‘Why we’re opening YNorth at Palms Mall today’

Oluwaseun Babalola Bamiro, a graduate of Computer Science and the brain behind Ibadan’s shoes and shirts outfit, YNorth Stores, Ibadan, Oyo State, speaks with Rita Okonoboh on the decision to branch out into shirts; offers tips for making clothes and shoes last and why YNorth is opening a new store at Palms Mall, Ibadan, today. Excerpts:

You’ve been in the fashion business for seven years now. How would you describe the experience so far?

It’s been interesting and challenging as well. As we continue to expand and the business experience grows, it has been quite challenging. Over all, the experience has been amazing.

YNorth is fast-becoming a household name, within and outside Ibadan. What makes your products unique?

At YNorth, our focus is to go beyond the readily available standards. Our vision is to create a favourable competition with international counterparts and foreign brands. We work with the best of materials to provide the highest in terms of quality and our designs are uniquely crafted. Our mode of marketing is also quite different from others. We also have a team that comprises specialists in various capacities who work hard on ensuring that the products are exceptional.

You’re known for shoes, but now you’re also launching shirts. Why?

When we started YNorth in 2010, we actually had the vision to branch out into other areas as it related to fashion. The vision has always been to go beyond shoes. We were going to launch the shirts collection in September 2016 but we decided to wait till the festive period this year, which is why we made the first introduction of our shirts during the Easter period. As part of expansion plans, we are opening a store at Palms Mall, Ibadan today. There are other plans in the pipeline as well.

You make shirts for men and women. What are some tips for buying and caring for shirts?

Men wear more blue shirts, while for women, white and pink are a general favourite. So, I would advise one to have at least those basic colours in the shirt wardrobe. White shirts are a general pick too, especially for those who work in corporate environments. However, blue shirts for men can work for both formal and casual settings. Shirts come in six or seven sizes and it is necessary to buy your correct size to get the best out of the shirt. Shirts should be kept out of direct sunlight as much as possible to ensure it lasts. I would advise air-drying shirts.

A new school session begins next month and pupils and students would be acquiring school shoes. What tips would you offer parents and guardians on making the right choice?

As a result of the activities they engage in, their shoes have to be durable. That’s why at YNorth, we make use of quality leather, which is the best product for school shoes. The shoes should be aired properly and polished regularly.

For adults, sometimes their shoes tend to smell. What tips would you offer for caring for adult shoes?

We produce shoes made from quality leather and for adults, it should be kept properly as well. Good polishing is also a must if you want your shoes to last. For that smell, it usually results from not wearing socks with shoes and not drying them out after use. Shoes should be kept where they would have access to enough air.

As one of the major proponents of made-in-Nigeria products, in the light of government’s proposal that Nigerians should patronise local industries more, take the local fashion industry for instance, do you think our local industries have what it takes to cater to the fashion needs of our teeming population, considering the fad for foreign products?

Definitely. Our local industries can compete favourably with what foreign counterparts offer. We have creativity and the passion to provide quality products. In fact, I think with time, some of these foreign companies could come here to invest in our local industries. Sometimes, sourcing for raw materials outside the country can be quite tasking and government can support local industries. Our leather industry has the potential to become a major source of improved foreign exchange through export if government provides the needed support and improves the industry. In Oyo State, with the input of the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, we can partner with local industries in the South-East in the production of quality shoes, as we have the potential for a vibrant leather industry. We are willing to partner with the Oyo State government in the effort to use our local industries to provide jobs, drive investment and contribute positively to developing Oyo State, and Nigeria by extension.

How do you balance affordability and quality?

To reduce the cost of production, we produce in mass quantity, bearing in mind that we retain the highest standards of quality available.
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Fitting into shirts perfectly

Most men wear dress shirts that do not fit them properly. The problem is that ready-made garments are made to fit many; as a result, they fit no one perfectly. We all compromise somewhere if a shirt fits us in the neck, it fails us in the sleeve length; if it fits well in the sleeves, it billows out around the stomach. So the fit described here is generally only achievable on a custom shirt or one that’s close to fitting and then tailored by a skilled hand.

A well fitted dress shirt should first and foremost be comfortable; this is different for every man. Larger men are usually complimented by a looser fit while petite and thin men are complimented by a more form cut. In general, though, a shirt should:

• Allow two fingers in the collar when buttoned;
• Be tight enough around the wrist so that the cuffs must be unbuttoned to slip them off;
• Have long enough sleeves so that you can raise your arms like wings and not pull the cuffs down the forearm; they should be short enough so that you don’t have more than 1 inch of fabric bunching near the cuff when your arms hang;
• Shoulder points that extend to the end of the shoulder and no farther;
• Have room in the chest and waist to pinch out 1-3 inches of fabric (depending on fit desired).

Source: www.artofmanliness.com