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Showing posts from 2019

2019 is winding down

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The end of 2019 is fast approaching. What steps have you taken to develop the sewing skill, you are passionate about? If you have successfully acquired the skill, I am excited for you. But if you are yet to do anything about your passion in Fashion, don't loose hope. You can still make 2019 count in your quest to develop sewing skill. To get details (start date and course option) about the upcoming Starter: Skirt Varation Course, notify me in the comment box. We look forward to be part of your sewing journey. P.S. Do you know you get a discount of 5% for anyone you get registered? 😀

Reality Check You are getting older

This sounds funny to me, cause I always say this to my girls. On Wednesday,  I also had this conversation with one of the girls who worked in one of the shops in my business place. The truth is that we are all getting older, but a lot of times,  we are not conscious of this fact. I am conscious of this, but yesterday,  it dawned on me in a whole new light. I had a conversation with my elder sister, and she mentioned those words to me. This is a reality check, I am grateful for, especially as it was directed to me... I started learning how to sew as a teenager, and the skill has brought me thus far. Even though I am happy looking back, this reality check makes me realise, the new territories yet to be conquered. I again remind myself that I have to face my fears. Yes, I do have fears, and a lot of times it has kept me at a stand still, or even paralysed... Moving forward,  would always require acting in spite of fear. Hmmmm. .. What ...

Vulnurable: Business Finance

Should I confess? Yay!!!(hands on my head) See my life in my very before, because I want others to learn (pardon my Nigerian English). #TrueConfession My Finance record is very messed up... This has been a struggle, since I started business... I just want to know where the money is coming from and where it is going to. I have used pen and paper, books, apps, excel sheet. I would start, and then begin asking myself, what the point was, as  I never had the time (or more like ..patience) to go through the expenses, to find out what we were spending money on, if the expenses made business sense, if we could reduce or eliminate the expense (typing this blog post, I just thought of a way we could task our office neighbours to contribute in reducing our water expenses)... things like that... The fact that I had not gotten it right yet, meant I would keep trying (right?) Fast forward to the end of August, I knew I needed to try out options I hadn't tried... I put on my t...

Kano Corpers, Where are you?

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Allow me to first of all say "Happy New Month" - September is H E R E I served in Lagos, and I worked my posting there (smiling face). I had so much plans about how my service year should be, and I felt Lagos was the place I should be. I grew up in Kano state Nigeria, where I had my primary school education, and partly secondary education... part, I did in Kaduna. My tertiary education was in Ogun State (Covenant University). Why am I giving you my history? I am very conservative, and highly introverted, and looking at my history, working my NYSC posting to Lagos, would not cross one's mind. One of our very first corpers...  I did it! And for me, this was one of the best decisions I made. I made most of my decision (even money decisions) while serving, asking myself again and again why I decided to get posted to the state. This helped me make choices that favoured my serving in Lagos . I attended a lot of Fashion events, both free and paid. I attende...

Current State of Mind: Business Growth

Here thinking about a whole lot.. About writing a follow up vulnerability blog post How I can make more money with my service business Properly keeping business financial record and a whole lot more.. Google always comes to the rescue. You know when you get a search result, and you ask your self... "why did I bother searching?" Because it seems all the results sound alike. Then you find something different... this blog post!!! I am sharing it with you, and also having it for keeps sake, so I can always refer to it.. Here you have it:  https://www.thebalancesmb.com/increase-your-service-business-profits-2948142 You need to read it and see your profit... especially from made-to-measure in a different light. XOXO Osamudiame P.S . Do you know... we teach how to sew and draft patterns? We are the best at what we do in the whole of core northern Nigeria, and we are not lazing about. Find out more about our offering here

Vulnerable: My Scheduling Problem

For change to take place, there must be discomfort with the present state of things. The statement is so true, and determines whether or not one grows.There is need to keep challenging the norm, by asking ourselves "How can I do things better?" The need for stylish and perfectly fitting clothes by women; for ever growing events, cannot be denied. Women are constantly needing pieces that will make them stand out from the crowd in events. They want the memory of what they wore to still ring a bell, a long time after the event. This is a good thing for persons in business of making clothes, as you always want to have business. When people start appreciating the great job you do, work begins to grow to a point that you have more work than you can handle within a said time frame (as the demand keeps growing). If you don't find a way of keeping track of things, the ball starts to fall from your hands. Customers do not want to experience being disappointed, as a...

Is the Summer Course for me?

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The class is not for you if you have enough time available to you to do our  normal course . .. Summer Fashion Course Yes, It is for you, if you don't have so much time on your hands, but have this summer available to you, and would love to get a skill in sewing and pattern drafting.. We are excited, because we have been looking for you to share our excitement and experience with, as we hold your hand in this journey.. So may exciting things awaits you in this journey, amongst which is that, you would be updating your wardrobe, with clothes made by you...💃💃💃💃 Are you a guy who would also love to be a part, learning to make female clothing... you are not left out. . Register today Get your registration form, for the sum of 1,000 Naira Fill and submit; agreeing to our terms and conditions Pay your school fees, 50,000 Naira,  Get your  Sewing kit Get ready, classes start in the second week of August Be a part. Click on the link below, so we ge...

Summer Plans

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This title reminds me of the movie - High School Musicals. I am yet to travel outside the shores of Nigeria, but the movie painted a lovely picture in my mind that I hope to experience and keep experiencing very soon. Summer Fashion School But I vividly remember one of those long summer holidays, while in secondary school, when I made the decision to acquire knowledge about my fascination. This was the start of my journey, learning how to sew. I was so excited, that my parent had agree for me to do this, and had talked to my mentor Aunty Mabel of Royal Vintage, so I could learn under her. That step has brought me years latter to now. I have grown, I now run a Fashion School, in the same city where I started out, I am bigger, I am better. I have through the vehicle of my Fashion School created The Summer Fashion School, which hope to berth talents like me, even as they await the start of a new Tertiary Institution session. The curriculum has been created esp...

What to do in Kano?

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You have been posted to Kano for NYSC Ex-Kano Corper You would love to be redeployed, but so far, it hasn't worked out. .. Terms and conditions apply   How about maximizing your time here... at Osas Olumese Training Institute (OOTI),  Kano. So you can look back and be grateful for the time well spent. And the good news is that you can  learn how to sew and pattern draft at a discounted price, just because you are a corper in Kano. Discount of up to 50% available to you, and further discount available when you refer us to a friend, who registers. You are already excited about this right? We can't wait to have you. Send us a WhatsApp message 07087269825, indicating your interest today!!! Can't wait to hear from you

Summer Fashion School in Kano

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The school year is drawing to a close. Summer is drawing closer. What more can be exciting for a student who just rounded up .... or is rounding up their Secondary School leaving certificate? No more warning bells No more teachers' whip Good bye teachers, goodbye scholars ...LOL. Don't get to comfortable with doing nothing, that you don't realize when time pass, and then, you are a freshman in  tertiary institution. We have an exciting offering for recent secondary school graduates, who would be resuming as freshmen in October. We understand you have limited time, and would love to make this count. We are offering you ... summer classes in Sewing and Pattern drafting. Sounds exciting, right? Learn a skill while waiting for resumption into tertiary institution Meet creative minds while learning Expand your thinking and creative ability Maximize the precious time, you have at your disposal Explore a creative career path. Build your wardrobe, m...

Bodice Course: Evening and Weekend Option Starts Soon

Would you love to learn how to pattern draft bodice; talking about dresses, tops/ blouse etc. You don"t have the luxury of time, as you are working. Good news!!! A new session of our Bodice Course   ( Weekend-Saturday option ) kick starts on Saturday, 27th April, 2019. Secure your slot today!!! Bodice Course ( Evening Option ), would be starting on Monday 6th, May 2019. Be social, share this information with your friends, and tell them to tell two. Thanks in anticipation

Lessons from Kano Miracle Crusade (KMC)

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Kano Miracle Crusade (KMC) has grown to become a yearly event organised by Christ Embassy Church Kano, enriching the body of Christ. This year's was the fourth, Frank Edwards was live in Kano. I have been privileged to attend ...uhhmmm... 2.5 (LOL). Now to the gist. About two years back, a fellowship I belong to decided to start a pop corn business to raise money for her activities, thus reducing pressure on her members. This has been a beautiful idea. We got someone, whom we trained and he started working for us. Last year, we attended KMC as a business, and let me just say, we smiled at our income, so this year, we decided to be at KMC again. We had our plans, we shared duties amongst the Excos, we made money change in smaller denominators. Infact, everything was set for us to outdo our past KMC result. The day came finally on Friday 12th April 2019. All Excos were asked to be present at the venue at 8PM, as it was an all night event. I being an Exco got ther...

When plans change

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Yesterday, I had planed to leave the office at 4 PM. The day before, I left the office, and headed straight for a vigil. The next morning, I had to attend the wedding of one of our students (I could not have missed this... ever.. it should not even be thought of). On the day of the wedding, I rushed into the office to ensure that I gave out instructions, that would ensure proper running before running out for the event... behold a customer walks in and requests for her cloth..... hmmm. That is how my plans for the day started changing. We made magic happen, I attended the wedding, and I got back home at about 9 PM. . . The main focus of this post is about our Saturday students, who started class sometime this year. As I was ensuring that I sent the cloth out on time, these two ladies were patiently doing their work. They seemed oblivious to the fact that it was way past their closing time. They kept working, even though I made them loosen wrongly done stitches,  they w...

Personal Development and Impact Conference #PDIC2019

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Yay!!! So excited to tell you about this event happening in Kano, this March I would be speaking again!! This is my second speaking assignment in four (4) months. It is seems to be coming in short interval. Personal Development and Impact Conference Anyways, I would be speaking at Personal Development and Impact Conference #PDIC2019, on the topic ”Discover you”. I would be speaking alongside my brother Pastor Edward Olumese, his wife Pastor Ogechi Olumese, Pastor Godwin Ogwuche and Jennifer Agunloye of GiST . These names should sound familiar, if you live in Kano State Nigeria, and if you attend events. I would be sharing some discovery I made about me, which I have leveraged on in my entrepreneurial journey. You would be sure to learn a whole lot, and be fired up to be more. I am certain you would leave the conference with action points, drawing from what you would learn from all the speakers. Guess what? Registration is free! Decide to be a p...

Fashion Internship: Awkward

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Most intentional relationship start with awkwardness, and as the relationship begins to change level, there is that awkward again. To make the most of any relationship, relationship building activities must (no matter the awkwardness) be adhered to . With time, the awkwardness dies a natural death. I have discovered, that anytime new people begin a new relationship with our business, I go through this awkward phase with them, before we start getting used to each other. (Am I the only person who have felt this way?... Please share with us your awkward moments in the comment box). For a fashion intern, the above case is true, especially in a business where the structure around internship is undefined (I must say this is true for a lot of fashion businesses) You must never forget your goal, which is to learn as much as you can in the time available. And to do this, you must be willing to interact with the persons doing the work you want to learn... Ther...

Share your ideas

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As an introvert, I find it easier to talk… or should I say communicate with persons who show interest in what I am saying… If I am talking to you, and you don’t realize when I stop talking, then you are not interested in what I have to say… Asides from being an introvert, the above way is one way identified by Dale Carnegie in his book “How to win friends and influence people”. How this does relates to the title of this blog post? As fashion designers, our team members must be made up of people who are genuinely interested in your point of view, because, you would be working with them to make your vision a reality. If they are not genuinely interested, actualizing your vision would be a lot of back and forth. Generally this is the case…that is the back and forth part, but it is greatly reduce by the   interest of your fashion team members. Their interest somehow gives the Fashion designer “freedom” to share his / her ideas. When this freedom is there, the cr...

Testimonial: Chinwe

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Hello,  I am Miss Chinwe. I'm here to tell you about my experience in Osas Olumese Training Institute. Firstly, it is a fashion school where pattern drafting is used. Seriously, I enjoyed my learning here... though when I started, it wasn't really funny because I was not following nor understanding the pattern at all. I must confess, I wasn't really following during my skirt variation class. At a point I told myself that this is really a waste of time and resources but as we all know, nothing good comes easily. I continued coming. During the bodice class, I opened my mind and I conciously avoided distractions, and I enjoyed every moment of the class. I would say it's better to start early, especially if you have passion for it,  than to procrastinate. When I started this fashion school, the funds wasn't there but grace kept me going. At this point I would say there is nothing wrong with having a handiwork. Are you still thinking of a great pl...

What a I doing on my Goals?

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Wow!!! We are 3 days to the end of February 2019, and the question I ask myself is "How well have I worked on achieving my goals". And as an organisation that have a goal to teach sewing and pattern drafting skills, we have goals on how many persons we would love to take our course. Out doing ourselves in accomplishing this goal, do have mouthwatering results. The truth is that a goal without action plan for accomplishment is wishful thinking. What is holding you back from accomplishing your sewing and pattern making goals? Identifying this would help you identify your next course of action. If you have no knowledge, and you would love to gain knowledge, look no further. We would teach you in a timely and efficient manner. Learn about our course offering here . Starter Course begins on the third week of March. Limited slots are available so quickly make your decision today. 

Project Smile: Part 2

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" We started out the project with a goal to put smiles on the faces of the children, we ended the project having smiles also on our faces... " Above is a cut out of the messages I sent out to those who partnered with us for Project Smile.  exciting interaction As the day approached, we knew we need to capture moments, and Lodade Sowole of Never too Glam , was just a call away. She came out in her stylish self, adding more colour to our outing, not forgetting also capturing moments. We would have a mini fashion show and we needed finger foods... Ada Faith Alisgwe was all in, ensuring all the food we needed was available before we set out. We needed people who were partnering with us to see the progress we had made as regards the clothing, and Sarah Isaac, was our in-house photographer, taking pictures of clothes that have been made. Sarah was also our DJ, we knew we did not want any dull moment, and we needed some high vibe music. She ensured we ha...