He is one of the few talented Nigerian designers with a signature, popular, not only in Nigeria, but in some other African countries. He recently played host to Tunde Ayanda in his Maryland office in Lagos where he told his story on how he started and what makes his designs different from those of others.

What can we call you, a tailor or a fashion designer?
I am a designer.

You have been in the fashion industry since 1993, what is the experience?
It was very challenging when I first started. Starting a business in Nigeria, you will have to go through a lot of things, like sourcing for finance, getting a shop, getting good tailors and dependable hands to help you with the management of the business. There are a lot of challenges that come with the fashion business, but I thank God we have been able to overcome them over the years.

Recently you opened a new outlet in Senegal, joining the ones you’ve had in Accra and Nigeria; is there any reason behind this or is it part of the dream to capture the whole of Africa?
Actually, I will like to ask you how come banks are spreading to Gambia, Senegal and everywhere? You may be rooted in a place, you have to spread the tentacles of whatever business you have, same with the fashion industry, you know clothing is universal and it’s not just staying in one place. Like Kenyans, they normally come here to buy my clothes and this got me thinking on why I should reach out to them. I can’t expect them to be coming every now and then for only a piece of clothing, so, I thought it’s good to reach out to them and that is the reason I have outlets in Ghana, Senegal and other places; you just have to pick which is closer to you.

Let’s take you back a little, how did you get into fashion designing?
I think my mum deserves the commendation whenever I look back and think about how it started. When we were young, I could remember my mum made sure we dressed in the best of clothes. I am from Ughelli which is about ten minutes drive from Warri and then our neighbours and friends would always consult us whenever they had new clothes. Again, when I was in school, I was the best Arts student, both in my primary and secondary schools. I’ve always been an excellent Arts student. So, with those two backgrounds, my upbringing and the ability to know how to sketch and illustrate designs, set my foot on the path. To tell you how Mudi actually started, I think it was in 1992 when I was staying with my sister in Ketu. The people around there saw that I dressed very well, then I was known by my first name, Clement and the friends I had then, if they were going to buy clothes, would come to me and beg me to go with them because of my taste; what they would give me eventually, for my effort, might be a singlet or short, just to show their appreciation (laughs). Then I was living on goodwill and enjoying every bit of it. There was a day  I was going out to see a friend, Tunde and I spotted him with another friend, Emmanuel. They were both talking and when I got to them, Emma looked at me and said ‘Clement, why you no go fashion school? See your belt, shirt and sandal… don’t waste this talent, try go fashion school’. Immediately he said this, Tunde, too, added that it was as if he read his mind and that triggered off a dream in me and I started asking around what fashion school was available and how I would start, but, again, I didn’t have money to enrol in a fashion school, so I had to get a tailor. I approached a tailor who had a shop not far from where I lived in Ketu to train under him. My idea was just to learn how to cut and stitch because I already knew how  to illustrate and design. These are things you cannot learn, as it is what they call creativity; you cant learn it. It’s inborn and what I did was just to learnt how to cut and sew which I did for 9 months.

Was designing your first job?
No, when I first came to Lagos, I worked in a factory, Bennet industry at Ikosi. They were producing lights and suspended ceilings. I was with their finishing department and was deliberately asked to go there to cross-check finishing products because of my high taste. While I was working there, during our break, when my colleagues were resting, I would be sketching because this is what I really love to do and not long afterwards, I left there to start Mudi.

When you were starting Mudi, did you ever think it would become this big?
I must confess, no! I only started Mudi just for the fun of it, but God had a different plan for me. You can see where the story started and I still don’t know where God is taking me, it’s not my doing, I’m only trying and from the start I have been seeing the hand of God in my business. I keep telling people that anything you want to do, you must enjoy it and leave the rest to God. I think most people go into fashion industry for two different reasons, some for the glamour of it and others for the business aspect. They want to make fast money from it, while the last which I choose is called passion. Initially, when I started, it was rough, money was not coming the way I expected, but because I have a passion for what I do, it kept me going and I was doing it well, so from there money came.

From your models, it seems you now do more of Arabian styles…
(cuts in) No, fashion is innovative, you must keep moving. What you are seeing is not Arabian clothes, but a Senegalese outfit, mostly worn by people from The Gambia and other East African countries. I saw it,  liked it and tapped into it and gave a little bit of spirit into it so it can be more wearable in other African countries. It’s unlike the usual way of cutting as I introduced a modern cut to it. My clothes are timeless and people who know me would tell you this .

As a designer do you think you are getting what you actually deserve, compared to being a banker , lawyer or someone in another profession?
Yes I am. If we are all bankers, who will now make the shirts and suits? All professions are important and you don’t judge the worth of any profession with what you earn, no. I believe it all comes with the joy you have doing it and the satisfaction. You know I once stated how it was when I started but you can see what my passion has fetched me, it’s like I’m being paid for a hobby, so, money comes as an added value.