I’ve benefitted from making clothes for celebrities – Jimmy Taiwo
Jimmy Taiwo, the CEO of Jimbrooks Clothings, a fast growing clothing line in Lagos, needed not be told that he would go into fashion business fully, as he was all out for it after his university education. As a graduate of Economics, he felt being a dress consultant was more suitable for him; thus went for his passion. Today, the Ogun State- born designer makes millions of naira clothing top celebrities and socialites in the industry. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Jimbrooks as he loves to be called, reveals that clothing business is indeed lucrative if mixed with passion, creativity and consistency. He also takes us into his world of making people look outstanding. Enjoy…
Fashion for you how did it all start?
It started when I was in the university, when I was in 200 level in the University of Ilorin. I saw people who looked good, and I had an uncle who had a fashion house, so the interest came up from there. Anytime I went home at that time, I always went to him and assisted him, so from there, the interest came up. I started making clothes for my friends in school; anytime we were on holidays, they told me that when I’m coming, I should help them make shirts and natives and that they always like them. Even as at the point, when I was leaving the university, I just told them I was not going to work anywhere, I want to pick it as a business and that decision I took that year is what is fetching me all I have earned today.
Why did you decide to go into business, instead of a white collar job?
In the family I come from, we always had jobs that we do. I told my friends that I was not going to do anything else because I love people looking good and that is the fair I have. Most of my friends like my job, especially the finishing. When you have people around you that like your job, they would encourage you. People would beg me to work for them even when they have their money to pay.
Don’t you have any regrets dropping Economics for fashion?
No regrets at all! I so much enjoy and I thank God for even picking it as a job for me and made me stand out in all that I do.
What part of your Economics background have you added to your career?
Of course, my background as an economist has equally improved my stand on the job because as an economist, you can work anywhere; so bringing that to my fashion business has really helped in the sense that it has shaped my way of running a business, how to put people together, how to cut cost and the rest.
How affordable are you?
People say I am expensive but I don’t know what they mean by expensive; I am just on the average, I make people look good not to kill them in any way but people will say you are too expensive. I want to make you look good and I want to get something from you so that you look better than you can imagine.
Professionally you have been in this business for how long?
For 12 years now, and I have sold a lot, and I can say I have started counting my millions. I have been getting contracts from different angles and God have been blessing me.
How is it like working with top celebrities?
Because you want something good, you want to be known out there, they want to give you that prestige and most time I make them look the way they wanted to look so that indirectly, I am also benefiting from them. Just like making clothes for YAW, he will wear my clothes and go out and people will ask him who make this and he will mention my clothing line to them and the credit comes back to me and that is the main thing.
Who are some of the top celebrities you have done clothes for?
I have done clothes for Yaw, Owen Gee, Sammy Okposo, Koff and a lot of them like that. For the females, I have Doris Simeon, and people have been coming through her also, and my pastor, Paul Adefarasin, to mention but few.
What challenges do you face in business?
The first is electricity and that makes the cost of production high. Sometimes, you have to run generators for two days.
How long does it take you to make a cloth?
We make twenty outfit in a day based on the fact that we have our own factory.
What inspires your creativity?
I will say God because that’s the ultimate, and also whenever I sleep and wake up, after prayers then new ideas start coming.
Considering the fact that you studied Economics, what did your parents do seeing you drop your degree to become a tailor?
Well at a point, they were sad about it, that after sending me to the university, I want to end up being a tailor. They were like ‘you were supposed to work in a bank or in an oil company, and be bringing millions to the house’. But this is my passion, this is what I feel like doing, this is what I feel I can do that will make me feel happy. And at a point they had to realise that they couldn’t control me anymore, you just have to decide on what you want, and at the end of the day, they are happy about it.
Will you tag yourself a tailor or a fashion designer?
Am a dress consultant, am not a tailor anymore. I’m a tailor generally, but you can’t see tailor on my business cards. Am a dress consultant, you come to me and I give you what is okay. I manage wardrobes for people.
How do you cope with competition, as you are not the only person in the business?
Fashion business is like prostitution business. People move around, looking for satisfaction. I try to key them down and make them happy. My place is a place where quality costs less. Competition doesn’t affect me at all and I get my own customers every day. It is basically about styles and simplicity.
What does it take to succeed in the business?
It takes a lot of things. One, you have to be honest. Most of us designers are not honest. For example, you give me your clothes and I ensure I meet up with the time of delivery, despite the problem of electricity. Two, you have to be very hardworking. You don’t have to start copying people’s design.
