‘Do Not Let Your Fears Or Insecurities Inhibit You’ – Fashion Entrepreneur And Celebrity Stylist, Rhoda Ebun Says In Exclusive Chat
- Anu
- March 26, 2021
- Career, Fashion, Featured
- exclusive interview, FabWoman Exclusive Chat With Fashion Entrepreneur, female stylists in nigeria, nigerian fashion entrepreneurs in nigeria, Rhoda Ebun, rhoda ebun iwd, rhoda ebun stylist
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Rhoda Ebun is a Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, stylist and consultant. From styling TV projects, celebrities to personal clients, consulting for fashion brands, and even producing fashion TV content, she does it all. She is multi-talented and multi-faceted.
She is a mum and most importantly a born-again Christian.
In this exclusive interview, she speaks on how she got into the fashion industry, the challenges, and more.
1. How did you get into the fashion styling industry?
Well, I’ve been in the fashion industry for 9 years now and it wasn’t originally in the plan. I graduated school and finished NYSC intending to be a TV presenter but was pleasantly interrupted by fashion. I had an instinct for style and always knew how to put pieces together and an old friend of mine encouraged me to pursue that as she believed I had an untapped talent. I went to the London College of Fashion for a short course in Fashion Styling and the rest they say is history. It’s not been easy but it’s been worth it.
2. Why fashion styling?
It wasn’t originally the first choice. I knew I had a love for it but I never thought I could make it a career until fashion school, an internship with several stylists and brands, and eventually, I quit a full-time job to figure out a growing passion to start a career in fashion.
3. Did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your business and how?
I believe COVID-19 affected the world completely. Whilst some jobs can be done virtually, fashion styling can’t be done virtually yet. At least not entirely yet, but maybe soon. However, thankfully, I still had TV production gigs that popped up during the lockdown so I was blessed to even earn a living during a pandemic.
4. What has been your most memorable moment as a stylist?
It’s hard to say to be honest. It’s been a rollercoaster of experiences, it’s hard to pin down a particular moment as memorable.
5. Do you style people outside the entertainment industry?
Yes, I most definitely have personal clients who need personal shopping services which I render or help to change or curate their style. This is one of my favourite aspects of styling.
6. What are the challenges you have experienced as a fashion entrepreneur?
I’ve had a varied number of challenges from not being paid your value or having to make magic with a really low budget. It’s crazy that some people think stylists are miracle workers or that we grow garments on a tree and produce it on a whim. And there’s also the challenge of people not fully understanding the purpose of a stylist. It’s a lot but you just have to toughen up and roll with the punches.
ALSO READ: Meet 10 Nigerian Female Stylists Behind Your Favorite Celebrities Looks
7. Do you have plans to mentor women also looking to go into the fashion industry?
I’ve done that in the past but not at the moment. It will be something I’ll pick up again shortly.
8. Share with us a typical day in your life.
There’s no typical day for me to be honest because I do several things under the umbrella of fashion styling and consulting. But ideally, I’ll be attending to a client’s brief. And the client could be anyone or an organisation.
9. March 8 was International Women’s Day. What does the theme ‘Choose To Challenge’ mean to you?
A lot has been happening in the world for and against women. So this year, I #Choosetochallenge cultural norms designed to subjugate women and to make them feel small and irrelevant despite how the world has advanced. Ideologies that a woman is nobody until there’s a ring on her finger is a NO-NO. A Woman’s greatness is not defined or diminished by her marital status.
10. Any advice for women looking to also start a business like this?
‘Do not let your fears or insecurities inhibit you from achieving all that you can or being all that you can be’.
