D’ACE Tailoring has become a household name not only in Ibadan but in major cities of the South West of Nigeria. However, the young man behind the project is so unassuming. He is hardly noticed when he goes out. Parrot Xtra Magazine/PMParrot’s crew members, OLUDOTUN AJIBOLA and MAYOWA OWOGBADE were able to persuade Yinka Sanusi to speak with us. Excerpts:
Can you please introduce yourself to our esteemed readers?
My name is Yinka Sanusi, the CEO of D’ACE tailoring and fashion academy, I am from Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.
Do you wish to talk about your academics background?
I went to Omega Nursery and Primary school and proceed to Loyola College and Wesley College of Science, Elekuro Ibadan for my secondary education before I got admission to study at the Federal University of Abeokuta (FUNNAB) where I studied Forestry and Wildlife Management.
Having studied Forestry and Wildlife management, many will be wondering why you decided to adopt tailoring as a career…
What made me choose tailoring over my course of study is simply my passion towards perfection and looking good generally, I love people looking good and smart.
How did you jump start your career as a tailor?
I developed my passion for fashion from childhood days and that made it easy for me to be on that path, but I started making cloths for my colleagues as an under graduate during my university days.
How did you come up with the name “D’ACE” and what does the name symbolize?
“D’ACE” is just about my vision concerning the tailoring business, I like something that is perfect, neat, and detailed. So the word “ACE” means something that is perfect and just added letter “D” to “D’ACE” then tailoring, so all together turns to become D’ACE TAILORING.
How old is “D’ACE” TAILORING as a business concern?
We started D’ACE’ TAILORING officially in the year 2009, by the grace of God this company will be 10 years next year, 2019.
Nine years down the line – you must have faced a lot of challenges ?
Getting started was the first challenge. It wasn’t an easy task at all and away from that, there are other challenges, there are different stages of challenges in business, every stage comes with its challenges but we thank God we kept moving and growing in the business. However, I will say it here that the problem of power supply is an ever recurring one.
What will you say motivates you despite all these challenges?
My source of motivation is passion. Once you have passion, you will be able to overlook all your challenges.
What is the source of your inspiration?
Passion and creativity
Apart from fashion, what are those things you’ve done and you would have loved to do better if you had the time?
Before going into fashion I started as a show biz person, I have managed some artistes and I am also into magazine publication. I love show biz and entertainment, I am still trying to do it but I don’t really have time for it.
Your company is about to start a fashion school here in Ibadan, what is your reason for doing this?
One of the motives behind creating a fashion school is about creating more jobs for people especially the youths in Nigeria, it’s about fashion and opportunity to create a platform for people coming behind us, we are going to train the student on how to make different types of wears and at the same time teach them how to differentiate their brands and make them different from regular designs and designers. I believe this will give them many chances of making more costumers and monetize their product.
What qualifies someone to become a student of D’ACE Fashion Academy?
The first step is that they will have to register by paying registration fee, while the second stage and what seems to be important is a student must be able to read and write.
Is there any academic standard that qualifies someone to be a student at D’ACE fashion school?
I think Secondary school certificate is enough for now.
What do you think are the major challenges facing fashion designers in Nigeria?
Fashion business in Nigeria is now growing because people are very creative in Nigeria. The market is expanding daily. So, most of us face the challenge of power generation and getting financial support to expand.
How do you deal with competition around you and what makes D’ACE stand out among others?
I don’t see any of my colleagues as competitors, because that might just be an unnecessary source of distraction – of course everybody has his or her ways of doing things, you just have to keep working on yourself, get better and have focus on what you are doing. You might get it wrong trying to compete with someone. The only competitor one needs to have should be him or herself.
As a fashion designer, what is the most expensive thing you rock?
I will say my wristwatch is the most expensive, I love wearing good and expensive wristwatches.
Do you have a particular design you always go for?
I don’t have a specific brand but I am a lover of anything smart and fit, Smartness and fitness are the only things that go for anything I like. I do patronize any brand.
How do you relax?
I do hangout with my friends
Where will you like your brand to be in the next five years?
By God’s grace D’ACE TAILORING will be an international brand and having more patronage both locally and internationally in the next five years.
How will you rate fashion in Nigeria compared to what obtains overseas?
For now, I will say Nigeria still has a long way to go.
What are those things you regretted not doing in time past and you feel like doing if time permits you?
I don’t have any regret, everything has been a blessing and process to greatness, I strongly believe things shall continue getting better by the grace of Almighty.
As one of the hardworking youths in Nigeria, how would you react to the reported statement made by President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerian youths are lazy?
Assuming he didn’t generalize it, it would have been better. It seems that Mr President does not understand what is going on in the country, especially here in the south west. Nigerian youths are trying all their best to make their ends meet on daily basis, to the best of my knowledge that statement can be said to be highly insulting – on the youths.
What are your Do’s and Don’ts?
What I like most is honesty while I hate people who tell ties, I always like people being honest and straight.
Your advice for youths and people looking forward to be like you?
Like I said earlier, they should be positive and passionate in whatever they are doing, passion and dedication are the keys to greatness.
