How To Become A Successful Fashion Designer In Nigeria – Due to the unstable nature of the economy, more and more young people need to acquire lucrative skills and become self-sufficient members of society.
Young people can learn many skills in present-day Nigeria, one of them being fashion designing.
When most people hear the phrase fashion design, they immediately picture sewing clothes alone, but the craft goes far beyond stitching two pieces of cloth together.
Fashion design is the art of applying style, beauty, and garment construction to clothing and its accessories.

A fashion designer creates appealing clothes, but they can also design shoes and bags.
This article outlines everything you need to know about becoming a successful fashion designer in Nigeria. Keep reading to find out more!
Table of Content
- Why choose a fashion design career
- Brief History of Fashion Design in Nigeria
- Pros and Cons of Being a Fashion Designer
- Famous Modern-day Fashion Designers in Nigeria
- Steps to Become a Successful Fashion Designer in Nigeria
Table of Contents
Why Choose a Fashion Design Career?
There are lots of benefits embedded in a fashion designing career. Some of them include:
1. There are Numerous Employment Opportunities For Fashion Designers

From dressmaking to embroidery to upholstery, the career opportunities are endless. Taking up a career in fashion designing would help you create an income stream on your terms.
You can decide to open a shop in any public location where customers can easily find you or consider working for a fashion company.
2. You’ll Learn a New Style Every day
One of the perks of being a fashion designer is learning something new every day.
The fashion industry is constantly evolving, and customers are always eager to stand out with their new clothes and make a good impression.
If you learn the craft properly, you’ll have customers contacting you frequently to replicate an appealing design they saw on television or in a magazine.
3. You’ll Get To Meet and Connect with Lots of People
As someone in the service industry, you’ll have people coming to you often to pay for your services.
Choosing a fashion designing career will allow you to meet with many people and connect with them.
If you make excellent garments, you could meet high-profile individuals willing to pay large sums of money for your craft. The possibilities are limitless!
Brief History of Fashion Design in Nigeria
Although people have been wearing clothes for centuries, fashion designing didn’t become popular in Nigeria until the 20th century when a famous designer called Shade Thomas-Fahm set up a fashion shop at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.
She specialized in locally woven and dyed textiles. Her craft helped her gain popularity in Nigeria and several foreign countries.
Towards the end of the 20th century, more fashion designers emerged from around the country and tailored clothes according to the prevailing cultures and styles existing during their time.
Pros and Cons of Being a Fashion Designer
Admittedly, the idea of drawing beautiful designs and implementing them on fabric might seem appealing to lots of people, but fashion design also has some possible drawbacks.
Here’s a table showing the pros and cons of picking fashion design as a career choice in Nigeria:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
There are numerous career options. | You might encounter challenging customers. |
It provides ongoing education on the job. | You would have to work for many hours daily. |
Fashion designers have networking opportunities. | You might get stressed out. |
Famous Modern-day Fashion Designers in Nigeria
Some famous Nigerian fashion designers currently making waves in the industry are Deola Sagoe, Lisa Folawiyo, Mai Atafo, Folake Coker, and a host of others.
Steps to Become a Successful Fashion Designer in Nigeria
- Learn the Craft
If you intend to work in the fashion industry and be a pioneer in it, you must immerse yourself fully by learning the fundamentals of this glamorous sector.
As a fashion enthusiast, you can consider getting a formal education at a fashion school or becoming an apprentice for a reputable and experienced designer.
Enrolling in a fashion designing course will enable you to understand the workings of the industry and prepare you for a career in it.
- Find Out Your Area of Expertise
As a beginner, don’t make a decision based on what your friends are doing. Try to find out the area that interests you.
If you have trouble deciding which path to follow, you can consider conducting some research online to find out more about fashion and possible career options.
- Connect with Experienced Fashion Designers
An essential aspect of making headway career-wise is networking with experienced professionals in your field.
While you’re learning the craft, it would be beneficial to interact with other people who have been practicing it for a long time.
These experts can enlighten you on the strategies that work for them, help you source for clients, or assist you in choosing an excellent shop location.
- Create a Portfolio
Before anyone hires you, they will probably want to see your abilities. Clients won’t hire you if you say you can sew without showing them samples.
Try to be meticulous and master your craft before creating a portfolio. A portfolio allows you to demonstrate various skillsets such as sketching, sewing, and pattern making.
- Source For Financing
If you intend to work for a fashion company, you won’t need to bother with this aspect.
However, if you want to start a sole proprietorship business after learning fashion designing, you will need to source funds to begin your venture.
The options available to small-scale sole proprietors include using personal savings, getting a loan from a bank, or seeking a loan from friends and family.
- Keep Up with Trends
The fashion industry is constantly evolving. Clients are not seeking after most of the styles that were popular ten years ago.
Check out the pictures in new fashion magazines to stay on top of your game. You can also consider watching fashion shows on television to learn the various new styles available.
Bottom Line
Many individuals are venturing into the fashion industry due to the employment opportunities available along with other benefits.
The business has both advantages and drawbacks, so before venturing into it, try to learn everything you can.
Besides learning the craft, you also need to connect with experienced people, make a portfolio, look for funding, and stay current with fashion trends.