By Christy Anyanwu
Although, they are not twins, Faith Oluwadunsin Taiwo and Victor Oluwatosin Famakinwa, the creative minds behind iconic fashion brand, ChicVogue, have two things in common: same dress sense and similar aesthetic style appeal.
In fact, it was these factors that prompted the duo to start ChicVogue. According to Faith, “Once it comes to dressing, we have the same ideas, so the next evolution was that ChicVogue would come up. It seems like a natural step for both of us, because we shared the same design aesthetics and a mutual passion for fashion.”
The fashion entrepreneurs seek inspirations from diverse sources including nature, cultural trends, historical references and personal experiences.
Victor added: “We also stay attuned to current global trends for creative influence. The notable fashion designers we lookout for are Mai Atafo, Orange Culture and CLAN. These designers contribute to the diversity and innovation of Nigerian fashion, creating styles that resonate both locally and internationally.” ChicVogue’s unique selling point is upscale design aesthetics and excellent customer service delivery.
But added to these, the brand equally ensures that it offers some significant market needs as well as collaborate with others for diverse perspectives.
“We equally ensure that we offer genuine needs in the market by conducting research, gather feedbacks and strive for a blend that captivates both individuality and broad appeal. We as well collaborate with others for diverse perspectives to refine our uniqueness and commercial viability,” Faith enthused.
As entrepreneurs, Victor and Faith have over the years encountered many challenges including competition within the local market, sourcing quality materials, managing production timelines, and building a sustainable brand image amidst economic fluctuations.
They have also had to deal with difficult clients. Victor, however, explained their winning formula for this. “When dealing with stubborn customers, we remain calm and empathetic, listen actively to their concerns, communicate transparently, set boundaries in a respectful manner, and as well try to build positive relationships through effective communication.”
For the fashion icons, their most memorable moment was when they had a successful launch of a highly anticipated collection, and received positive reviews.
“It was the moment a celebrity posted our fashion brand, which served as a referral to a bunch of customers. But then, our unpleasant experiences include having issues with suppliers. We also experienced production setbacks, had backlashes from unsatisfied clients and faced challenges while protecting our designs from imitations,” they both chorused.
According to Faith, African fashion is celebrated for its vibrant colours and diverse patterns, which captivate international audiences.
“Improved global connectivity including social media has enabled African designers opportunity to showcase their works to broader audience. Added to this is the emergence of fashion events like Lagos Fashion Week, which has provided a platform for African designers to showcase their collections and attract attention from global fashion influencers. All these positive developments have resonated well with the ChicVogue brand,” she declared.
So far, their fashion journey has been exciting and rewarding. “We have encountered and embraced new designers, brands and fashion movements. We have attended fashion shows and events to immerse ourselves in the industry, while exploring and integrating cultural elements into our personal styles and choices,” Victor noted.
Defining ChicVogue’s future growth plans as bright and shinning, Faith said they aspire to launch new collections, thus contributing to sustainable fashion movement in the world.
“As for future plans, we aspire to launch new collections, contribute to sustainable fashion movement while continuing to enjoy and explore fashion on a personal level.”