Omoniyi Makun (Yomi Casual), is one of the hottest names in African clothes making. Recently Ifeoma Ononye and Chinyere Abiaziem had a chat with him, in while he talked about the extension of his business to Lekki and passion of helping young designers.
What prompted you to invade Lekki?
While I was in Surulere, I was dreaming of moving to the island where I am. The putting of this place took me like three to four months.
Did you buy this office building?
No, I did not buy it, I rented it.
We did not see some of your brand models at your office launch?
They were busy somewhere. For example, Desmond Eliot was out of the country.
Did you launch the office with new designs?
Yes, the designs are all brand new, they have not been seen anywhere though they are not part of my forth coming collections, tagged ‘Envy’.
When will you be active in making female clothes?
I make clothes for women but on a low key.
What is your dream for your Lekki office?
In the next one year I hope to make fifty times of my rent and I hope to meet with my clients’ one on one, because now I am in their zone. They complained that coming to the mainland was stressful for them because of the distance. In line with growth, I have to come to them; I don’t have to wait for them to come to me.
You have not been seen organising fashion shows?
I have been involved in joint fashion shows but I have not held any solo show. Hopefully, you should see that next year, we are still looking for sponsors. I have a very creative concept, the fashion show I have in mind is not like the regular show everybody does. It is going to be totally different and will cost a lot of money. I need sponsors, please sponsors come.
Do you do cut and sew?
I have gone beyond that stage; you cannot find the owners of Versace or Gucci cutting. What they do is to create designs and that is what I am doing.
But there is this impression that people’s first love does not leave them?
It is not as if I don’t cut but if I get in that situation you will see me cut. I don’t have such time.
Have you been in a situation where you have a lot of clothes to make and you had to come in to help your staff?
Yes, I help every day, my boys know me because it is very difficult to please me. I know what I am doing because I read it in school. It is not that I woke up one day and bought sewing machines and employed people to come and start sewing,this is what I learnt to do, I studied Fashion Designing and Clothing Technology in Auchi Polytechnic.
Talking about being creative, do you do mass production?
Mass production no for know, because I will need lots of staff, a bigger place and a warehouse if I want to do that. But hopefully we are getting there soon; I will like to see a situation whereby you can see my designs in top boutiques in Lagos. This is what I am aiming at because as a designer that is where you make your money from.
Should we expect the wedding bell soon?
Wedding bell, sure you should hear it soon.
Where do you see yourself in a short while?
I hope to be very great like my mentor Mudi, even bigger than him. To own a massive empire fashion school in Lagos and empower our young designers. A lot of them look up to me, part of why I have Tailor on my number plate, is to encourage our young designers. It is to tell them that they can also make it as tailors.
What is your take on the idea of having fashion hubs in Nigeria?
Very soon we are getting because I see a lot of foreigners appreciating what we are doing. During my last trip to South Africa, there was this white guy that was all over me, he wanted to get my outfit off me because he loved the print. I told him I can’t go naked and he was like where is my office. I told him that I’m Yomi Casual and the guy went online to search for me and he was impressed. This is to say very soon we will begin to ship abroad. In fact, we have designers that have started doing that already. Foreigners love the fact that our fabrics are colourful.