Fashion insiders share tips for starting out in the industry

olamide olarewaju

April 12, 2017 10:52 AM

Revered fashion insiders gathered at a masterclass by 'The Assembly' to share useful tips for the new crop of creatives.

The line up of fashion insiders were lined up for a session to set emerging creatives on the right part in the fashion industry including creative, editorial and celebrity styling amongst others.

Veronica Ebie Odeka of Vane Style shared how she started out internship at a soft sell before going ahead to create a career out of styling which saw top stars as Genevieve Nnaji as one of her constant client.

Emphasizing the need for consistency and hardwork she shares that hardwork is a major requirement for starting out and growing in the industry; "Be ready to put in the work and be prepared to work for free in the beginning, especially with celebrities celebrity styling is all about marketing your brand and name” she noted.

Creative director of eponymous menswear brand and stylist Tokyo James shares more tips and tricks starting out with his own story where he's always "loved clothes" he noted that “When styling for runway, you have to keep in mind the media and the buyers as a stylist must strike the balance between showcasing the brand’s identity and what’s attractive to buyers”.

He ascribes showing on the runway as one that creates opportunity without necessarily spending money advertising while getting coverage for free (both in the mainstream media and across social media)

Godson Ukaegbu, Editor-In-Chief of Mania Magazine also shares tips on styling while noting it as a way of expression while stressing consistency as key to growth.

Bolaji Animashaun of The Style HQ revealed the need for great aesthetics and the need for stylists to have an eye for detail and interpret that as clearly as possible without fuss while making sure "your personality is defined".

Fashion stylist, creative director and fashion entrepreneur Ezinne Zinkata of Zinkata who started out as a "rookie" ditched her background in Biology/Medicine and Environmental management for a career in fashion.

In her quest to be excellent at what she does, she decided to follow her passion through, apart from specially curating pieces for her store, for her blog and on clients she constantly looks for ways to improve on herself which everyone in the industry should strive to do.

She gave an example of her first job ever, styling a sports editorial for Elan Magazine where her career kicked off Guests asked questions relating to the industry which the experts gave answers to.

The '' masterclass was put together by The Assembly created by Pepper Chikezie a producer, stylist and fashion consultant for media and design brands. She also owns Nigeria's first vintage fashion boutique - Retrospective who is known for rebranding Africa's first global fashion and lifestyle channel; SPICE TV for over three years before founding The Assembly, a Fashion Innovation Hub.

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