About The Curvy Life presents Curvy Conversations with Tobi Ogundipe of TOSFA for its 1st Anniverary
Talented, young and brilliantly expressive, Tobi Ogundipe is the very modern Creative Director of forward-thinking plus fashion house and style agency, TOSFA. In celebration of the brand’s first anniversary. Latasha Ngwube, Founder of Aboutthatcurvylife.com had a gab session at ATCL’s
HQ (in the heart of Lekki, Lagos) with the Lady-of-the-Label to talk
about everything from job hunting in Lagos to twinning with her sister
as kids!
Tobi on the Hows and Whys of Creating TOSFA
I moved back to Nigeria towards the end
of 2014, a hundred percent certain I would get a job upon return. I
called up family who had given their word, promising a good job was a
phone conversation away but instead received the shock of my life when
it was time to come through for me. No one showed up and that was to be
the first lesson. The situation stayed the same for three months and the
offers I got were for jobs that I couldn’t imagine myself doing. One
day I was complaining about not being able to get clothes my size in
Nigeria and then it hit me.
I’d always liked fashion in an
enthusiast’s sense but never tried a handing at designing or tailoring
so I decided a collaboration would be the perfect angle. I hit up a
designer I knew with the hopes of making a collection with her, for
curvy women, and she was sold. So we started talking and we started
sketching and then in the middle of the whole thing, I knew that I might
as well do this by myself. It wasn’t a move I’m proud of but the ideas
coming to me had surpassed this intended collaboration and I knew this
was exactly what the curvy community needed. I told the designer I
wanted to break out and that is how TOSFA was born on the 16th of July
2015!
On fear at the very beginning
I was scared and confused because this
was something I had never done before. I had passion in great abundance
but I now had to learn the rudiments of design on my own. I studied
online the basics and secondary levels of different processes- learning
how to sketch, tailoring, pattern, fabrics and fabrication techniques
but in all this the fear never went away, instead it got bigger with
each passing day. Soon enough I realized I was getting better and little
by little my doubts started to melt away. With each satisfied customer I
grew more confident about my decisions and I got better. I literally
allowed the work speak for itself. Although I still get scared from time
to time, the difference now is I allow myself look back and then I take
stock of how far I’ve come and that helps me move forward no matter
what.
On inspiration and other designers
My mum was my very first inspiration,
not only because she is on the curvy side but also because growing up
with from my childhood days with a much slimmer sister, mum would always
style both of us in the same clothes. The message I got from this was I
could wear whatever I wanted in my size and even put my spin on it
because it was okay to not look like everyone else. Of course with that
kind of powerful message my confidence could not be questioned and I’m
grateful for that from my mom.
I love Pintrest I go there to draw
inspiration for different looks and generally spend a lot of time honing
my creative side. Coincidentally and for the longest time, you have
always inspired me! I would go on BellaNaija while I lived in the States
and I would see “Latasha” and really vibe with your style. Your outfits
gave me life on all angles, the way you carry yourself, your sense of
colour – yeah I’m going to stop talking now (laughter). I like and
respect other designers like Wana Sambo, Toju Foyeh, Re Bahia, Orange Culture, Ejiro Emos Tafiri and Lisa Folawiyo.
On the Brand’s growth, turning one, looking back and reflecting over the last year
If I could speak to me exactly a year
ago, I will tell that Tobi that it’s okay to fall down as long you pick
yourself back up again. I know that really sounds like a cliché but
considering the disappointments I had, I can’t think of a better way to
put it. Now that we are one, I’m getting everything I’ve wanted. From
media interviews to new customers calling for this and that to great
reviews. I’m excited for what the future holds because I can see there’s
a lot of potential for the plus size industry in Nigeria and it’s just
amazing how people are starting to see this and appreciating the effort.
What have been your bestselling pieces so far?
The Latasha skirt (no jokes), The Kiki
Cape Dress, Olivia Pant Set and also the Balenciaga Skirt inspired by
the aforementioned brand.
Are you into any fashion TV shows?
I honestly do not watch a lot of TV but I caught an episode of Project Runway
the other day and totally started questioning my goals as to why I’d
never sat and watched it before. Like just from that one episode I was
already inspired seven ways from Sunday. I need to step up my TV game
for sure and catch more inspiring programs.
What are your hopes for the Curvy Fashion Community in Nigeria and the continent at large?
I can see that right now, the plus size fashion industry leaders including Makioba, Ma’Bello,
myself and Aboutthatcurvylife.com – as the forefront of the curvy life
media space – are changing the game. The Curvy Conversation is changing
and we are in the mix. We have a long way to go but I love how we stick
together and are pushing the change along. We are almost there and we
dare not stop now.
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