Ogundele Oluwatobi, the Ceo of Ceomania Alaso-Oke is a Fabric Stylist who majors in styling of premium Aso Oke Fabrics into contemporary and special looks. In this season of sustainable fashion , Oluwatobi has been able to secure his position firmly in the Nigerian fashion industry with his exemplary works with the age long fabric – Aso Oke . A graduate of English and Literary studies from The Ekiti State University Ekiti state, Nigeria Oluwatobi had a chat with our Editor – in – Chief – Moriam Musa on how a helpless situation influenced his business and took it from home to a space of Universal acceptance .
T & E – What led you to the path of deviating from the norm?
Oluwatobi -Well I got the idea for Aso-Oke, the foremost idea that came to mind as a working mission is to make the Aso-Oke fabrics an everyday need and that was in 2013. I had some struggles before finally accepting the idea because the approach was something I didn’t figure out early enough, but somewhere along I knew that the best way to come into the scene was through the trending norm which is bridal styling. We did a couple of bridal collaborations, attended to clients’ needs and in between I started putting out contemporary looks.
The first major one we did was an office dress in 2015, then a jumpsuit, we further took a bold step to make a wedding gown from Aso Oke but the first one did not work out well but the subsequent ones did wonderfully well as feedback was affirmative.
I finally felt a need for a deeper interpretation during lockdown when events were on hold due to Covid-19 and demand for bridal styling was at a near pause. I told my team this is where we do a 180 turn; we need to move beyond this and then we evolved fully.
So in summary, the main mission from the start and the effect of Covid19 triggered the #madefromAsooke beyond event styling.
T & E – Was the norm -Traditional pieces too competitive a playing field for you?
Oluwatobi – Hmmmm….., yes it was a bit of a competitive playing ground as expected every sector has its own competition which you must be able to weather to own a stake -which I did, because each time I showcased my pieces, designs, we got positive response, feedback and imitations.
We have quite a number of designs we have showcased and we have other people trying to replicate it.
There was a time I was somewhere in Oyo state, I was with a prospective vendor and while he was trying to pitch to me what he could do, unknowing to him, he was showing me my designs and that made me smile. I hate to flatter myself but I can assure you my team curates one of the most detailed bridal designs and styles.
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Then talking about the norm, history has it that the fabric is most used by royal fathers, their family, and the prominent people in the society. Then somehow it became the top choice for bridal styling since the event is a special celebration, so I predict the everyday need of the premium fabric is the new norm and that’s why I am taking it on fully so as to further interpret the lushness of the fabric
T &E – How sustainable is this line of fashion, bearing in mind that the aso oke fabric is quite thick and not as breathable?
Oluwatobi – It is 100% sustainable. My self and the team have come to understand that the fabric is even more durable than most of the clothes that have been tagged as 100% fabrics.
We have done a study and we have realized that Aso Oke can be made into anything: fairly thick, light, super light and super thick which is the beauty of the fabric because it makes it competitive to play on different levels.
A close study and test trial of the fabric has unveiled the many fashion styles that can sustain the incoming norm. So for me, I believe it is very sustainable and it is something we can work with because I tell people that if you can wear a denim fabric eg – a pair of Jeans and make it into Pants, Kimonos, Jump Suits, Jackets, and many more, so why can’t you have the Aso Oke? The Aso Oke fabric when properly woven can be softer than the denim fabric which makes it very breathable and stylish.
T&E – Would you say your style and designs have taken away from the once top drawer/ceremonial concept of the aso oke fabric?
Oluwatobi – My new styles and designs have not taken away from what people use to know as the norm, it has only helped the fabric attend to more than one part of the market. Initially, it used to be ceremonious and special needs but now, it has added the contemporary styling.
I still do both designs very well. I have departments that handle them. We have the #madefromasooke beyond events which is the contemporary arm and the #owanbecommunity which caters for special events and Aso-ebi demands.
