₦airaland Forum

Fashion Talk 2 was great! The turnout was overwhelming and the content was amazing! Just in case you have no clue what Fashion Talk 2 is, simply click on this link. It was an event we had about 2 weeks ago. We had 3 speakers ; Karen Ubani of Karen Ubani Apparel on “Starting and Growing your Ready to Wear Line”, Chike and Damola from Jumia on “Sells on Digital Platforms” and Ethel Bunting on “Production”.

If you did not attend or wish you could have attended, not to worry, we've got you covered! You can simply order a CD / DVD of the event!

The CD costs N2,000 only and placing an order is easy!

Simply transfer the fees into the "Martwayne Dynamiques" account, 101 411 8569 at any Zenith Bank branch.

After the transfer, please send "Fashion Talk 2 CD, Your Name & Email Address" by SMS ONLY to 0809 787 6075.

As soon as it is ready, we will contact you so you can pick it up in our office!

If you would like us to deliver wherever you are in Nigeria, please include this in the SMS so we can contact you to let you know the cost of delivery. This will also have to be paid ahead of time!

Please order for your CDs early enough so we can get a good rate from the vendor! The CD will only be available to those who make payment. Deadline for placing an order is 30 September 2016.

Trust me! You should get one. It will be well worth your while! AND it also makes a great gift for a friend or mentee who loves fashion and wants to start a ready to wear line!

For more details, you can reach us through any of the means in the flyer attached.

Oh... PS.

If you attended the event, you are totally covered! You get the CD for free! Awesome right?! Good thing you registered early!

Great! We look forward to receiving your orders.
Have a fab weekend!

Cheers!

Tope

________________

Tope Williams-Adewunmi
For: Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
URL: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com

Hello,

I'm sure you had a great start to the week!

We have had a busy week at Martwayne! Fashion Talk 2 was fabulous. We'll send you the link as soon as we are done with the post. BUT in the meantime, you can check out the pictures on Instagram: @martwayne

Next up was our Design, Fashion Illustration & Computer Aided Design course which started on Saturday the 17th! Oh that was excellent! But don't take our word for it... just check out this below testimonial after just the very first session!

What did we tell you?! I think the major appeal of this Course is the fact that it challenges participants to put on their thinking caps and delve deep into their creative beings, learning to see with their third eye and perceiving things with their sixth sense. Talk to a real designer and you will know that we live in our own world where we see things differently than others do!

This Course teaches you how to unlock the right side of your brain and goodness you will be amazed what you will come up with when you design. In fact, I often say once you know how to design, you will never accept magazines from people to copy styles because YOU KNOW it is such a waste of a talent you never even knew you had! And THAT my friends is what is called "design part of fashion" i.e. the real ART of fashion design.

OH! And here comes the best part... the downward review of the fees! :-D

Yes! We must be the only ones offering a price slash when prices are going up in this tough economy! We had to look inwards to see how we could bring the same course to you at a lower fee without sacrificing quality! And we figured the best way to!

But hurry though, the weekday option also started on 21st September 2016! Don't worry, if you choose the weekday option you can join us on Wednesday, 28th September 2016. If you still prefer the weekend option, you can join us again this Saturday, the 24th. A few registered students missed Saturday's class so I promised to run another Session 1, which you can join.

So, don't procrastinate, reserve your seat now! Trust us when we say you will also LOVE THIS COURSE!


Click link below for details on the new fees and how to register

http://www.fashionbeyondstitches.com/2016/09/design-fashion-illustration-and.html

Reach out to us through the details on the flyer if you have questions. We can't wait to have you with us.

Have a great week!

Tope

________________

Tope Williams-Adewunmi
For: Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
URL: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com

This is one of my favourite courses (actually to be honest we don't have a favourite course because each one has its own special place) but I LOVE this course because this is where people really put on their thinking caps and delve deep into their creative beings, learning to see with their third eye and perceiving things with their sixth sense.

In fact, I often say once you know how to design, you will never accept magazines from people to copy styles because YOU KNOW it is such a waste of a talent you never even knew you had! And THAT my friends is what is called the "design part of fashion" i.e. the real art of fashion design.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DESIGN, FASHION ILLUSTRATION WITH CAD COURSE ABOUT?!

The Course was created to help designers work on their innate creative abilities. Often times many have ideas they cannot put on paper, while others are unable to build a portfolio which they can use to showcase their skills when approaching a customer. And no - showcasing your skills does not necessarily mean the clothes have to be sewn.

And trust me it is a TOUGH process but once you get the hang of it, you will truly love fashion! The depth of research, the development of an idea that seems impossible and how to draw inspiration from what you never even thought about is actually very exciting.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?!

You will learn From Scratch how to:

develop a fashion collection and portfolio;
develop your designs from a source of inspiration;
understand colours and fabrics;
communicate your ideas to your tailor using technical drawings in order to minimise errors;
sketch and clothe a fashion figure;
draw facial features, hair and spinal movements;
digitally enhance your fashion illustrations with a cad software; and
develop a portfolio for use during fashion competitions, fashion school applications and when meeting your customer.
And I kid you not, this is just a snapshot of the real deal!



HOW DOES IT RUN?
It is in 3 parts:

Part 1: Design & Concept Development
How to develop your designs from an idea or a source of inspiration using the tools of the design process. This is really the creative part of fashion! A lot of brainwork and research goes into this.

Part 2: Manual Illustration
How to draw and clothe the fashion figure, including spinal movements, facial features and technical drawings!

Part 3: Digital Illustration with Computer-Aided Design Software
And this is where you learn how to develop your magic using CAD turning your illustrations from nice to FAB!


HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?!

Oh.... I am extremely excited to share this new development! :-D :-D :-D

We all know how TOUGH the economy has been on everyone. And we soooooo feel you on this one! So while prices are on the rise generally, we have reviewed ours downwards!!! :-D :-D :-D Isn't that great?!

So what have we done?! Instead of the N90,000 for the full Course, we have made it.....

Drumroll please..........

N75,000 for the full course!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok what did we do?! No we did not rip you off in the past! Far from it! EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THIS COURSE WILL TELL YOU IT IS A BARGAIN! OK Don't believe me?! First things first, the initial N85,000 which then became N90,000 because of the increase in the dollar included the cost of the digital graphic tablet. Yes we do have to order your tabs and bring them in and digital tablets cost at least N25-N30k. Just ask around or conduct your research!


BUT now, we have decided [b]students can come with their normal tablets! [/b]Which of course means we can take out the cost of the digital graphic tablet and make it optional! And before you say anything, I can safely tell you the digital tab did not cost N15k in the first place. We absorbed some of the costs just to make the course more affordable!

We also realised some students who already had tablets had to buy laptops just so they could use the graphic tabs on them. And we thought surely there had to be a way to prevent people from spending more money in this tight economy?! And we came up with a GREAT plan!

So YUP! The fees are now N75,000 for the full course and you can use your own normal portable tablet.:-D BUT you need to get the FULL version of the software! That we can give you details before you start the CAD Course.

For those who still want to to get the digital tablet for use with your laptops, you can buy one from us for N25,000 only - which is still a bargain! You cannot get it for cheaper elsewhere trust me! I think we still have some in stock!

So going forward, please bring your tabs and in fact seeing I am so excited about this, I'll even throw in a FREE compatible digital pen for the first 9 people who register. I have a lot more than I need so the first 9 people who register get one for free! That way you don't have to use your fingers during the class and your work can be more precise! I have tested it on an iPad and a Samsung, and it works in the CAD software space!

BUT after the first 9, if you want one, you will have to buy it because I have to order it. If you already have one, great! If you don't mind using your fingers, that is also fab! But using your fingers isn't really neat so it's best to get one :-)

Ok... so it is now N75,000 for the full course ( yes I"ve said that enough times already)!

BUT the best part is, you still get options! Meaning you don't have to do everything. Just pick the one you want and register for just that bit!


SO WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

You get 5 whole options!!! :-D :-D :-D

Option 1: Full Course: Parts 1, 2 & 3 - N75,000
Option 2: Parts 2 and 3 only - N60,000
Option 3: Part 2 or Part 3 only - N45,000 (but those going for Part 2 only need to pay an extra N3,500 for the drawing kit)
Option 4: Part 1 only - N30,000
Option 5: Part 1 with Part 2 or Part 3 - N55,000

So basically it's N15,000 cheaper per option without the design part! The design only is N30,000 and the design only with any of the other parts is N55,000 only (which was what we charged wayyyy back then early 2015!) Easy! To the point! Saves me the stress of having to calculate over and over again. And everybody is smiling!

WHEN DOES IT BEGIN?!

Only the ladies wear route is available. The dates are as follows:

Part 1 (Design & Concept Development) begins:

Weekend Option: 17th September, 2016 (10am - 2pm)
Weekday Option: 21st September, 2016 (12 noon - 4pm)

Part 2 (Manual Illustration) begins:

Weekend Option: 17th September (2.15pm - 6pm); subsequent classes hold 10am-2pm
Weekday Option: 28th September, 2016 (12 noon - 4pm)

Part 3 (Digital Illustration) begins:

Weekend Option: 8th October, 2016 (2.15pm - 6pm)
Weekday Option: 20th October, 2016 (12 noon - 6pm)


DURATION:

Full Course: 8 weeks

Weekdays: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Weekends: 10am - 6pm (2 sessions per day)

Option 2: 7 weeks

Option 3: 3.5 weeks each

Option 4: 2 sessions

Option 5: Pretty much 4.5 weeks

Easy! The next thing you need to do now is to register for the Course! :-D


SO HOW DO I REGISTER?!

Phew! Thought you'd never ask!

Simply transfer the fees by cash or online transfer into "Martwayne Dynamiques, 101 411 8569, Zenith Bank.

When you're done, please contact us on:


Tel: 0818 395 8856 or 0903 498 5877
WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075
Blackberry PIN: 2AC0E9AD
E-Mail: twilliams@martwayne.com

This is one of my favourite courses (actually to be honest we don't have a favourite course because each one has its own special place) but I LOVE this course because this is where people really put on their thinking caps and delve deep into their creative beings, learning to see with their third eye and perceiving things with their sixth sense.

In fact, I often say once you know how to design, you will never accept magazines from people to copy styles because YOU KNOW it is such a waste of a talent you never even knew you had! And THAT my friends is what is called the "design part of fashion" i.e. the real art of fashion design.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DESIGN, FASHION ILLUSTRATION WITH CAD COURSE ABOUT?!

The Course was created to help designers work on their innate creative abilities. Often times many have ideas they cannot put on paper, while others are unable to build a portfolio which they can use to showcase their skills when approaching a customer. And no - showcasing your skills does not necessarily mean the clothes have to be sewn.

And trust me it is a TOUGH process but once you get the hang of it, you will truly love fashion! The depth of research, the development of an idea that seems impossible and how to draw inspiration from what you never even thought about is actually very exciting.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?!

You will learn From Scratch how to:

develop a fashion collection and portfolio;
develop your designs from a source of inspiration;
understand colours and fabrics;
communicate your ideas to your tailor using technical drawings in order to minimise errors;
sketch and clothe a fashion figure;
draw facial features, hair and spinal movements;
digitally enhance your fashion illustrations with a cad software; and
develop a portfolio for use during fashion competitions, fashion school applications and when meeting your customer.
And I kid you not, this is just a snapshot of the real deal!



HOW DOES IT RUN?
It is in 3 parts:

Part 1: Design & Concept Development
How to develop your designs from an idea or a source of inspiration using the tools of the design process. This is really the creative part of fashion! A lot of brainwork and research goes into this.

Part 2: Manual Illustration
How to draw and clothe the fashion figure, including spinal movements, facial features and technical drawings!

Part 3: Digital Illustration with Computer-Aided Design Software
And this is where you learn how to develop your magic using CAD turning your illustrations from nice to FAB!


HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?!

Oh.... I am extremely excited to share this new development! :-D :-D :-D

We all know how TOUGH the economy has been on everyone. And we soooooo feel you on this one! So while prices are on the rise generally, we have reviewed ours downwards!!! :-D :-D :-D Isn't that great?!

So what have we done?!!!!! Instead of the N90,000 for the full Course, we have made it.....

Drumroll please..........

N75,000 for the full course!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok what did we do?! No we did not rip you off in the past! Far from it! EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THIS COURSE WILL TELL YOU IT IS A BARGAIN! OK Don't believe me?! First things first, the initial N85,000 which then became N90,000 because of the increase in the dollar included the cost of the digital graphic tablet. Yes we do have to order your tabs and bring them in and digital tablets cost at least N25-N30k. Just ask around or conduct your research!


BUT now, we have decided [b]students can come with their normal tablets! [/b]Which of course means we can take out the cost of the digital graphic tablet and make it optional! And before you say anything, I can safely tell you the digital tab did not cost N15k in the first place. We absorbed some of the costs just to make the course more affordable!

We also realised some students who already had tablets had to buy laptops just so they could use the graphic tabs on them. And we thought surely there had to be a way to prevent people from spending more money in this tight economy?! And we came up with a GREAT plan!

So YUP! The fees are now N75,000 for the full course and you can use your own normal portable tablet.:-D BUT you need to get the FULL version of the software! That we can give you details before you start the CAD Course.

For those who still want to to get the digital tablet for use with your laptops, you can buy one from us for N25,000 only - which is still a bargain! You cannot get it for cheaper elsewhere trust me! I think we still have some in stock!

So going forward, please bring your tabs and in fact seeing I am so excited about this, I'll even throw in a FREE compatible digital pen for the first 9 people who register. I have a lot more than I need so the first 9 people who register get one for free! That way you don't have to use your fingers during the class and your work can be more precise! I have tested it on an iPad and a Samsung, and it works in the CAD software space!

BUT after the first 9, if you want one, you will have to buy it because I have to order it. If you already have one, great! If you don't mind using your fingers, that is also fab! But using your fingers isn't really neat so it's best to get one :-)

Ok... so it is now N75,000 for the full course ( yes I"ve said that enough times already)!

BUT the best part is, you still get options! Meaning you don't have to do everything. Just pick the one you want and register for just that bit!


SO WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS

You get 5 whole options!!! :-D :-D :-D

Option 1: Full Course: Parts 1, 2 & 3 - N75,000
Option 2: Parts 2 and 3 only - N60,000
Option 3: Part 2 or Part 3 only - N45,000 (but those going for Part 2 only need to pay an extra N3,500 for the drawing kit)
Option 4: Part 1 only - N30,000
Option 5: Part 1 with Part 2 or Part 3 - N55,000

So basically it's N15,000 cheaper per option without the design part! The design only is N30,000 and the design only with any of the other parts is N55,000 only (which was what we charged wayyyy back then early 2015!) Easy! To the point! Saves me the stress of having to calculate over and over again. And everybody is smiling!

WHEN DOES IT BEGIN?!

Only the ladies wear route is available. The dates are as follows:

Part 1 (Design & Concept Development) begins:

Weekend Option: 17th September, 2016 (10am - 2pm)
Weekday Option: 21st September, 2016 (12 noon - 4pm)

Part 2 (Manual Illustration) begins:

Weekend Option: 17th September (2.15pm - 6pm); subsequent classes hold 10am-2pm
Weekday Option: 28th September, 2016 (12 noon - 4pm)

Part 3 (Digital Illustration) begins:

Weekend Option: 8th October, 2016 (2.15pm - 6pm)
Weekday Option: 20th October, 2016 (12 noon - 6pm)


DURATION:

Full Course: 8 weeks

Weekdays: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Weekends: 10am - 6pm (2 sessions per day)

Option 2: 7 weeks

Option 3: 3.5 weeks each

Option 4: 2 sessions

Option 5: Pretty much 4.5 weeks

Easy! The next thing you need to do now is to register for the Course! :-D


SO HOW DO I REGISTER?!

Phew! Thought you'd never ask!

Simply transfer the fees by cash or online transfer into "Martwayne Dynamiques, 101 411 8569, Zenith Bank.

When you're done, please contact us on:


Tel: 0818 395 8856 or 0903 498 5877
WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075
Blackberry PIN: 2AC0E9AD
E-Mail: twilliams@martwayne.com

My goodness WHAT an experience! I cannot even begin to explain how amazing this Course was... We had SUCH a fab time with the Juniors over the summer holidays! We actually thought "hey how hard can it be hosting children between 9 and 11?" Easy peasy right?! Or so we thought! Little did we know that these kids were 9 and 11 going on 29 and 31! You can clearly tell from the quotes! "Quotes to live by" I call them... lol

Yes they worked hard and played hard! But I guess what was so refreshing was their willingness to continue. In fact... classes were meant to end at 2 but some asked their parents to come at 5pm. In fact Lase asked if her dad could come at 7pm! And I was like..... errrr..... no way!

And when the day was over, it was always tough asking them to pack up to leave! Gosh sometimes we had to beg and cajole them just so they would not leave in tears. And they also wanted to come everyday! There we were thinking oh... they needed the rest but goodness! They were rearing to go!

And of course, the end result was really worth it! Not only did they make their own skirts - WITH a sewing machine, they also made for their mothers and sisters as well. Sadly we did not have many pictures of Mummies wearing their skirts. But we were able to get a snapshot from Lase's Mum on her instagram page.

I am really hoping the other Mummies take pictures of their own skirts as well and send to us so we can post them. We are so proud of them! :-D

Did they enjoy the Course?! MOST DEF! You can tell from their faces! And when it was all over, we had a tiny party and a small fashion show... We have some budding models up in the house!!! Whoop whoop! Check out the pictures and click on the link for the full video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2w8PMluMI4&feature=youtu.be

Ladies... you were such a blast! You stuck it out and you delivered! I am soooooo impressed and you were a bundle of joy to be around! We love you to bits and cannot wait to see you next year! MWAH!

_____________

So what's next?!

YES! Fashion Talk 2 is coming up on Saturday. And the next stream of the Beginners, Bodices and also the Fashion Illustration Courses are coming up! Watch this space!

The speakers have been confirmed! Registrations are coming in and we are rearing to go! :-D

It's just 3 days to Fashion Talk 2. Have you registered?

If you have not registered, please do not procrastinate! Register as soon as you see this.

Last year was great and just in case you missed Fashion Talk 1, click on the link for scenes and testimonials from the event:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhcejrUnew0&feature=youtu.be


Looking forward to seeing you.

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @martwayne.

For more details please contact:
Tel: 0903 498 5877 | 0818 395 8856
WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075 | Blackberry PIN: 2AC0E9AD
Email: twilliams@martwayne.com

Welcome to September everyone!!!!!! Yes... I know not many people are happy with the whole "Happy New Month" greeting but you know what?! It does feel good to look forward to something new every month right?! And this month, we have enough things happening - Beginners Course, Bodices & Dressmaking Course, Design and Illustration Course (the last for the year) AND Fashion Talk 2!!!!! :-D :-D :-D

We had a blast with the Juniors during their summer classes. I will definitely post pictures in a separate post. But right now, we are counting down to Fashion Talk 2!!!!! :-D

The speakers have been confirmed! Registrations are coming in and we are rearing to go! :-D

If you have not registered, please do not procrastinate! Register as soon as you see this.

If you have no clue what it is about, simply click on this link: It's time for Fashion Talk 2!

We will be having a daily count down! Look out for it!

Have a great month and look out for our other posts! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @martwayne.

For more details please contact:
Tel: 0903 498 5877 | 0818 395 8856
WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075 | Blackberry PIN: 2AC0E9AD
Email: twilliams@martwayne.com


Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Are you thinking of starting your ready-to-wear line but don’t know how?

Are you having financial issues with your fashion business?

Do you need a concrete plan for your production business?

Are you too busy or not interested in learning how to sewing but want to have a fashion business?

Do you have a family member or friend who relate with any or all of the above?

Have you started your fashion business or are you sick of sewing for people and want to focus strictly on off-the-rack ready to wear clothes?

If you have issues starting or sustaining your fashion business and you need someone to chat with, please reach out to me on WhatsApp
0809 787 6075, on Blackberry 2AC0E9AD or via e-mail twilliams@martwayne.com . Sometimes all we need is a 2nd person to help reason things out.


Or better, let's catch up @ "Fashion Talk 2" on "Starting and Growing Your Ready to Wear Line".
with a focus on starting up, expanding the business of retail and of course production!

Last year was great and just in case you missed Fashion Talk 1, click on the link for scenes and testimonials from the event:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhcejrUnew0&feature=youtu.be

This year also promises to be great!

Join us on 10th September 2016 for our second edition of FASHION TALK.

Time: 1pm - 5pm
Venue: The Martwayne Training Center, Surulere, Lagos.

Gate fee:
5,000 Naira (Included Refreshments and CD)
25% Discount for Martwayne Students.

Registration details:
Cash / Online Transfer into
Martwayne Dynamiques, 101 411 8569, Zenith Bank
After Payment, please send your details via SMS ONLY to 0809 787 6075.

Registration Closes 8th September 2016

For more details please contact:
Tel: 0903 498 5877 | 0818 395 8856
WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075 | Blackberry PIN: 2AC0E9AD
Email: twilliams@martwayne.com


Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Hello,

I'll keep this short and sweet to make the time it takes to read it well worth your while...

I know when 2016 started, the first item on your to-do list was to finally do something about this love you have for fashion. So what happened? Did you get distracted? Or did your job take over again? We are almost hitting the "ember" months and nothing has happened yet.

Isn't it time you did something different? If you don't make the move now, when will you?! Next year again?! Like you promised yourself last year?!

I am sure the last thing you want to do is to tell yourself this exact same story again, year in year out! Because everytime you keep procrastinating, you take that one step farther away from what will make you feel truly alive and fulfilled!

So I'm going to do something you should have done ages ago.

Click here to know what it is

http://www.fashionbeyondstitches.com/p/for-years-you-have-been-making-same-new.html

This will inspire you so much you will click the forward button! Everyone who has seen this has been really wow-ed by it!

So go on now! Click on the link.

http://www.fashionbeyondstitches.com/p/for-years-you-have-been-making-same-new.html


This is strictly for those who love fashion and want to turn it into a viable business.

Oh... PS.

I am sure you also know people who fit this bill. Perhaps some relative or even a friend or colleague who you know needs this. We would love you to share this with them. Think of it as your good deed for the week! :-D

So go on now, please share the article! Mucho gracias! :-)

Cheers!

Tope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder & CEO
Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog : www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL www.martwayne.com

Yes! What happened to that dream?! Year in year out we hear the same old story.... don't worry in the New Year I will definitely pursue it. Come first January, you get all gingered up! Yes this time I'll do it! Then half way through the year, the excuses have piled up simply because of the FEAR that is deep within you. This time next year, you will still tell the same story. Aren't you exhausted already?! Imagine what will happens 10 years down the line when you are filled with regret?!

I remember when I was planning to resign to go to fashion school. Everyone supported me but a few said:

"why not wait to get married first?"
"why not wait to complete ICAN?"
"why not add more to your work experience?"

You know what went through my mind?! As they were telling me those things, I had my own answers ready for them.


"what if I stay and I still don't get married in 3 years?"
"what if they keep changing the syllabus and the time it takes to complete it gets longer?"
"well... I can always find work when I'm there or even when I'm back"

The truth is there will never be a right time to get things done. You just have to take the bull by the horn. I know my sister was worried things would have changed in 3 years. 3 years sounded sooooo long to her to leave and return to expect things to remain the way they were.

But guess what?! I have gone and come back - it's all done and dusted now! In fact fashion school is now but a memory after all I left in 2009! Almost 7 years ago now! And all the "why not"s now seem so irrelevant now.

- I am now married;
- Ok granted I didn't finish ICAN but what the heck! I can always pay an accountant to get the job done for me; and if I even really feel like doing it, I can start again or even choose to do ACCA now but like my sister told me, what do you need it for?!
- Please the experience I have in running a business is on another level! Gosh who would ever have thought right?!

So really those stories will remain stories till you do something about it! And with the way the economy is going with people getting laid off... you really don't want to wake up tomorrow to get a termination letter or SMS with no Plan B - especially if you have a family to feed! It is time to plan ahead while the going is good!

And that is why NOW is as good a time as any to stop procrastination in its tracks before we hit the "ember" months! NOW is a time as good as any to register for a Beginners Course or our Bodices & Dressmaking Course (if you can already sew).

Yes yes! These are the 2 of the 3 entry points into our sewing courses at Martwayne.

The Beginners Course is for those who have absolutely no idea how to sew while the Bodices and Dress making Course is for those who can already sew but want to improve on their skills.

What Will You Learn?!

Oh plenty! Our students can definitely tell you that!

As a beginner, you will learn about:

the many many ways you can make money form the fashion industry;
the design and production process;
how to approach your customer and conduct yourself in such a way that they will be begging for your services and pay whatever you ask them to pay;
how to prepare the documentation in your fashion business in order to appear as a professional to your clients;
how to take PERFECT body measurements to avoid mistakes;
how to convert these measurements into a pattern - yes we all our courses include pattern making!!! :-D
how to conduct a fitting after creating the sample;
how to finalise your block patterns;
Of course you will learn how to sew FROM SCRATCH including all the tools you will need to start off;
how to bill for your work to enable you make a profit!
And this is just a snap shot really... In the Bodices Course, you get right into the grind and start perfecting your body measurements and developing your block patterns asap!

How much do the Courses cost?

Well... the Beginners Course is the first stage of our Foundation Course in Fashion Design. It costs N73,500 in total and this includes your toolkit and your refundable caution fee.

The Bodices & Dressmaking Course is in 3 parts. Part 1 costs a total of N78,500 also including your toolkit and refundable caution fee.

How long does it last for?

The duration depends on if you are running the weekday option or the weekend option.

Weekday:

Beginners: 4 weeks, Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

Bodices & Dress-Making: 5 weeks, Same days.

Weekend for busy professionals

Beginners: 12 weeks, Saturdays only

Bodices & Dressmaking: 15 weeks, Saturdays only

Truth be told, some people finish in less time depending on how dedicate you are.

How do I register?

Easy! Simply pay the fees by cash or online bank transfer into:

Martwayne Dynamiques, 101 411 8569, Zenith Bank

and call: 0818 395 8856 / 0903 498 5877 or SMS / WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075 just to give us a heads up! You can also e-mail twilliams@martwayne.com or info@martwayne.com with the details.

Okies! That's about it!

Okies! I promised myself I would only do short posts from now on but sadly I cannot resist! HAHA! Please reach out to us and please tell everyone you know who is in these shoes! Think of it as your good deed for the day! :-D

Many many many thanks!

Temitope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder, Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Are you a fashion designer having difficulty in earning or production in your business?

Are you frustrated with not earning a proper profit or managing your business?

Are you an aspiring fashion designer and don't know how and where to start?

Are you interested in starting your own fashion line but don't know how?

Are you interested in knowing the business aspect of a fashion industry?

Are you worried about expansion in your fashion business?

Join us on 10th September 2016 for our second edition of FASHION TALK.

Time: 1pm - 5pm
Venue: The Martwayne Training Center, Surulere, Lagos.

Gate fee:
5,000 Naira (Included Refreshments and CD)
25% Discount for Martwayne Students.

Registration details:
Cash / Online Transfer into
Martwayne Dynamiques, 101 411 8569, Zenith Bank
After Payment, please send your details via SMS ONLY to 0809 787 6075.

Registration Closes 8th September 2016

For more details please contact:
Tel: 0903 498 5877 | 0818 395 8856
WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075 | Blackberry PIN: 2AC0E9AD
Email: twilliams@martwayne.com


Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

OH for the love of all things ankara! Ok this is just a random post from my random musings on a question I have been asking designers for years.

Yes we all love ankara! And it's not so difficult to understand why. The vibrant print! The versatility of the fabric - like seriously anything and everything can be and is made from ankara. And of course, it's the fabric of choice for many designers because it is readily available and easy to work with PLUS it is made from one of the most durable fabrics that can withstand the highest temperature from an iron without melting or leaving an obvious shine (well obviously because the print "outshines" the shine).

BUT the real question I have been asking for years is:


What makes ankara "Ankara"?! Is it the print or the fabric?

Many say the print. Ok fine - the print. So if the print is what makes ankara ankara, then why do people feel the need to touch the fabric to be sure it is ankara.


OR why do people argue when some fabrics are sold as ankara even if the print does not look like the typical ankara print? I bought these absolutely stunning fabrics from the Da Viva store last year and it definitely does not look like the typical ankara print but it was called and sold as ankara. In fact, I bet if you bought this same fabric from the market and not the DaViva store, you would argue that it was not ankara.

And if ankara is just about the print, why are ankara prints on chiffon, silk and polyester fabrics not considered ankara? Because we often see them labelled as "ankara silk", "ankara chiffon", which then suggests to me that ankara is so called because of the fabric and not the print.

I still don't have an answer to my question so maybe you can help me out. What do you think? What makes ankara "Ankara"?

Temitope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder, Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Chei! We "tailors" have suffered! Lol! This seems to be the constant song around here! Why oh why are we now the SI unit for lies, dishonesty and disappointment?!

I was still talking about this same issue on the Martwayne Facebook group a few weeks back (yes we do have one for sharing ideas, seeking advice on anything fashion related that is bothering us and also asking for critiques on our work - you can click here to join us Join our Martwayne Facebook Group) and made a mental note to write about this topic. I had procrastinated on it for so long until I saw this meme on Twitter: (Please check below)


... and I said to myself "okay nah... enough is enough. It's high time I addressed this on the blog".

Yes oh... I won't lie.. I laughed and laughed when I saw it! I really could not stop laughing. But as hilarious as it is, and sad as it is to admit.... it actually is true! It is a really serious issue around here! And truth be told, this awful reputation is really wrecking our reputation as professionals - and believe it or not... our businesses as well!

You will notice that I keep using "we". Yes because around here, anyone who churns out clothes for people on a bespoke or customised level is called a "tailor" regardless of whether they are a fashion designer or a seamstress. So for the sake of this article, I am lumping all of us together and of course using the term "tailor" very loosely.

I have been on both sides - on the customer side and on the designer / tailor side as well. I have been both a victim and a perpetrator (if that is the correct word to use). Victim because that was the real reason I went into fashion, perpetrator because I also held on to people's clothes and at some point even offered refunds simply because I could not deliver on some of the work in record time. So I am not here preaching to you or casting stones.

But one thing I can tell you for free was, for every single time I did not deliver, it was because I was sooooo eager to please, I simply could not say NO even when I knew I could not deliver. You know around here, saying no is sometimes misconstrued as incompetence. So for the sake of being seen as a superhero, I would take on the work and work myself into a frenzy until I finally broke down! Or worse, found just anyone who could sew lines together and they ended up wrecking my work even more! I can never forget when I had to repeat a particular jacket 3 times or when I missed a very good friend's wedding simply because I did not want to disappoint someone who wanted to wear that jacket that weekend! Not only did I not attend the wedding, I still did not deliver so what was really the point?!

But then again, the disappointment our customers face even go beyond not delivering! Most complain that even after wasting so much time, the clothes are crap! The finishing is awful and the clothes just do not fit and they wonder why on earth it took you so long to deliver crap! And yes, I have been there as well! The sheer horror on my face when my tailor delivered clothes that were only big enough to fit a barbie doll!

So being on both sides of the fence and from talking to designers on things that go wrong - and yes everything that can go wrong does go wrong - I thought it would be good to talk on just 5 things that could perhaps save us from this constant embarrassment and insults we keep getting from everyone!

So here are 5 tips on keeping your sanity, your reputation, your customers and of course your bottom line in check!

1. Never promise on what you know you cannot deliver on!

Yes no matter the puppy eyes they give you, do not give in! You know why?! When you do not deliver, they will not admit or even care that they gave you the clothes only 2 days before! And why should they?! You agreed to deliver so they are holding you to it!

By now you should have an idea of the number of jobs you have on ground and how long it typically takes you to deliver. Whatever time it takes, please add an extra week or two to it?! You know why?! Because anything and I mean anything that can go wrong can go wrong when you least expect it! Your generator can break down, your machine can break down, your tailor can break down, heck even you can break down! Does the customer care?! NO! They don't! And really, they should not!

Have that policy in place and stick to it! Anyone who knows they have a wedding and they want you to churn out the clothes for them should bring it 2 or even 3 weeks before not 2 days before the event! And no don't think offering them express "this one time" will work! If you can deliver once, it automatically means you can deliver again and it will never stop!

As I learnt in KPMG, it is better to under-promise and over-deliver than vice versa! Stick to your guns always!

2. Always insist on a fitting!

Yes many of them do not like coming for fittings I agree. But I always say, it all depends on how you portrayed your business from Day 1. Someone on the Group stated that when you ask a customer to come for a fitting, they seem to think you are not good enough - else you would get it right one time!

You know what I say to that?! How many brides sit at home hoping the dress fit one time?! Aren't they the ones who keep harassing you that they want to try on their dresses just in case anything happens, it can be fixed before the day?!

Fittings are standard practice globally! Can you see? This is our very own Deola Sagoe fitting a dress. Will we say Deola Sagoe is not good at what she does or do we think she is incompetent?! Far from it! We all know she is GREAT at what she does but guess what?! She still has to do a fitting so errors can be corrected before finalising the dress. If she still does a fitting despite how fab she is and her client can still come in for a fitting, why can't you?!

Please please please insist on a fitting. You are better off someone thinking you are incompetent and you then dazzle them with the perfection of your work than you being embarrassed they will think you don't know what you are doing and then you prove them right! If they don't want to come to you, then please go to them. You can even bill them for it! But guess what?! If things go wrong, then like @cherox said, they will stay up all night thinking of how to lynch you! And put it up on twitter! And you will be lucky if they do not call you out and wreck your reputation! So you are better off being safe than sorry!

3. Please document all discussions and agreements!

I cannot stress this enough! In fact better still, sign a contract or an agreement if possible! This is key if you want to save yourself and keep your sanity! In fact, ensure that contract even has pictures of what you both agreed! Honestly, you will save yourself a whole lot of headache! Because some customers will come halfway through and claim they never asked you to use red thread. Then it now becomes a "he said she said" matter. Something else I learnt from KPMG. Document everything! Screenshots, snapshots, signature under the very design, everything! And that contract must include a penalty for gaining weight or losing weight or changing your design half way though the order.

And please, collect 85% of your money upfront. But also put in the contract that if you mess up, they get something back - because it won't be fair of you to collect all the money and then mess up!

But yes, documentation is key! I cannot stress it enough! And if they don't want to sign, then you better ensure all your conversations are via WhatsApp, email or Blackberry so you can take screen shots as evidence in case things go wrong! Honestly it will save you like you cannot imagine!

4. Please EDUCATE your customer!

In fact I couldn't have said it better myself!

Most think they know how things work! I always tell my students - especially the beginners "I bet you now have a renewed respect for your tailor right"?! And the answer is always the same - YES! Many clients think they know but they do not know! You need to tell them - actually teach them how things work!

If you are working with an invisible zip, tell them the pros and cons of using the zips and how to actually work an invisible zip so it does not break.

If they bring you a style to copy - well first if I were you, I would politely refuse to copy. But if they insist, you need to let them know if the fabric or their body shape will not work with the design. And either bow out or let them sign a document with a disclaimer.

If they bring a design you do not understand, please bow out if you cannot create it. Never ever EVER use your customer's work as a practice run! Always create a sample first just to see how it will work out and if you cannot deliver, please return it. I remember during my sister's engagement, she had given a lady in Canada her engagement outfit to create for her. After a week or so, the lady returned it saying she could not work with the fabric. I ended up churning it out for her. Was my sister disappointed in the lady?! Probably. Did the lady save herself?! Yes! There really is nothing wrong with saying "I don't know". Yes it might be tough yes and yes they may think you are not that good but trust me, you are better off walking away from the project rather than diving in and getting seriously burnt!

And last but not least...

5. Please have a conscience when sewing for your customers!

Your clients deserve a well made garment no matter how little they paid for it! Do not close your eyes to a bad stitch or awful finishing! You might think they do not notice but they do! They probably don't say anything because they feel that is the best they can get around here. Sometimes I turn clothes over and I am SHOCKED at what I see on the inside and you want them to pay you and not scream at the work?! How?! They paid for a service and they deserve the best! Please give them a top-notch outfit!

Okies that's about it! Of course I could go on and on but I will stop here! It will take a very long time to rid ourselves of this reputation but if we start one day, before we know it, the effects will be felt and our customers will appreciate it!

Here's wishing you a good start to the week! :-D

Cheers!


Temitope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder, Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Are you tired of getting angry at your tailors over and over again for not getting your clothes / size right? OR Do you dream of being a fashion designer and having your own fashion line?

At Martwayne Training Center, we give you “Power Through Fashion” by helping you “turn your love for fashion into a viable business”. We turn fashion enthusiasts into design professionals by teaching the creative, theoretical, practical and the business sides of fashion.

We offer short courses which cover various aspects of design and production process. Our Courses have been developed as part-time flexible courses with a weekday or weekend option. So whether you are a busy professional, a student looking to learn whilst searching for a job or a practicing designer looking to improve your skills, we have an option to suit your lifestyle.

This August!!! Register for Our "Short Fashion Course for Beginners".

New Session Starts on 13th August 2016.
The Beginners Course the first in the series of Courses we offer at Martwayne for complete starters who have no prior knowledge of sewing.

It is also one of my favourite courses because it gives us the perfect opportunity to start designers off on a solid foundation. Generally people have a certain mindset about fashion, the industry and how it works but with this Course, we are able to clear these mindsets and expose people to even more ways of making money in the Industry... and a whole lot more... AND our students have never been disappointed!

So, what does the Course entail?

First it exposes participants to the Business Opportunities in the Industry and the Design and Production Process and how to come up with designs from scratch. Then we teach how to approach a customer and the documentation required in your fashion business in order to exude professionalism when dealing with both customers and tailors.

And then the practical sessions begin. We discuss the tools required to create proper well finished garments in order to ensure your clothes have a "factory finish" so your clothes do not look like craft work or look home-sewn. Then there's the introduction to Pattern-Making and of course... we also sew! :-D And in our classes, we focus on perfect finishing!


Duration:
Even though both courses start on the same day, after the first Session, students can opt for either of the following options:


Weekday Option: Three times a week; Tuesdays, Fridays & Saturdays from 12 noon to 5pm; or the

Weekend Option: Saturdays only from 10 am to 5pm


The whole Course will last 4 weeks for the Weekday Option and 12 weeks for the Weekend Option.


Course Fees:

The fees are N75,000 only.

Classes take place in our Training Centre in Surulere, Lagos.

How to Register:

Simply pay the fees in cash or via online transfer into the "Martwayne Dynamiques" account, 101 411 8569 at any Zenith Bank Branch.

Once it's done, please contact us.

Our contact details are:

Phone: 0818 395 8856 | WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075 | Blackberry PIN: 2AC0E9AD


If you want to visit us before you register, that's not a problem either. Contact us and we will schedule a convenient time for both parties.

Martwayne | Power Through Fashion

Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Are you tired of getting angry at your tailors over and over again for not getting your clothes / size right? OR Do you dream of being a fashion designer and having your own fashion line?

At Martwayne Training Center, we give you “Power Through Fashion” by helping you “turn your love for fashion into a viable business”. We turn fashion enthusiasts into design professionals by teaching the creative, theoretical, practical and the business sides of fashion.

We offer short courses which cover various aspects of design and production process. Our Courses have been developed as part-time flexible courses with a weekday or weekend option. So whether you are a busy professional, a student looking to learn whilst searching for a job or a practicing designer looking to improve your skills, we have an option to suit your lifestyle.

This August!!! Register for Our "Short Fashion Course for Beginners".

New Session Starts on 13th August 2016.

The Beginners Course the first in the series of Courses we offer at Martwayne for complete starters who have no prior knowledge of sewing.

It is also one of my favourite courses because it gives us the perfect opportunity to start designers off on a solid foundation. Generally people have a certain mindset about fashion, the industry and how it works but with this Course, we are able to clear these mindsets and expose people to even more ways of making money in the Industry... and a whole lot more... AND our students have never been disappointed!

So, what does the Course entail?

First it exposes participants to the Business Opportunities in the Industry and the Design and Production Process and how to come up with designs from scratch. Then we teach how to approach a customer and the documentation required in your fashion business in order to exude professionalism when dealing with both customers and tailors.

And then the practical sessions begin. We discuss the tools required to create proper well finished garments in order to ensure your clothes have a "factory finish" so your clothes do not look like craft work or look home-sewn. Then there's the introduction to Pattern-Making and of course... we also sew! :-D And in our classes, we focus on perfect finishing!


Duration:

Even though both options start on the same day, you can opt for either of the following options:


Weekday Option: Three times a week; Mondays, Wednesdays &, Fridays from 12 noon to 5pm; or the

Weekend Option: Saturdays only from 12 noon to 5pm


The whole Course will last 4 weeks for the Weekday Option and 12 weeks for the Weekend Option.


Course Fees:

The fees are N55, 000 and there is an extra one-off fee of N8, 500 for your toolkit.

There is also an extra refundable caution fee of N10, 000 which will be retained to cover damages and extensions to the Course. This will be retained until you are done with our courses and refunded barring any damages to our machines or extensions beyond the Course. The total fee becomes N73, 500.

Classes take place in our Training Centre in Surulere, Lagos.


How to Register:

Simply pay the fees in cash or via online transfer into the "Martwayne Dynamiques" account, 101 411 8569 at any Zenith Bank Branch.

Once it's done, please contact us.

Our contact details are:

Phone: 0818 395 8856 | WhatsApp: 0809 787 6075 | Blackberry PIN: 2AC0E9AD


If you want to visit us before you register, that's not a problem either. Contact us and we will schedule a convenient time for you.


Martwayne | Power Through Fashion

Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Ok… so you have always wanted to become a fashion designer…for any of the following reasons:

You have always loved sketching clothes as soon as you were able to hold a pencil;
You used to make clothes for your dolls;

You know you have the talent and everyone knows that – they even come to you when they need styles for their aso-ebi; … or the one I get often…
You were just tired of your tailor and you knew you could do better. It’s the classic tale of ‘I tell her one thing and she churns out something else and we keep going back and forth!’ (This was my story…)

You know it. Everyone knows it. You just have to become a fashion designer! You have the gift, you have the talent and you know you will make a lot of money from it. And you keep promising yourself that next year you will definitely take this up!

December comes and you write your goals for the coming year, and top of of the list?! “Finally pursue this dream of mine!” The new year hits and you are all fired up! Google becomes your best friend. You start your research “How to Become a Fashion Designer”, you start making calls and you even visit some fashion schools because you want to learn how to sew.

And then the holidays are over and reality hits. Work or school begins and the momentum you built over the holidays starts slowing down. Before you know it, the excuses start pouring in. You begin to convince yourself that “now is not the right time”. Why? You tell yourself…
- I have an extremely busy schedule and simply cannot create the time!
- Won’t people think I’m crazy?! Leaving a good job for fashion?!
- I have a family to feed, how much money can I possibly make from fashion;
- I think I am too old and don’t even know how or where to start from;
- I don’t have the money so let me work some more to gather more funds;
- The good fashion schools are too far and I cannot give up my weekends;
- I cannot get distracted now, I am at a crucial point in my life;
- I’m about to get that promotion so now is not a good time to leave.
- I cannot do this, what if I fail?!

And the excuses keep piling up. And yes, these are good and valid points which make all the sense in the world… or are they?! Maybe… just maybe these excuses are just a cover for the real reason you have refused to make that move – FEAR! And worse, you have refused to admit it to yourself!

Yes we all face these fears.
- Fear of failure;
- Fear of the unknown;
- Fear that people will laugh at you;
- Fear that people won’t like your work;
- Fear that you are too old;… I can go on and on…

I can, however, assure you that there is one thing way worse than fear and that is the regret you feel years down the line when the world has moved on and you are still stuck in the same space. You think you have missed that opportunity (emphasis on the word “think”) and bitterness sets in. You blame everything and everyone around you, including yourself (if you have the guts to blame yourself), for missing that opportunity.

But guess what? It is never too late to make the move. So what if you fail? Big deal. You try again or worse, you backtrack and go back to your job or get another job – you will not be the first to do so. But at least there is that satisfaction you get knowing that you scratched that itch and bled in the process; knowing that you discovered after trying it out that it was not for you. At least, now you know.

But then again, you really do not need to dive into the ocean and give everything up in a flash! Baby steps they call it. Test the waters first. Use your spare time (and yes everyone has some spare time no matter how busy they are) and start something on the side no matter how little. Could be selling your sketches to designers or even your colleagues who need fabulous styles for Asoebi Bella, working with your tailor to bring your sketches to life and selling them to colleagues or even learning how to sew. The best thing is your market is all around you! Everyone loves a fashion designer because everyone must wear clothes! Do that until you build that confidence to take the full plunge!

Oh… and one more thing… try not to give in to procrastination! Yes it is difficult and I, for one, am extremely guilty of it! Take this article for example. I have been meaning to write about this for ages and this is what?! July already! I just kept postponing until I said to myself just now “Argh! You know what?! Just do this now!” And it is exactly 2.18am!

And that is literally all it takes! For you to say to yourself “Argh! I’m doing this now!” Not tomorrow, not when I get home, NOW!

So there you have it! I’ve made my move! How about you?! Tell us why you have not yet made that move into the fashion industry


Temitope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder, Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

The posts says it all ... If you have been considering taking the plunge and leaving your 9-5, hopefully his (David Wej) figures will give you that push you need! A man who also had a GREAT job, with a great salary who had a pregnant wife! If anyone had any reason whatsoever to hesitate, it was him! BUT that did not stop him!

A wise person told me sometime ago that the best time to start a new business is when there is a downturn in the economy. We all know how our economy is so now is a better time than ever to make this move! :-D

So without further ado, simply click on the link to access the video! Don't forget to subscribe to the Martwayne Channel and follow us on Instagram (@martwayne) and Facebook, Google Plus & Twitter (@martwaynedotcom)

Youtube Video Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW8bi1HzLW0&feature=youtu.be

Please feel free to make comments.

HAPPY WATCHING


Tope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder, Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

The posts says it all ... If you have been considering taking the plunge and leaving your 9-5, hopefully his (David Wej) figures will give you that push you need! A man who also had a GREAT job, with a great salary who had a pregnant wife! If anyone had any reason whatsoever to hesitate, it was him! BUT that did not stop him!

A wise person told me sometime ago that the best time to start a new business is when there is a downturn in the economy. We all know how our economy is so now is a better time than ever to make this move! :-D

So without further ado, simply click on the link to access the video! Don't forget to subscribe to the Martwayne Channel and follow us on Instagram (@martwayne) and Facebook, Google Plus & Twitter (@martwaynedotcom)

Youtube Video Link:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW8bi1HzLW0&feature=youtu.be

Please feel free to make comments.

HAPPY WATCHING


Tope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder, Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Well… that’s like asking if you need an education to succeed in life generally. But, I could also argue that many self-made billionaires either never went to school or dropped out of school. Cases in point: Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and also our very own Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Motors…and the list goes on.

I know you could say well… those people are not in the fashion industry – or the fashion industry is different and a lot more complicated so I’ll bring it closer to home. Ralph Lauren – yes you know him (many of us own at least one of those tops with a horse on it) – well… he never went to fashion school and also dropped out of business school. The last time I checked, he was worth about $6.5 billion according to Forbes in 2012 and I am sure he is worth a whole lot more now.

So with these reference points, it kind of makes you wonder why you need to put yourself through so much stress and spend all that time and money to get the knowledge right? Yes, I also asked myself that same question at some point until I realized that although these men may have dropped out of school, they opted for a different kind of learning environment. They got the relevant work experience and spent a long time at it as well.

Cosmas Maduka revealed how long he spent as an apprentice learning the nitty gritty and Ralph Lauren worked at a tie manufacturing company. So whilst it was not the conventional fashion school, they still learnt the ropes in a formal establishment. Needless to say the learning would have been pretty unstructured since I doubt there would have been any form of proper curriculum to follow. So it would have been pretty much “on-the-job” training – which, by the way, you still need even if you go to fashion school!
So lest I digress, on the question of “to go to fashion school or not to go to fashion school?” here is my take on it. I’m listing just a few of the benefits of going to fashion school from the perspective of someone who attended one.

• First, we all know that to be the very best in any field, you NEED to learn the basics – especially if you are coming from a completely unrelated field. That foundation is key!

Attending a proper school gives you an in-depth knowledge of the processes and procedures and makes you extremely knowledgeable in the field. There is also some form of structure to what exactly you are learning as against work experience where you are learning on the job with no set curriculum. That way, you can properly plan your time and finances as well. Plus you tend to draw your customers in with your knowledge since they are convinced you know what you are doing.

Now don’t get me wrong, work experience is vital! You still need it! But I have found that the questions you ask during the work experience will be more channeled towards how to apply what you have learnt in school. Plus, things make more sense to you in a shorter period of time and you can also use the opportunity to learn other areas you may not have been exposed to in school. Which is why a lot of fashion schools include some form of internship during the programme.

• Second, fashion school changes your whole perspective of what fashion and the industry is really about. Like others, I thought fashion was all about designing great clothes and sewing them but after just one year in fashion school, I realized that was just a parochial view of what the industry had to offer. Anyone with a thorough knowledge of the industry will tell you that there are SO SO MANY business opportunities in the Industry over and above the real art of fashion design and manufacturing. Do you need school to learn that?! Well… no. But it does help you know about them and you do get to learn how to exploit those industries in a shorter period of time.

• Third, fashion school helps to shape your vision and further mould your idea into something more tangible. It also helps you discover who you are as a designer. You may have started out with just an idea and no clearcut plan on how to achieve it but attending a fashion school helps to put that plan into better perspective. You also learn quickly enough what your strengths and weaknesses are so you can build on those strengths, work on those weaknesses and focus your energies on the areas you naturally gravitate towards.

• Fourth, fashion school is a highly competitive environment. You are in a classroom filled with a lot of talented people so it helps you up your game as well. Of course, everyone thinks they are the best. Well, that is only up to the point when you get into a learning environment and realize that someone else is better at what you thought you were the best at. Watching others also inspires you and pushes you to put in your best – and you definitely need that best when you eventually start off on your own. PLUS it helps you know what others are really doing so you can add that extra touch to your work which will help you carve that niche for yourself when you start off.

• Fifth, fashion school gives you an opportunity to create vital networks and also learn from others in a controlled environment. Your teachers and fellow students form part of that network which you will definitely need when starting your business. They are collaborators who you can always call on for help because of that bond created in that environment.

Well I usually stop at 5 but I’ll throw in an extra one – which to me is the most important.

• Fashion School affords you the opportunity to make mistakes in a learning environment and learn from them. More often than not, the stakes are much higher when you make those same mistakes in your business – mistakes you could have avoided if you had learnt about them in fashion school.

I often tell people, fashion school is not just about learning, learning and learning. You have to test the principles that are being taught and apply them before you leave that environment. When you are in school, you can ask questions on what worked or did not work and your teachers are there to help out. PLUS, your customers encourage you and do not mind being your “guinea-pigs” or your mistakes when they know you are still learning. But once you are done learning and you project yourself as a full-fledged designer, that’s it. You clients become vicious and those mistakes can make or break your business before you even begin to crawl.

Great! I’m done! One thing is certain though – to succeed in any industry, you have to know a whole lot about that industry. Ralph Lauren and Cosmas Maduka certainly taught us that. I don’t think I would really have appreciated fashion as I do now if I had not attended fashion school. But I’m glad I did, and if you can attend one, you should.

If you, however, cannot attend one now, don’t let it deter you. Start off with learning what you can learn now. There are so many great resources available on the internet which can help you start off. Start the research now, not later and don’t only focus on the art or the skill. Also learn about the business sides as well. Being a fashion designer is great but useless if you cannot make money from it – well except it’s a hobby to you. But what I always say is, if you make something for yourself and someone likes it, the minute you make that same thing for someone else and accept money, even if it is just to buy the materials and fabrics, that is the start of a business. And we do know many people make a whole lot of money from their hobbies so why shouldn’t you?! But that’s just how I think.

And how about you?! What’s your take on fashion school? Is it a “yay” or a “nay”?! And if you did not go to fashion school, do tell us what you did to get you so far in your fashion business so we can also learn from your experiences.


Tope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder, Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Martwayne Presents Basic Fashion Course for Juniors (Age 9 - 16)!!!

School is out for Summer and I bet you are wondering how to keep your kids busy and make the best of the holidays!

Well… save yourself the headache! Let them take fashion, design and sewing classes at Martwayne!

They will learn about what fashion really is and how to truly understand its benefits… and of course take a time travel into the past with an exciting look at the history of fashion!

No wait for it…. that’s not all!

They will learn some hand embroidery techniques and learn how to turn that plain tee-shirt or pair of jeans into a WOW outfit that will literally make your jaw drop!

But BEST OF ALL! They will learn how to sew! YES! They will literally learn how to create the pattern for their skirts (and I can safely tell you that most oh-so- fab tailors out there have no clue what patterns are) and actually sew the skirts!

No no…. not with a needle and thread… with an actual sewing machine! ALL in a very safe and highly supervised environment!
Just imagine your oh-so- amazing child making you a fabulous skirt and you proudly wearing it to work or that evening party.

And it all begins with just registering them for our summer fashion course this holiday, just to keep them busy.
AND
Think about the breather you will get not having to wonder what they will do while you are at work or you need to go for that meeting – OR coming back from home and having that peace and quiet because they are busy working on their tiny fun projects! :-D

SO…what says you?! I think it’s time for you to help them shape their future and, of course, get that knowledge that will forever remain with them. Think of it as building the next generation of business owners – and of course EVERYONE loves fashion so they will definitely make a lot of money!

Well, actually we cannot quite place a figure on the investment you make into a child’s future...

We cannot quantify the fulfillment you will experience as a parent or guardian.

We cannot cost the peace of knowing that your child’s destiny is secured-rooted-in their giftings (All World Champions Started Early).

Or is it the freedom to not have to worry what your child is up to this holiday?

What about the fact that your child will most likely NOT have to go job-searching after school?

Exciting isn’t it? … So what are you waiting? Give your kids the best summer they wouldn’t stop taking about.

For Registration:
Contact: +234 818 395 8856


Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com

Ok… so you have always wanted to become a fashion designer…for any of the following reasons:

You have always loved sketching clothes as soon as you were able to hold a pencil;
You used to make clothes for your dolls;

You know you have the talent and everyone knows that – they even come to you when they need styles for their aso-ebi; … or the one I get often…
You were just tired of your tailor and you knew you could do better. It’s the classic tale of ‘I tell her one thing and she churns out something else and we keep going back and forth!’ (This was my story…)

You know it. Everyone knows it. You just have to become a fashion designer! You have the gift, you have the talent and you know you will make a lot of money from it. And you keep promising yourself that next year you will definitely take this up!

December comes and you write your goals for the coming year, and top of of the list?! “Finally pursue this dream of mine!” The new year hits and you are all fired up! Google becomes your best friend. You start your research “How to Become a Fashion Designer”, you start making calls and you even visit some fashion schools because you want to learn how to sew.

And then the holidays are over and reality hits. Work or school begins and the momentum you built over the holidays starts slowing down. Before you know it, the excuses start pouring in. You begin to convince yourself that “now is not the right time”. Why? You tell yourself…
- I have an extremely busy schedule and simply cannot create the time!
- Won’t people think I’m crazy?! Leaving a good job for fashion?!
- I have a family to feed, how much money can I possibly make from fashion;
- I think I am too old and don’t even know how or where to start from;
- I don’t have the money so let me work some more to gather more funds;
- The good fashion schools are too far and I cannot give up my weekends;
- I cannot get distracted now, I am at a crucial point in my life;
- I’m about to get that promotion so now is not a good time to leave.
- I cannot do this, what if I fail?!

And the excuses keep piling up. And yes, these are good and valid points which make all the sense in the world… or are they?! Maybe… just maybe these excuses are just a cover for the real reason you have refused to make that move – FEAR! And worse, you have refused to admit it to yourself!

Yes we all face these fears.
- Fear of failure;
- Fear of the unknown;
- Fear that people will laugh at you;
- Fear that people won’t like your work;
- Fear that you are too old;… I can go on and on…

I can, however, assure you that there is one thing way worse than fear and that is the regret you feel years down the line when the world has moved on and you are still stuck in the same space. You think you have missed that opportunity (emphasis on the word “think”) and bitterness sets in. You blame everything and everyone around you, including yourself (if you have the guts to blame yourself), for missing that opportunity.

But guess what? It is never too late to make the move. So what if you fail? Big deal. You try again or worse, you backtrack and go back to your job or get another job – you will not be the first to do so. But at least there is that satisfaction you get knowing that you scratched that itch and bled in the process; knowing that you discovered after trying it out that it was not for you. At least, now you know.

But then again, you really do not need to dive into the ocean and give everything up in a flash! Baby steps they call it. Test the waters first. Use your spare time (and yes everyone has some spare time no matter how busy they are) and start something on the side no matter how little. Could be selling your sketches to designers or even your colleagues who need fabulous styles for Asoebi Bella, working with your tailor to bring your sketches to life and selling them to colleagues or even learning how to sew. The best thing is your market is all around you! Everyone loves a fashion designer because everyone must wear clothes! Do that until you build that confidence to take the full plunge!

Oh… and one more thing… try not to give in to procrastination! Yes it is difficult and I, for one, am extremely guilty of it! Take this article for example. I have been meaning to write about this for ages and this is what?! July already! I just kept postponing until I said to myself just now “Argh! You know what?! Just do this now!” And it is exactly 2.18am!

And that is literally all it takes! For you to say to yourself “Argh! I’m doing this now!” Not tomorrow, not when I get home, NOW!

So there you have it! I’ve made my move! How about you?! Tell us why you have not yet made that move into the fashion industry


Temitope Williams-Adewunmi
Founder, Martwayne | Power Through Fashion
Blog: www.fashionbeyondstitches.com
URL: www.martwayne.com