Zashadu: Statement Making Bags

jess

October 16, 2013 9:32 AM

ainab Ashadu has always loved fashion. Her love for bespoke clothes led her to making bags which are refreshingly different and eccentric. She speaks on her love for bags, the challenges involved and how the brand, rises above the challenges.

Why the interest in leather?

For me, leather is associated with quality. I grew up seeing my mum buy good leather bags. That was the thing I remembered. I could also recollect her saying ‘khaki no be leather’. When shopping for clothes and other fashion accessories, I like to think of the durability first and I guess that prompted my interest in leather generally.

How has the reception been?

The reception has been good actually. I work with the AAF, African Artist Foundation where I’m the Assistant Director. I’m also a curator and bag making is really one of my creative expressions. I get very busy doing that though it demands a lot of my time. I’m interested in my brand being organic and by that I mean growing naturally. To create awareness for what I do, I recently put up a blog; where I put pictures up and update so people can know what’s happening and I have been getting a lot of feedback.

Where do you source your leather from?

I get my leather from Lagos; specifically Ladipo and Mushin markets. I go there myself and look through what they have. It may interest you to know that most time, the leather they sell is actually Nigerian leather, taken abroad, treated and sold back to us. So a lot of the time, you find excellent quality leather because it’s made for the prominent fashion houses around the world.

Has the industry received any support from government?

Not any that I’m aware of. I mean not the kind of support that we need. The people who work for me, I rely on them wholeheartedly because it’s very difficult to get good hands who are trained in this. It is when the Government rallies around us that we can all move forward.

What are the challenges you have with craftsmen?

First of all, there is no directory, or something like that where you can easily locate leather workers. Most times when there is need for one, you will need to start asking around. Then when you are privileged to find him, you will have to worry about his competence, pedigree and stuff like that. But basically, the major challenge is where to find the craftsmen.

For enquiries: zashadu@gmail.com, 08077897162, zashadubags.blogspot.com,

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jess