The new faces of fashion

They are young, talented and creative. These fashion designers are known for churning out chic and timeless pieces. In this interview, they talk about their passion for fashion and style Fashion is not cheap — Sisiano Paolo Born to an Italian father and Nigerian mother, Sisiano Paolo is the creative head of his eponymously named label. Also an actor, model and choreographer, he shares his story How did you become a fashion designer? I started out by making dance costumes for dancers since I am firstly a dancer and choreographer. I fell in love with designing costumes for stage productions because it allows you to be very creative and expressive. A couple of friends who were quite impressed by my designs, suggested that I should create a lookbook and enter it for the 2013 Lagos Fashion Week. I was one of those selected to showcase their designs at the Lagos Fashion Design Week and the rest as they say is history. What type of designs can your brand be identified by? I work with a lot of fabrics and I think it is due to my background in dance. While designing for ladies is a bit complicated especially when it is made- to- measure wear, ready-to-wear clothing is a lot easier. Even though I also make clothes for men, my designs do not readily appeal to the average Nigerian man who isn’t driven by aesthetics. My men’s wear is very laid-back, the colours aren’t bright and I know Nigerians love vibrant hues. I started out working with a lot of nude and earth tones but not any longer. What challenges do you face currently? I consider funding to be one of the greatest challenges I face. I started my business with all the money I saved up from my performances as a dancer. I am not prepared to get a loan because I am just two years old in the business. I may not be where I hope to be but now, the business is funding itself.