Oluwadamilola Adegboye is the Director of U9icefingers, a company that specilaises in making all kinds of bridal accessories and bags for all classes of women in Nigeria. She speaks with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI on how the consistent depreciation of the Nigerian currency is killing businesses in the country.
YOU started your business as an undergraduate, what exactly compelled you to go into it then?
Looking good was a big deal for me right from when I was a child; I loved to match all my outfits, ‘Pink top, pink sandals, a touch of pink bag and pink hair accessories’ (laughs). As an undergraduate, this act compelled me to put my fingers to work by making different brooches, hair accessories in the confines of my room. Since then, I have been in the business of creating lovely pieces with my fingers.
When you took off, what was the reaction of your mates back then in school when they saw you making accessories and how did their reaction affect your growth?
Many of my friends and hostel mates saw it as child’s play, they saw me as someone just wasting money to buy the materials, I cared less though as I enjoyed creating different magic with my fingers. I went further to learn how to make twine bags, Ankara bags, and leather bags, which were bought by family members majorly, as friends despised my days of small beginning. I also made bridal accessories such as bouquets, boutonnieres and feathered hand fans, among others. I remembered going all out to make bridal accessories for my sister’s wedding without collecting a dime. Yes it was intentional as I wanted to be responsible for what I just learnt. I continued that way, using my little pocket money to train and buy materials to develop myself.
For someone in the fashion business, how do you measure up with the changing dynamics of time as people would always go for what is in vogue?
As a milliner, meeting up with the current style and fashion in vogue can be a little dicey; in situations like that; I go for paid training that would widen my horizon. Over a couple of weeks now, I have been training with a UK-based milliner, and I can say it is one of the best decisions I have made this year. She has tutored me in so many areas that look cloudy and shady and this has made many designs to be a walk in the park for U9icefingers. Also, whenever I am confused about creating a particular design in vogue, I’d sleep over it; ideas will come in my sleep and I’d sketch it out immediately I open my eyes; trust me the pieces often come out well and loved by all. I call that, God at work, the one with a masterpiece. Without God, you can do nothing; God has been my sure foundation.
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Tell us about the uniqueness of your business?
U9icefingers is a fashion business that has helped many ladies to complement their outfits and showcase their beauty more radiantly. Since we came into existence, we have gone all out to make our pieces 99.9% couture and this is one unique attribute about our brand as it makes our products appear very durable with top-notch quality. Also, U9icefingers act as a fashion assistant; we make sure you combine all accessories in the right proportion; blending colours, shape and size together with your outfit to fit each event.
What challenges have you experienced since you launched out officially in 2019?
I recently quit my ‘8am-5pm’ job, which came with its own challenges such as cash flow management. I try my best to prioritise my budget and strike a balance. We’re not rich, but we’re keeping our heads above water. Another challenge faced is sourcing for quality materials, sometimes we don’t get the exact material to work with in Nigeria, so we tend to improvise and this affects the final outcome of a headpiece.
How do you handle the many creative demands from your clients?
I communicate with some of my colleagues in the Milliners Association of Nigeria to get ideas on how to fine-tune a particular design; moreover, I do not relent on researching from Pinterest, YouTube and getting training from home and abroad to be able to meet the creative demand of the people. I’m thankful I have a supportive husband who can go to any length to see me blossom in this field, making sure I have enough time to focus, learn and practice continuously. I have great friends that encourage me all the way, putting me on guard and informing me about any trending fashion.
What are some of the hard realities you believe are killing businesses in Nigeria?
The value of money keeps depreciating daily; this is greatly causing hike in the price of materials and affecting the stability of prices of all our headpieces and accessories. The Nigerian government’s ban on Twitter is not safe for small and thriving businesses like ours, because I can categorically say that 95% of my sales thrive because of our visibility on social media.
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