United Kingdom based Ade Bakare is one of Nigeria’s most exquisite fashion designers. He is not only known for creating captivating designs, he’s also a household name in the business of fragrance. In an exclusive interview with eelive.ng, he speaks about his love for fashion and glamour
What informed your interest in fashion?
I was captivated about fashion from an early age because I liked reading fashion magazines and I loved drawing a lot. So, I guess over the years they became fashion illustrations. I have always liked clothes and always wore what I liked even if people didn’t appreciate them.
Was there anything in your childhood that aided your choice of fashion?
My parents were very supportive, especially my mother but it is a combination of different factors. My mother came from a very educated family, her father was a principal, so education was paramount. It takes an enlightened mind to know you can achieve a full career in any discipline.
Another factor was personal encouragement, most successful people especially in the creative industries abroad start early. Although, I attended fashion school much later, I had encouragement since I was about 8 years old. I used to sketch and my mum would buy me fashion magazines like Vogue, Bazar, Cosmopolitan and also Vanguard newspaper in Nigeria which covered couture shows over the weekend in the 1980s.
How did you start your business?
My business was started with a loan from the Prince of Wales Business Trust (PYBT), a scheme set up by the Prince of Wales to support young entrepreneurs. I had attended a course on how to set up a fashion business so after finishing the course I applied to the PYBT scheme and I was given a grant. However, we had a mentor we were given to oversee the business and we had to meet to give them a monthly report.
What informed your choice of moving to London and how much loan did you get?
My parents had agreed that when I finished my Degree at the University of Lagos, I would be allowed to go back to England and study fashion design. My mum had observed that in Nigeria, society frowned on the arts in general and felt it was for drop outs. So, it was imperative to her that I graduated here with a degree before I ventured out. Schools in Nigeria then and now do not offer degree programmes in fashion design, England is known worldwide to have the best fashion design schools, it also happened to be where I was born.
The Ade Bakare couture recently turned 25 years old. What has been the secret of your success?
I would say being tenacious, having a strong vision of what I want to accomplish and knowing success is not a destination but a journey. I still feel I’m just starting because there is still so much I want to achieve but I’m forever grateful to the Lord for living my dreams. Also, setting up a shop in Nigeria has been a great success and we are opening another branch in Lekki in March this year.
How do you get inspirations for your many diverse designs and styles?
We always start with a theme, do research and develop it from there. One of the great joys I get by being a fashion designer is seeing our ideas come to fruition, as they say ‘design success is in its implementation.’
What are some of the challenges you encountered on your way to the top?
I’m often asked this question about challenges I encountered in my career and initially I would say getting the right staff, finance, getting buyers to order on your collection, quality control but gradually I realised all these hurdles are there to make you grow stronger and actually add to the uniqueness of your brand. For instance, I was not keen on using Adire in my collections because I found the cotton too stiff and not luxurious enough but I decided to apply it on silks and it became a success. Right now, it is part of our signature brand.
What do you think a young designer must do in other to stand the test of time like you have?
Designers have to be consistent in presenting their ideas to the public either annually or twice a year. Clients must be able to visit your shop or studios and see something new at least every 3 months else they will try another designer. Also, it is imperative a designer comes up with new creations regularly.
What are some of the fashion tips you can give to style-savvy Nigerian women?
Some fashion tips would be for a lady to wear what’s comfortable first. Not all trends might be suitable; select what’s appropriate for you, avoid combining more than three/four colours, don’t wear clothes that are too tight, clothes should skim the body, wear clothes that accentuate your best parts like your legs, shoulders, neck and bust.
What does fashion mean do you?
Fashion to me means ‘glamour’, couture, the best of it
What fashion item can’t you do without?
I can’t do without a black shirt
You launched your second perfume. Can you tell us more about it?
We launched the Ade Bakare signature in 2017. It’s a warm sensuous fragrance with beautiful ingredients such as white roses, teak, cinnamon, ylang ylang and Cambodian wood to mention a few. It’s unisex and it is available in a crystal cut glass. It is also available at all our branches in London, Lagos and Abuja.
You do celebrity clothing, what are the peculiarities of that?
We do not have a lot of celebrities on our couture books in Nigeria, rather mostly of the elites. However, for the few we have, they appreciate our couture designs because it’s extreme in its look and made to their exact size. They are keen that they are to be seen wearing it and them only, which offers them the exclusivity they desire. We also have a retail line which sells off the peg and opening a new shop in Lekki Phase 1 to cater to this line, so more customers can buy them.
How has providing costumes for television shows impacted on your business?
We started designing for film and theatre in the United Kingdom. I worked on films like the Secret Laughter of Women, which starred Joke Silva amongst others and also the Duchess of Windsor. We designed the outfit Fenella Fielding who played the Duchess wore. So, setting up a branch in Nigeria some years ago, we were approached by Steve Gukas to be the costume designers for his film. We have since then worked on Lekki Wives, One Room by Blessing Egbe and Battleground, a DStv series.
We supplied clothes for the soon to be released film, Reunion for actresses Mercy Aigbe and Lilian Esoro. I love designing for film and I am currently working on a few projects as costume designer and stylist.
What advice would you give someone who has interest in going into fashion?
My advice to any upcoming designer would be to study or apprentice at a fashion house before setting up. Also, to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve then go for it. However, you must have a deep passion for it to be successful.
What is your educational qualification?
I graduated from the University of Lagos with a combined honours in History and Education. Then I attended the University of Salford, Manchester where I got a Higher National Diploma in fashion design.