Otunba Wasiu Taiwo is 61 and that is
authoritative. For those who don’t know, let’s quickly tell you that he is a successful
celebrity fashion designer in Abeokuta, Ogun state. He is also the leader of
tailors across Nigeria. Let’s tell you more.
Otunba Wasiu Taiwo is quite popular in
Abeokuta. He is also popular across the country. He owns Wessy Creations that
produces world-class Kaftans and Agbada for men. He has also been the President
of the Nigeria Union of Tailors for the last few years. he owns the popular
Continental Suites in Abeokuta.
Late last year, Otunba Wasiu Taiwo,
whose alias is Wessy, spoke to City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE about how he
took after his dad as a tailor very many years ago.
Below are excerpts of the interview.
How old is Wessy Creations? Why did you
go into the business?
That’s a long time ago, it’s
over 30 years. It’s my fathers work. My father is a local designer at Ilaro,
Yewa South local government when we were growing up, he got us involved in the
job. When we come back from school I used to join him. I used to look at the
job as magic that they are trying to perform here. Just put a piece of material
on the table and you now cut it into pieces and join it together to form a
human shape. I said No, this can only be magic. I want to be able to do this
magic. That is how I picked interest in it.
I am a grassroots tailor. I
started doing tailoring with my father. From the age of 12, I started working
on the sewing machine, sewing clothes, trying to do things on my own. So, if I
say I have been into it for about 50 years I would be correct. But if I count
it from when I said ok, I have really made up my mind to pursue it and make it
a careeer and make a difference. That has always been my target on this job-to
make a difference.That was my target from the beginning. It has always been I
want to make a difference.
So, each time I walk around
stores abroad, I look at ideas that they have that I can improve on to make the
difference. That is why I am always adjudged the best in all the places I have
worked. I always like to look at what is the next stage, what is the next
thing. I learn first. Once I see what you are doing, I want to think of the
next stage. How can I improve on it. I like Tailoring and I have a great
passion for it. It gives me a lot of joy.
Did you go for further training?
Yes. I went to Ibadan where I
did some training. Fortunately for me, there is a company that just came in
from abroad, at Liberty road, in Ibadan. I worked with them for about 3 years.
The name is Al-Gazar Clothing (Garment Manufacturer). He brought in a whole
garment industry in from the UK to Ibadan then. What we were used to doing then
was Conductor. When the judges take off their suits, the next thing they want
to wear as a casual wear is a Conductor. We were able to change that Conductor
into French Suits.
So, people started moving
from Conductor to French Suits. Its the man that brought it. The 2 styles are
different. We looked local when we started doing Conductor at first. So all the
Judges, the lawyers came to us and we worked for them. After that I worked with
G. B Oye (Good wear House) in Ibadan. He is a 1st class London trained tailor.
It was after that I decided to come back home.
After 3 years I moved to the
UK. I wanted to know what is happening at the international level. I decided to
have 6 months training at the London College of Fashion. But when I got there I
discovered that what I have trained myself for over 15 to 20 years is what they
are trying to teach us its like Kindergarten. I was already a professional
tailor. So, I felt I was going to waste my time here.
I met a guy there. John. He
is an Italian. He teaches illustration in London College of Fashion. We now
agreed to work together. I told him I am a Tailor and I can do all the kind of
suits I saw them doing in London. He said you. I doubt it. He said he has an
alteration shop in Central London. I just left the College and I moved there to
work with him to be doing alteration. One day I just told him. I said John, all
these suits we are amending, do you think we can’t produce these suits they
are bringing for alteration. He said No.
He said the suits are
manufactured by big companies with massive machines for production. I said I
disagree with you. We can do it. He said No. I told you, I know where they are
producing it. They have giant machines. I said my friend, whatever you want to
produce, in mass, you must first of all be able to produce it manually. They
started from somewhere. They didn't just grow big like that. I can make suits.
That is my own area of specialization. Lets start small. I can make these suits
even without going to that factory you mentioned. He said No. I said ok.
I know what to do. One day, before
he came back from school, I went to the market to buy some fabrics and I began
to sew. I finished the suit and I showed him when he came back. I said somebody
brought it for alteration. He said this suit is nice. I said, now you can see
that there is no difference. I made this suit here. He said no, I can’t believe
it. You mean, you this fucking African man came here to make suits. He was
annoyed. So, you can do all these. What’s your problem? You alone want to do
the job of about 70 to 80 people that you alone are doing. Where did you get
your training?
I told him that is how we
were trained locally and more so, I love this job, so I trained myself to
attain this level, because there was a time I used to go and buy already made
suits and outfits and I will rip it open and sew it back. I want to know how it
is made. I will lose it back. And I will sew it again. So, I was training
myself because of the interest I have in it. I want to be able to be close to
that good presentation. That’s what I have been doing, up till now. I still do
that up till today. I am always willing to learn new methods.
When did you come back to Abeokuta?
I came back to Abeokuta close
to 30 years now. In 1998, I went back to London to go and buy equipments
abroad.
That was when I started his
structure that I want to use for tailoring in 1998. But unfortunately the dream
didn’t come to pass until now. I decided at some point to do a hotel. I
didn’t have the plan originally to do a hotel. It’s only because my
partner who was supposed to come from London did not come. The agreement was go
back home and create an enabling environment, have a place for showroom in one,
two, three location, then he will go and bring all the equipment, then we can
partner.
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