl.
I am very inquisitive when interested in something.
I look unapproachable but I’m nice to those who know me well.
I have been nominated for best dressed at school and work severally.
KINDLY SHARE CONTACT DETAILS
Instagram : Ayodelejaynelagos
Shop address: 221b Herbert Macaulay Way Yaba.
