Rodney Emeka Igwedinma is the creative director of McMeka Menswear Fashion. His creativity and detailed pieces crowned him as the Young Designer of the Year, 2013 at this year’s edition of MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week. In this interview with Senior Reporter, Ifeoma Ononye, he speaks on how he unexpectedly found himself in fashion and his personal style.
Have you always wanted to be a fashion designer?
I grew up fantasising about being a successful accountant. I wanted to be a proud owner of an accounting firm. However, in line with the dying tradition of forcing children to continue a parent’s trade, my mum, Monica, made me stay in her shop after school and on weekends to learn tailoring, her own trade. It was as if my mum saw the future. She would force me to come to the shop to help her. I didn’t know she was grooming me for great things to come.
I hated studying biochemistry when I got an admission into the university but I was happy to leave the shop on securing admission into Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso. I was happy for two reasons: I had become a university student, and I had outgrown mummy’s shop. But I never knew all I learnt from mum’s shop stuck to my brain and a passion for fashion has been sown. At LAUTECH, I saw boys looking good in clothes tailored by Nigerians. Men loved to look their best. They love to wear indigenously tailored dresses and shirts. That was when the inspiration came. I quit biochemistry at LAUTECH when demand from Lagos for my brand grew and enrolled at University of Lagos to study accountancy which was my dream.
What was the first outfit you made that got you the attention?
During the school’s semester break, I bought a piece of chinos fabric at the market for N750, designed a trouser off it and wore it to school on resumption. When my friends saw it, they asked to know who made it. Excitedly I told them I did, but they did not believe it until I made for them too! That was how the news spread and customers started trickling in.
Tell us about your personal style.
My personal style is simple, manly and luxurious.
How much of your personal style do you put in your designs?
I put 100 percent of my personal style into my designs. What fashion item do you love most?
I adore the suit. It’s a beauty.
Is there kind of fashion you don’t like making for men?
I’d say as a menswear designer, I am pretty diversified. I love the art of making a man look and feel good so I love making different things for men ranging from pants, shorts, shirts, suits etc.
If we walk into your wardrobe, what are we likely to find more?
Something that has the highest number in my wardrobe will be… Shirts! Shirts! Shirts!
Have you ever had a fashion bad day?
Of course I have. Who hasn’t?
Are you a jewelry person, like blings, chain or even wristwatches?
No. I love the minimalistic approach to my dress sense.
What fashion item do you love so much that you will love to have no matter how expensive?
That will be shoes and more shoes.
What are your favourite colours?
I love colours like burgundy, orange and grey
Which car is your dream car?
Mercedes Benz G wagon.
What is your favourite food?
I love pounded yam and nsala soup of 10 lives.
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