Former beauty queen turned fashion designer, Maryam Elisha, speaks about her
career and style.
What influenced your decision to become a fashion designer?
I have always loved fashion and when I won Ms. Valentine Nigeria beauty
pageant in 2007, I had the opportunity of wearing very expensive and beautiful
dresses from top designers all over the world. It was only natural for me, having
worn so many beautiful dresses, to want to bring the beautiful look and trend to
Nigeria.
I wanted to create lovely dresses for Nigerians at affordable prices. I also felt
my fashion designing business could fund my foundation because I believe in
working hard and financing what I do.
It is not every time you need to look for sponsors. You should be able to do
something for the charity organisation that you are representing. I saw fashion
as a business and it is also something I love doing.
I went into modelling...and it did not affect me as a person. I still go to church
and I am a worker in the church. I dress decently and I am never seen in the
wrong places that my parents would frown at.
career and style.
What influenced your decision to become a fashion designer?
I have always loved fashion and when I won Ms. Valentine Nigeria beauty
pageant in 2007, I had the opportunity of wearing very expensive and beautiful
dresses from top designers all over the world. It was only natural for me, having
worn so many beautiful dresses, to want to bring the beautiful look and trend to
Nigeria.
I wanted to create lovely dresses for Nigerians at affordable prices. I also felt
my fashion designing business could fund my foundation because I believe in
working hard and financing what I do.
It is not every time you need to look for sponsors. You should be able to do
something for the charity organisation that you are representing. I saw fashion
as a business and it is also something I love doing.
I went into modelling...and it did not affect me as a person. I still go to church
and I am a worker in the church. I dress decently and I am never seen in the
wrong places that my parents would frown at.
Has the economic recession in the country affected your business?
Yes it has affected my business a lot. Clients that never bargained before now do
so. Sometimes the way they bargain is ridiculous as they slash prices by more
than half and their excuse is that things are hard. But if they really love the
piece and I feel it is convenient for us, we sell it to them. It has been difficult
in terms of getting fabrics too especially because of the exchange rate but we are
trying to cope and we pray it lasts for only a moment.
