TEMITOPE: LIVING MY DREAM.

Ojo Temitope Dorcas has lots of spunk and drive; she does not believe in whining over challenges, nor is she easily fazed by them. Her venture into the Creative Arts and Fashion industry was born out of a childhood love for fashion/creative arts, and a burning desire to improve on the low quality services that she was getting from dressmakers, whenever she needed to have an outfit made for an occasion that she needed to attend. She got so tired of having to sit with a dressmaker from start to finish in order to ensure that she got the  exact quality she wanted, that she announced to her mother, that she wanted to pursue her interest for fashion. This decision did not meet with much resistance; her parents supported her all the way.

She enrolled at Winners Creation in the  Adelabu area of Surulere in Lagos State, where she learned fashion designing and hats making.  Whilst at Winners Creation, she did a part time program in Accounting at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, and also acquired a certificate in baking Technology from the Yaba Polytechnic, as well. Temitope further honed her skills in cake making, outdoor catering, and decorations at Sedu Collections in Aguda, Surulere with the sole aim of making her shop a one stop center for events planning, and wedding ceremonies.  Temitope, a 32 year old woman from Ogbomoso in Oyo state of Nigeria,  decided to explore her passion instead of folding her arms and waiting for a job; she dared to venture into the murky business terrain to become an employer of labor herself.

The scope of her business includes the making of: ankara wallets, ankara footwear of all types including: slippers, wedges, sandals, etc,  ankara bags, ankara belts, ankara hair pieces/brooches, ankara earrings, ankara note books and ankara jeans. She also gives professional advice on patterns,designs and matching materials that may be used for those unique occasions that one wants to turn out so well. She started out with the business name, Royal Creation, in 2004, and in 2012, changed the name to, TopRoyal Creations. Let's get to know more about Temitope. 

Q. How did it all begin?

A. After my graduation from Winners Creation, I began to have patronage from lots of people; due to the large number of clients I was providing services for; my parents complained that my business was taking up too much space at home. I had clients from Kaduna, Abuja, and other parts of the country.  So, they encouraged and assisted me in securing an office space at Ijesha Road.

Q. How did the love for fashion and the Arts come about?
A.  Fashion/Arts have always been my  dream from childhood and I had the flair for it. In my secondary school days, I used to design birthday cards, draw, and carry out all sorts of creative activities. In those days, I'd baked a cake, but forget to add a vital ingredient, e.g baking powder, which would made the cake unpalatable to my family members and it would, often times than not, end up in the dust bin. However, I believe in continuous self improvement and was constantly working on improving my skills. I learned to make Kampala(adire dress), in junior secondary one, amongst many other things.  Initially I made only dresses with bags for clients, but after some time, clients began to demand for shoes that would match their out fits. I got someone to help me in making shoes, but when he became unreliable, I was pushed to go and learn how to make the shoes and bags myself, in Ikeja.

 Q. Share the exciting moments.

A.  Someone who admired my designs,  told a cousin who worked at GQ Ikoyi, on Queen’s drive, about me. The cousin came to see me, and expressed her disappointment with seamstresses. I promised her that,  I would make her happy and  to the glory of God, when I delivered her clothes, she was so happy- I could read it in her face. She introduced me to her colleagues, who were mostly whites. One of them gave me a fabric that she would be taking to Poland to sew for her, and also took me to an exhibition at the German Cultural Center in Victoria Island. She wore one of my designs to the exhibition, and this got me more clients,  because many loved the attire on her. I'm always happy when my clients appreciate my good work; this has been the source of my joy and motivation.

Q. What challenges have you faced in this business?
 A. The major challenge I have is that of quality staff to meet the demands of my growing clientele.  I keep training staff to assist  me in meeting my clients demands, but in the long run, those I train later leave and start up their own businesses. So I have to work tirelessly in order not to disappoint my clients. Secondly, some clients want cheap services, but due to the quality of materials that I use for my designs, I cannot afford to make my prices as low as they would have hoped for. Thus, some clients end up leaving to patronize other people who may be cheaper, but whose fabrics are of lower quality and not durable. 

Tope with a client

Q. How do you source your clients
A. Most of the clients I've had, came through referrals. My work advertises me and my clients have really being appreciative of my designs- especially the ankara shoes and bags.

Q. Share your thoughts on unemployment and crime rate.
A. Most people are unemployed presently because they are neither willing to explore their creativity, nor humble enough to learn. They fail to realize that you don’t need a huge capital to start business. You can
start with what you have.
-You must always stoop low to conquer
-You must always seek God on any thing you want to venture into because, God should come first.
Those who engage in crime because of unemployment don’t have a genuine excuse. They should learn to use the knowledge/talent they have to make a difference.

Q.If you were not doing this, what would you be doing now?
A. There is a high probability that I would be among the unemployed Nigerian youths searching for a job.

Q. Where do you see yourself in 5-10yrs time?
A. i. Contributing my own quota towards building up the Nigerian youth.
ii. Organizing exhibitions to showcase our Nigerian cultural wear.
iii. Making Non-Nigerians take an interest in our cultural wear.
iv. Setting up a creative fashion school.

Q. Who are your role models? A. Opral Benson and Folorunsho Alakija

Q. Guiding principle/philosophy
A. Be focused (Never relent or stop until you achieve your goals).

Q. Favorite quote
A. There is nothing impossible with God.
(God will do every thing at His own appointment time).