I can be classy without going nude –Maryam Elisha

Former beauty queen turned fashion designer, Maryam Elisha, tells Ademola Olonilua 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.

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.

How often do you use African prints for your designs?

We use African print but not so much and we also infuse it with our western wear to give it that African feel. I am from the northern part of the country, Kebbi State’ to be precise. I speak Hausa fluently and I love our culture. There is always a part of my culture in anything I do.

How do northerners see your brand because of their conservative ways?

Fashion has to do with an individual’s personal style. If you tell me that you are Hausa and a Muslim and you would want your dress to be properly covered, I know how I can cater for your needs in a very stylish way. It is not always about exposing your body or leaving your back bare that shows that you are beautiful. There are classy ways to show that you are beautiful and outstanding without being half nude. You can actually be classy without being nude. If I know a client’s personality, it would be easy to know how to package the person in a stylish way. Personally, I can be classy without going nude.

Did you study fashion designing in school?

After learning about fashion designing on my own, I enrolled at the New Jersey Fashion School in America to further equip myself in my craft. When I was in school, anytime we were on holidays, I was fond of sketching designs on my notepad and also stitching pieces of clothes together. I used to make dresses for myself so that when I resumed school, I would be outstanding. My passion later turned out to be my career. I am close to spending a decade in this industry and it has been very rewarding.

Did your parents agree to your career choice?

No, they did not approve of it. My parents did not want me to go into fashion. They wanted me to be a lawyer even though it is something I have always wanted as well. I wanted to study law but I was offered English, so I took it. It was difficult for them to accept the fact that I was going into fashion designing because they felt that it was not a serious business. They also felt that fashion designers are normally being looked down upon in the society. They wanted me to do something more professional but now they love what I do.

Even when I participated in the beauty pageant, it was hell for me because my father was very strict. He does not like it when a lady exposes her body. He believed that going into modelling or beauty pageantry was a way of women selling themselves to men especially because of the way their bodies are being exposed but I had to explain to him that his perception of pageantry was very wrong and incorrect. I went into modelling with the support of my mother 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.

When you won the beauty pageant, you had some gigs with MTN and some other major companies in Nigeria. At what point did you quit modelling?

I started modelling at a very young age and I feel it was something my modelling agent convinced me to get into. Eventually, I grew to love modelling and when I delved into pageantry, it was a wonderful experience. I won Ms. Valentine and as of 2007 the title was a big one. I was given a car, a huge amount of money and an all-expense paid trip to South Africa. When I got the MTN and V-mobile deal, I was given a lot of money but my sister had to sign the contract because I was under aged at the time. I just felt that there comes a time in a person’s life when you have to be professional, you don’t have to box yourself in a corner, you should explore. I felt that going into fashion would be a great decision because I love to do it.