thefashionroundtable

thefashionroundtable

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FASHION & BEAUTY

Honest fashion conversations from Nigeria 🇳🇬

7 MAY

What It Really Takes to Build a Shoe Brand | Ft. Funmi Abodenyi S1 E8

Sarting a footwear brand sounds exciting… but what does it really take to build one? 👀 In this episode, we sit down with Funmilayo Abodenyi founder of dshoecollector, to talk about her journey of building a footwear brand from the ground up. From finding the right manufacturers and dealing with quality issues, to pricing, marketing, and navigating challenges like the pandemic — she shares what it truly takes behind the scenes. If you’re thinking of starting a shoe brand, fashion business, or any creative venture, this conversation is packed with real, practical insights you don’t want to miss. 0:00 – Intro 1:24 – How dshoecollector started 5:55 – When a business idea becomes viable 8:32 – Impact of the pandemic on the business 11:08 – Starting online or with a physical store 11:38 – Early challenges encountered 14:35 – Size runs and production decisions 16:52 – Balancing creativity in design 18:04 – Credit Direct hype 18:47 – Producing in Nigeria vs abroad 21:02 – Quality control challenges 23:01 – Issues with factories abroad 32:10 – How pricing was determined 35:54 – Balancing store costs and pricing 38:21 – Marketing strategies that worked 40:31 – Advice for starting a footwear brand 42:29 – Do you need to “dance” on social media to sell? 👀 48:45 – Giveaway 🎁 49:09 – Outro Don't forget to like, share and subscribe.

49 min
30 APR

The Woman Behind Nollywood’s Most Iconic Looks- Yolanda Okereke S1 E6

What really goes into creating the looks we see on screen? 👀 From building a character’s wardrobe to working with tight budgets, handling production demands, and navigating credit in the industry — this conversation dives deep into the world of costume design for film and TV. In this episode, we sit down with Yolanda Okereke, an 8-time AMVCA nominee, who has worked on major productions like Blood Sisters and Something for the Briggs. She shares what it really takes to bring characters to life through fashion, the business side of styling for film, and the behind-the-scenes realities most people never see. If you’ve ever wondered how iconic looks are created on screen, this one is for you. 0:00 – Intro 1:43 – How stylists land TV projects 4:30 – Projects that excite you just by reading the script 11:09 – How much research goes into building a character’s wardrobe 15:50 – Credit Direct Hype 16:41 – How costume budgets are structured 17:50 – Do you have an army of tailors? 19:40 – What happens to clothes after production 23:18 – Creating luxury looks on a tight budget 24:15 – Highest budget worked with 26:06 – Ever designed a costume you didn’t fully understand the character? 28:45 – Do costume designers get enough credit? 31:29 – What do you enjoy more: costume design or red carpet styling? 32:16 – Preferred projects: epic vs modern stories 34:50 – How to learn costume design outside school 39:30 – Have actors ever kept or “taken” costumes? 👀 40:59 – Who really controls how a character looks? 42:32 – Giveaway 🎁 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more real conversations

43 min
23 APR

I threw away the first set of women's shoes I made FT Eze David

What does it really take to build a successful shoe brand from scratch? From starting to navigating challenges, funding, trends, and even the emotional side of the journey, this conversation gets real. On this episode, we sit down with Eze David to talk about his journey into shoemaking, what inspired his designs, the business side of things, and what the future looks like for his brand. If you're a creative, entrepreneur, or just curious about the fashion industry — this is one you don’t want to miss. -- 0:00 – Intro 1:43 – How he got started 3:05 – First designs 3:42 – What size he started with 5:25 – Why he hasn’t designed for women 6:31 – Are all his shoes made here? 7:43 – How heels differ in men’s shoes 8:28 – What inspires his designs 9:18 – What works in marketing 10:20 – How he knew it would be lucrative 14:20 – Credit Direct hype 15:10 – Challenges he has faced 16:51 – Has he ever cried? 👀 18:40 – Keeping up with trends 21:19 – Funding: How much it costs to start 29:12 – Did he learn shoemaking formally? 31:25 – Thoughts on business owners using AI 33:45 – The future of King David’s brand 40:30 – Advice for upcoming designers 42:53 – Giveaway 🎁 What part of his journey stood out to you the most? Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more real conversations #FashionBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ShoeMaking #AfricanCreatives #BusinessJourney #Designers #StartupLife #CreativeIndustry #PodcastClips Let’s connect — follow me across all social platforms for more. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gbemioo/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gbemioo?_r=1&_t=ZS-95BEyPb2vfM

43 min
16 APR

I started modeling at 14 Ft Ruth Vader

We sat down with a seasoned top model Ruth Vader to talk about what it really takes to build a career in modeling beyond the glam. From how she got started, to handling rejection, navigating body standards, and the realities of pricing and agency representation, this is an honest and unfiltered conversation every aspiring model and fashion lover needs to hear. She opens up about wearing outfits she’s not comfortable in, and what brands need to understand about models especially when it comes to representation and plus-size modeling. If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in the modeling industry, this episode is for you. Watch till the end for her advice to young models. Like, comment and subscribe for more conversations. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro 01:04 – How Ruth got started as a model 02:50 – Types of modeling and niches 05:55 – Should new models join an agency 06:15 – Representation in the modeling industry 09:02 – Handling rejection 09:45 – Pressure to look a certain way 10:30 – Do Nigerian models get international recognition 13:30 – Credit Direct Hype 15:27 – Pricing and how much models earn 16:30 – Campaigns you didn’t like 17:10 – Wearing outfits you’re not comfortable in 20:22 – Turning down shoots 22:50 – Modeling schools vs agencies 27:39 – Advice to aspiring models 32:07 – Being a plus-size model experience 32:58 – What models want brands to understand Let’s connect — follow me across all social platforms for more. #TheFashionRoundtable #ModelingInNigeria #FashionIndustry #ModelLife #PlusSizeModel Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gbemioo/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gbemioo?_r=1&_t=ZS-95BEyPb2vfM

35 min
9 APR

People Curse Us Out Because Our Dresses Sell Out Too Fast | Ft. Renike, Co-founder of Bawsty

In this episode of The Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Renike, the co-founder of Bawsty one of the fastest-growing fashion brands known for selling out designs almost instantly. We dive into their journey from starting small to building a high-demand fashion brand, and what it really takes to scale, stay consistent, and keep up with overwhelming customer demand. She also share how the brand started from a real problem — not being able to find the right sizes that fit properly. As bustier women, they struggled with options in the market,and that gap became the foundation for building Bawsty. If you’re a fashion entrepreneur, creative, or business owner, this episode breaks down the real work behind the brand from strategy to execution, marketing, and operations. This is more than just a success story, it’s an honest conversation about growth, pressure, and building a brand people can’t get enough of. --- ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 02:10 – How they got started 03:00 – What they started with 07:00 – Release designs every weekday 09:35 – How they decided on sizing 13:08 – Pricing 14:40 – Decision to use a website 16:20 – Credit Direct hype 17:15 – Customer issues 19:04 – Challenges: meeting demand 21:50 – Pop-up event experience 30:00 – Where the money came from 36:00 – Marketing 37:44 – Behind the scenes 39:09 – Misconceptions about fast fashion 41:00 – Advice to upcoming entrepreneurs 44:00 – Collaborations 45:18 – Giveaway 🎁 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to LIKE 👍🏽, COMMENT 💬, and SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more real, unfiltered conversations on building and scaling successful brands. Let’s connect — follow me across all social platforms for more. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gbemioo/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gbemioo?_r=1&_t=ZS-95BEyPb2vfM

45 min
2 APR

I Used My ICAN Fees to Buy a Makeup Kit & Ready-to-Wear Doesn’t Have to Be Cheap

In this episode of Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Ajide Daniels (the founder of Aso) to unpack the real journey from unexpected beginnings to building a ready-to-wear brand that challenges the idea that affordable fashion has to look cheap. We talk about the defining moments, the struggles, the costly mistakes, and the mindset behind creating a brand with identity, structure, and long-term vision in the Nigerian fashion industry. If you're a fashion entrepreneur, creative, or business owner trying to build something meaningful, this episode is for you. ✨ What you’ll learn in this episode: • How he got started in fashion • The moment Aso became a real brand • Why ready-to-wear doesn’t have to be cheap • The hardest parts of running a fashion business in Nigeria • Marketing strategies that actually work • Expensive mistakes and lessons learned • Building a brand identity that lasts • Vision for the next 10 years • Advice for upcoming fashion entrepreneurs ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro 1:10 - How it all started 11:22 - When Aso became a brand 15:40 - Best features of the brand 18:00 - Visa conversation 19:15 - How that experience changed things 25:00 - Building the brand identity 27:50 - Credit Direct hype 28:50 - The hardest part of the business 35:10 - Biggest struggle so far 36:40 - What she’s putting in place 39:15 - Marketing 46:00 - Most expensive mistakes 51:13 - The 10-year vision for Aso 53:52 - Advice 54:18 - Giveaway 🎁 Fashion Roundtable is where we have honest, unfiltered conversations about fashion, business, and building in Nigeria. Subscribe for more real stories from the people shaping the fashion industry. #thefashionroundtable

55 min
26 MAR

She built a fashion brand that sold over 35,000 pieces..Ft Nkiru Achukwu | Founder of Zephans & Co

In this episode of the Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Nkiru Achukwu, the powerhouse founder of Zephans & Co and this conversation did NOT hold back. From struggling to find clothes in her size, to surviving COVID, to scaling past 35,000 pieces sold, Nkiru shares the raw, unfiltered story behind her brand. Whether you're a fashion lover, a business owner, or someone building from scratch, this episode will inspire and challenge you. 00:00 - 2:00 — Intro 2:00 - 9:00 — How It All Started 9:00 - 11:00 — How COVID Solidified the Brand 11:00 - 12:45 — Pricing Strategy 12:45 - 16:00 — Website Route 16:00 - 20:20 — 35,000 Pieces Sold 20:20 - 19:50 — Trends & Balancing 19:50 - 25:13 — Collaboration & Partnerships 25:13 - 26:09 — Marketing 26:09 - 28:15 — How Opening a Physical Store Enhanced the Business 28:15 - 29:17 — Credit direct Hype 29:17 - 29:40 — Staff Strength 29:41 - 36:12 — Funding 36:12 - 41:15 — Collaborating With Similar Brands 41:51 - 42:04 — Downside Moments 42:04 - 48:00 — Dealing With Copying 48:20 - 57:40 — Advice to Upcoming Fashion Entrepreneurs 57:41 - 57:49 — 🎁 Giveaway! Subscribe, like , comment and share Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments! #ZephansAndCo #thefashionroundtable

58 min
19 MAR

What It Really Takes To Dress A Superstar Ft Swazzy & Zack

Ever wondered what it really takes to dress celebrities? In this episode, we sit down with top celebrity stylists to break down the reality behind the glamour—how they started, how they work with clients, pricing, industry pressure, fashion emergencies, and what really goes on behind major events like the AMVCA and Fashion Week. This is not the surface-level conversation you’re used to—this is the real, unfiltered truth about celebrity styling, the challenges, the business side, and what it takes to stand out in a highly competitive industry. Whether you're a fashion lover, aspiring stylist, creative, or business owner, this episode will completely change how you see the fashion industry. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:13 How They Got Started 04:44 How to Approach a Client as a Stylist 07:01 Misconceptions About Styling 10:13 Looks That Elevate Your Status 14:41 The Downsides of being a stylist. 15:40 AMVCA Experience 24:16 Hype 25:30 How Much Stylists Charge 31:54 Why Stylists Shouldn’t Overwork Themselves 34:50 Trends in the Industry 36:30 Craziest Fashion Emergency 39:19 Collaboration in Fashion 41:50 Have You Ever Been Dragged? 43:20 Relationship with Designers 45:22 Fashion Week Experience 51:42 Advice for Upcoming Stylists 53:40 Giveaway 🎁 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to: 👍 Like and subscribe. Drop your favorite moment in the comments.

54 min

8 Episodes

Honest fashion conversations from Nigeria 🇳🇬

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