Sarting a footwear brand sounds exciting… but what does it really take to build one? 👀

In this episode, we sit down with Funmilayo Abodenyi founder of dshoecollector, to talk about her journey of building a footwear brand from the ground up. From finding the right manufacturers and dealing with quality issues, to pricing, marketing, and navigating challenges like the pandemic — she shares what it truly takes behind the scenes.

If you’re thinking of starting a shoe brand, fashion business, or any creative venture, this conversation is packed with real, practical insights you don’t want to miss.


0:00 – Intro
1:24 – How dshoecollector started
5:55 – When a business idea becomes viable
8:32 – Impact of the pandemic on the business
11:08 – Starting online or with a physical store
11:38 – Early challenges encountered

14:35 – Size runs and production decisions
16:52 – Balancing creativity in design
18:04 – Credit Direct hype
18:47 – Producing in Nigeria vs abroad

21:02 – Quality control challenges
23:01 – Issues with factories abroad

32:10 – How pricing was determined
35:54 – Balancing store costs and pricing

38:21 – Marketing strategies that worked
40:31 – Advice for starting a footwear brand
42:29 – Do you need to “dance” on social media to sell? 👀

48:45 – Giveaway 🎁
49:09 – Outro


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What really goes into creating the looks we see on screen? 👀
From building a character’s wardrobe to working with tight budgets, handling production demands, and navigating credit in the industry — this conversation dives deep into the world of costume design for film and TV.
In this episode, we sit down with Yolanda Okereke, an 8-time AMVCA nominee, who has worked on major productions like Blood Sisters and Something for the Briggs. She shares what it really takes to bring characters to life through fashion, the business side of styling for film, and the behind-the-scenes realities most people never see.
If you’ve ever wondered how iconic looks are created on screen, this one is for you.

0:00 – Intro
1:43 – How stylists land TV projects
4:30 – Projects that excite you just by reading the script
11:09 – How much research goes into building a character’s wardrobe
15:50 – Credit Direct Hype
16:41 – How costume budgets are structured
17:50 – Do you have an army of tailors?
19:40 – What happens to clothes after production
23:18 – Creating luxury looks on a tight budget
24:15 – Highest budget worked with
26:06 – Ever designed a costume you didn’t fully understand the character?
28:45 – Do costume designers get enough credit?
31:29 – What do you enjoy more: costume design or red carpet styling?
32:16 – Preferred projects: epic vs modern stories
34:50 – How to learn costume design outside school
39:30 – Have actors ever kept or “taken” costumes? 👀
40:59 – Who really controls how a character looks?
42:32 – Giveaway 🎁

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What does it really take to build a successful shoe brand from scratch?

From starting to navigating challenges, funding, trends, and even the emotional side of the journey, this conversation gets real.

On this episode, we sit down with Eze David to talk about his journey into shoemaking, what inspired his designs, the business side of things, and what the future looks like for his brand.

If you're a creative, entrepreneur, or just curious about the fashion industry — this is one you don’t want to miss.

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0:00 – Intro
1:43 – How he got started
3:05 – First designs
3:42 – What size he started with
5:25 – Why he hasn’t designed for women
6:31 – Are all his shoes made here?
7:43 – How heels differ in men’s shoes
8:28 – What inspires his designs
9:18 – What works in marketing
10:20 – How he knew it would be lucrative
14:20 – Credit Direct hype
15:10 – Challenges he has faced
16:51 – Has he ever cried? 👀
18:40 – Keeping up with trends
21:19 – Funding: How much it costs to start
29:12 – Did he learn shoemaking formally?
31:25 – Thoughts on business owners using AI
33:45 – The future of King David’s brand
40:30 – Advice for upcoming designers
42:53 – Giveaway 🎁

What part of his journey stood out to you the most? Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇
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#FashionBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ShoeMaking #AfricanCreatives #BusinessJourney #Designers #StartupLife #CreativeIndustry #PodcastClips

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We sat down with a seasoned top model Ruth Vader to talk about what it really takes to build a career in modeling beyond the glam.

From how she got started, to handling rejection, navigating body standards, and the realities of pricing and agency representation, this is an honest and unfiltered conversation every aspiring model and fashion lover needs to hear.

She opens up about wearing outfits she’s not comfortable in, and what brands need to understand about models especially when it comes to representation and plus-size modeling.

If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in the modeling industry, this episode is for you.

Watch till the end for her advice to young models.

Like, comment and subscribe for more conversations.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro
01:04 – How Ruth got started as a model
02:50 – Types of modeling and niches
05:55 – Should new models join an agency
06:15 – Representation in the modeling industry
09:02 – Handling rejection
09:45 – Pressure to look a certain way
10:30 – Do Nigerian models get international recognition
13:30 – Credit Direct Hype
15:27 – Pricing and how much models earn
16:30 – Campaigns you didn’t like
17:10 – Wearing outfits you’re not comfortable in
20:22 – Turning down shoots
22:50 – Modeling schools vs agencies
27:39 – Advice to aspiring models
32:07 – Being a plus-size model experience
32:58 – What models want brands to understand

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#TheFashionRoundtable #ModelingInNigeria #FashionIndustry #ModelLife #PlusSizeModel

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In this episode of The Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Renike, the co-founder of Bawsty one of the fastest-growing fashion brands known for selling out designs almost instantly.

We dive into their journey from starting small to building a high-demand fashion brand, and what it really takes to scale, stay consistent, and keep up with overwhelming customer demand.

She also share how the brand started from a real problem — not being able to find the right sizes that fit properly. As bustier women, they struggled with options in the market,and that gap became the foundation for building Bawsty.

If you’re a fashion entrepreneur, creative, or business owner, this episode breaks down the real work behind the brand from strategy to execution, marketing, and operations.

This is more than just a success story, it’s an honest conversation about growth, pressure, and building a brand people can’t get enough of.


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⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Introduction
02:10 – How they got started
03:00 – What they started with
07:00 – Release designs every weekday
09:35 – How they decided on sizing
13:08 – Pricing
14:40 – Decision to use a website
16:20 – Credit Direct hype
17:15 – Customer issues
19:04 – Challenges: meeting demand
21:50 – Pop-up event experience
30:00 – Where the money came from
36:00 – Marketing
37:44 – Behind the scenes
39:09 – Misconceptions about fast fashion
41:00 – Advice to upcoming entrepreneurs
44:00 – Collaborations
45:18 – Giveaway 🎁


Enjoyed this episode?

Don’t forget to LIKE 👍🏽, COMMENT 💬, and SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more real, unfiltered conversations on building and scaling successful brands.

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In this episode of Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Ajide Daniels (the founder of Aso) to unpack the real journey from unexpected beginnings to building a ready-to-wear brand that challenges the idea that affordable fashion has to look cheap.

We talk about the defining moments, the struggles, the costly mistakes, and the mindset behind creating a brand with identity, structure, and long-term vision in the Nigerian fashion industry.

If you're a fashion entrepreneur, creative, or business owner trying to build something meaningful, this episode is for you.

✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:
• How he got started in fashion
• The moment Aso became a real brand
• Why ready-to-wear doesn’t have to be cheap
• The hardest parts of running a fashion business in Nigeria
• Marketing strategies that actually work
• Expensive mistakes and lessons learned
• Building a brand identity that lasts
• Vision for the next 10 years
• Advice for upcoming fashion entrepreneurs

⏱ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:10 - How it all started
11:22 - When Aso became a brand
15:40 - Best features of the brand
18:00 - Visa conversation
19:15 - How that experience changed things
25:00 - Building the brand identity
27:50 - Credit Direct hype
28:50 - The hardest part of the business
35:10 - Biggest struggle so far
36:40 - What she’s putting in place
39:15 - Marketing
46:00 - Most expensive mistakes
51:13 - The 10-year vision for Aso
53:52 - Advice
54:18 - Giveaway 🎁


Fashion Roundtable is where we have honest, unfiltered conversations about fashion, business, and building in Nigeria.

Subscribe for more real stories from the people shaping the fashion industry.

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In this episode of the Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Nkiru Achukwu, the powerhouse founder of Zephans & Co and this conversation did NOT hold back. From struggling to find clothes in her size, to surviving COVID, to scaling past 35,000 pieces sold, Nkiru shares the raw, unfiltered story behind her brand.

Whether you're a fashion lover, a business owner, or someone building from scratch, this episode will inspire and challenge you.



00:00 - 2:00 — Intro
2:00 - 9:00 — How It All Started
9:00 - 11:00 — How COVID Solidified the Brand
11:00 - 12:45 — Pricing Strategy
12:45 - 16:00 — Website Route
16:00 - 20:20 — 35,000 Pieces Sold
20:20 - 19:50 — Trends & Balancing
19:50 - 25:13 — Collaboration & Partnerships
25:13 - 26:09 — Marketing
26:09 - 28:15 — How Opening a Physical Store Enhanced the Business
28:15 - 29:17 — Credit direct Hype
29:17 - 29:40 — Staff Strength
29:41 - 36:12 — Funding
36:12 - 41:15 — Collaborating With Similar Brands
41:51 - 42:04 — Downside Moments
42:04 - 48:00 — Dealing With Copying
48:20 - 57:40 — Advice to Upcoming Fashion Entrepreneurs
57:41 - 57:49 — 🎁 Giveaway!


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Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments!

#ZephansAndCo #thefashionroundtable