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By Damilola Fatunmise
Damilola Akinpelumi is redefining casual wear with a blend of creativity and cultural pride. Known for her skills as an illustrator, patternmaker and draper, Damilola has carved a place for herself with collections that marry functionality and style. She is the founder of Prestige Clothiers, a brand that specializes in casual wear and fuses elegance and comfort to create versatile urban pieces.
In this interview, Damilola takes us through her journey into fashion, her designs, challenges encountered while creating and working with her team, and her vision for the Nigerian fashion industry. Please enjoy it:
Let’s begin with your fashion journey. Can you tell us about your early experiences that led you to pursue fashion design?
Fashion has always been more than an interest to me; it’s a profound expression of creativity and identity. My fashion journey started with watching my mother sew clothes for kids in the community during the festive seasons. When I became a teenager, I found myself sketching designs, further fueling my desire to understand the artistry behind garment construction. I pursued formal training in design, where I honed my skills in sketching, pattern-making, and fabric manipulation.
Your designs are mostly casual and streetwear. How do your technical skills influence what would seem like basic outfits and raise them to exceptional wear?
While casual and streetwear designs may appear simple, they offer immense opportunities for innovation and creativity. Garment construction lies at the core of my process. I begin every collection with sketches, letting my ideas flow freely on paper. Pattern-making allows me to translate those sketches into reality, and draping brings a sculptural, almost artistic dimension. Using neat seams and stitches ensures that each piece comes out as polished wear. Beyond construction, my expertise in fabric manipulation allows me to blend materials and textures, elevating the visual appeal of the designs.
What’s the most challenging aspect of designing your collections, for example, the Cotton Comfort Collection?
Nigerians are very discerning; they want clothing that is fashionable yet durable and suited to our lifestyle. Finding the perfect fabrics that balance these qualities can be quite challenging. While designing the Cotton Comfort Collection, my team and I had to source the perfect cotton fabric that meets the desired standards of softness, durability, and breathability. This requires extensive search and collaboration with textile manufacturers and suppliers.
How do you source your fabrics, and do you prioritize local materials?
I work with local cotton farmers. However, there are moments when I have to supplement with imported materials due to limitations in variety locally.
How do you encourage collaboration and creativity among your team in Prestige Clothiers?
At Prestige Clothiers, collaboration is integral to our success. Everyone brings their creative ideas to the table, and we merge these ideas throughout the production process. I believe that creativity thrives in an environment where every team member feels valued and inspired. We hold regular brainstorming sessions, where team members are encouraged to bring fresh perspectives to ongoing projects. These sessions often lead to unexpected yet innovative solutions. We also go on field trips together to study fabrics and attend exhibitions in various communities. These experiences help to ignite creativity and teamwork.
Do you think Nigerian fashion is sufficiently represented on the global stage? What role do you see yourself playing in changing the narrative?
Nigerian fashion has made remarkable strides, but I believe its full potential remains untapped. The industry has yet to achieve consistent representation and recognition. Challenges such as limited infrastructure and global partnerships persist.
As a designer, I see myself contributing to changing this narrative by creating pieces that blend Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage with global trends. By presenting my work on international platforms and fostering cultural creative exchanges, I hope to elevate Nigerian fashion to its deserved status worldwide.
