By Tosin Ajirire
For fashionpreneur, Toyin Akindele, the rich and vibrant content embedded in Nigeria’s culture forms the bedrock of her interest in fashion design.
The creative mind behind Vanstace Apparel, one of Nigeria’s outstanding fashion brands, was always drawn to colours and textures as a young girl. Growing up, the pull to express herself through fashionable clothes and ultimately pursue a career in the haute couture industry became irresistible.
“From a young age, I was always drawn to colours, textures and expressing myself through clothing. The vibrant Nigerian culture and its rich heritage of textiles have always inspired me, fueling my passion for fashion design,” she recalled.
Building and nurturing a brand to maturity is not a tea party. But to surmount the challenges, Akindele relies on diverse sources and mentors for creative inspiration. According to her, when it comes to inspiration and influences, a mix of local and foreign designers comes readily handy. Amongst them are Lisa Folawiyo and Duro Olowu.
“I draw inspiration from a mix of local and international influences. The traditional Nigerian fabrics, patterns and diverse art forms inspire me a lot. Locally and internationally, I admire designers like Duro Olowu and Lisa Folawiyo who embrace cultural diversity and fuse it with modern aesthetics,” the fashionista revealed.
As a creative house, what distinguishes Vanstace Apparel from the competition is its celebration of Nigerian culture through contemporary fashion. Also, incorporating traditional fabrics and techniques into modern, stylish designs, and making the products standout with distinct African flair separate Vanstace from its contemporaries.
Indeed, Toyin Akindele holds strongly to the belief that fashion and style are a powerful form of self-expression that allows individuals to showcase their personality, culture and creativity through clothing.
Describing her fashion style as simple but classy, the fashionpreneur noted that she wouldn’t be caught wearing anything that promotes unethical practices or brings harm to animals. “I believe everyone has their preferences, but I personally avoid anything that promotes unethical practices or brings harm to animals.”
For most businesses, encountering difficult clients is a grundnorm. But for Akindele, patience is key. She disclosed: “I listen attentively to the clients’ concerns, empathize with their perspectives and try as much as possible to find a common ground.”
The fashion icon, however, added that maintaining clear communication and offering alternative solutions often help in resolving critical issues.
As a fashion entrepreneur in Nigeria, Toyin Akindele enumerated some of the problems impeding the growth of the industry as dearth of high-quality materials at reasonable prices, navigating market fluctuations, infrastructural deficits and poor customer’s awareness about the value of locally made fashion items.
But challenges aside, Akindele boasts of some memorable experiences as a fashion designer. One of these is showcasing her collection at prestigious fashion events. She has also received recognitions for promoting African culture through her designs. But on the flip side, the fashion guru detests dealing with suppliers who provide low quality materials.
Taking a peep into the future of her iconic brand, Toyin Akindele, brimming with confidence, enthused: “So far, my fashion journey has been incredibly rewarding, and at the same time challenging. I see Vanstace Apparel grow from a small start-up to a recognised brand with a loyal customer base.
In the next five to 10 years, I envision expanding my reach globally, collaborating with international designers, and empowering local artisans while continuing to celebrate the beauty of African fashion on a larger scale.”