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By Damilola Fatunmise
While their mates are still beating the streets in search of paid employment, the duo of Taiwo and Kehinde Kolawole continue to etch their names in gold as fashion entrepreneurs.
The Akure, Ondo State-born twins co-founded TK Couture, an avant-garde fashion brand about three years ago. Though, making waves in the industry, the pair did not have any formal training in fashion design, they only had passion for it.
Recounting how it all started, Taiwo said: “We’ve always had a passion for fashion and design, and we strive to create unique, sustainable and ethical products that people can wear with confidence. Our brands aim to showcase the beauty and diversity of African fashion, while pushing the boundaries in creativity and innovation. We incorporate traditional African designs and materials into our modern styles, creating unique and timeless pieces that celebrate our cultural heritage.”
On what informed their journey into fashion designing, Kehinde chipped in: “We have always had a passion for fashion and we decided to turn it into a business. We started our brands about three years ago, and it’s been an incredible journey so far. We did not study fashion design in school but learned it through mentorship and hands-on experience, and we’ve been continuously developing our skills ever since.
“Moreover, we didn’t grow up in a family of tailors and artisans, but we’ve always had a keen interest in fashion design. We wanted to create something unique and meaningful that would resonate with the African audience. It’s been an exciting journey so far, and we’re committed to continuous growth and innovation in the fashion industry.”
According to Kehinde, TK Couture is a fashion brand that blends contemporary and African-inspired styles to create unique clothing and accessories.
“We’re dedicated to creating high-quality, custom-made pieces that are tailored to our clients’ individual tastes and preferences. What sets us apart is our attention to details and commitment to providing personalised styling advice to make each customer look and feel their best.
“Our brand is also ethically-conscious, and we take pride in the fact that all of our materials are carefully sourced from suppliers who are committed to fair labour practices and environmental sustainability. We believe in creating timeless pieces that are not only beautiful but also socially responsible,” she stated.
While Taiwo loves wearing bold, colourful prints that reflect the vibrancy of African culture, Kehinde’s favourite fashion items are statement jewelry and accessories that can be paired with any outfit to make it stand out.
Even though, the duo had encounters with both pleasant and difficult customers, they took everything in its strides believing that it’s all a learning curve.
In their words: “We believe that the customer is always right, and we take great care to listen and understand their concerns. We strive to maintain transparency and open communication throughout the design process to ensure that our client’s expectations are met.
If a client is unhappy with our services or products, we take responsibility and do our best to rectify the situation through a collaborative and solution-oriented approach. We believe that every client’s interaction is an opportunity to learn and grow, and we’re committed to building lasting relationships with our valued customers.”
Like most young entrepreneurs, the Kolawole twins look up to established fashion icons in Nigeria and abroad as mentors. “We draw inspiration from various fashion icons both locally and internationally. In Nigeria, we admire designers like Deola Sagoe and Lisa Folawiyo, who have carved a niche for themselves in the African fashion industry. They are known for their innovative and artistic designs that blend both traditional and modern elements, and we find that very inspiring.
“Internationally, we look up to industry giants like Tom Ford, Stella McCartney, and Alexander Wang. We especially admire Tom Ford for his timeless and transformative creations, and Stella McCartney for her sustainability and ethical approach to fashion. We equally appreciate the works and creativity of Rihanna in the fashion industry. We feel she is continuously pushing boundaries with her bold, daring and unusual designs. She is innovative and unapologetic about her style, and this mindset resonates with us as designers.”
Looking ahead, the fashionpreneurs have plans to expand their brand’s reach by collaborating with more international fashion brands to showcase the unique and distinctive African designs to a global audience. They also desire to invest heavily in technology and innovative processes to boost production.
