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| Alero Fafowora to Asabeafrika…’Dad wanted me to be an economist but i rebelled to be a designer’ |
limelight. Beautiful, decent, creative, innovative but quite elusive, this London School of Fashion trained
couture experts loves to busy herself with the making of booboos, gowns, T-shirts,
necklaces, fashion jewelries and several other style consumables marked with
the trademark of her two famous creative brands Hallero and Heych.
This debonair fashion entrepreneur and
mother of three is the founder and Chief Stylist of Hallero Couture and
founder of Heych an inspiring style
collection brand in Nigeria. The Yaba
College of Technology alumnus is a chip of the old block with a career in
quality fashion designing spanning close to two decades.
mother of three is the founder and Chief Stylist of Hallero Couture and
founder of Heych an inspiring style
collection brand in Nigeria. The Yaba
College of Technology alumnus is a chip of the old block with a career in
quality fashion designing spanning close to two decades.
Alero’s Hallero Couture has created
a fashion statement that is quite inspiring with a clientele base that has kept
her permanently in the league of the novae-riche. Although she hates being
described as “Rich” but will rather loved to be described as “Blessed”, Alero who has graced several fashion
runways in London and America has created a brand that can
conveniently compete with foreign counterpart brands like Gucci, Versace and TM
Lewin.
a fashion statement that is quite inspiring with a clientele base that has kept
her permanently in the league of the novae-riche. Although she hates being
described as “Rich” but will rather loved to be described as “Blessed”, Alero who has graced several fashion
runways in London and America has created a brand that can
conveniently compete with foreign counterpart brands like Gucci, Versace and TM
Lewin.
However, few details are known about
this pretty Delta born lady who is a genius in her own right. Of course, Alero has suffered bad press in the past, a convenient reason for
her to develop an allergy for the media. But she over ruled the allergy and
opened up to your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog, Asabeafrika in this exclusive encounter
we had with her sometime ago inside her Bishop
Oluwole, Victoria Island,
Lagos-South West Nigeria sales room. Enjoy the excerpts.
this pretty Delta born lady who is a genius in her own right. Of course, Alero has suffered bad press in the past, a convenient reason for
her to develop an allergy for the media. But she over ruled the allergy and
opened up to your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog, Asabeafrika in this exclusive encounter
we had with her sometime ago inside her Bishop
Oluwole, Victoria Island,
Lagos-South West Nigeria sales room. Enjoy the excerpts.
 |
| The Hallero boss with another client |
Alero Fafowora is a designer; she is someone that
is very passionate about what she does. And that is designing. There is no much
to say about me than what I do. I believe my work should speak for me and not
me speaking for my work.
is very passionate about what she does. And that is designing. There is no much
to say about me than what I do. I believe my work should speak for me and not
me speaking for my work.
You come across to me as somebody
that is very shy but with a very loud brand. Is that really who Alero is?
that is very shy but with a very loud brand. Is that really who Alero is?
Yes, I think
I am an introvert. I am an introvert, it is just my nature. I just find myself
being like that, you are quite right. I am an introvert. It is only because of
my brand; that is why I am out there. Otherwise, I will like to be behind the
scene and quietly handle things.
I am an introvert. I am an introvert, it is just my nature. I just find myself
being like that, you are quite right. I am an introvert. It is only because of
my brand; that is why I am out there. Otherwise, I will like to be behind the
scene and quietly handle things.
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| Alero with clients on her brand |
you have a philosophy that guides you?
Well, due to
my upbringing and the way I see life, I believe so much in the law of karma.
That what goes around comes around; don’t do bad if you don’t want bad to
happen to you. I believe that if you are open, straight forward with a clean
heart, the sky is your limit. There is no way you won’t make it. It is as
simple as that and that is the way I see life.
my upbringing and the way I see life, I believe so much in the law of karma.
That what goes around comes around; don’t do bad if you don’t want bad to
happen to you. I believe that if you are open, straight forward with a clean
heart, the sky is your limit. There is no way you won’t make it. It is as
simple as that and that is the way I see life.
A lot of people see you as a
celebrity but it appears you try hard to keep down that aspect of you. How do
you live with that perception?
celebrity but it appears you try hard to keep down that aspect of you. How do
you live with that perception?
I don’t see
myself as one; I just want my work to go out there. I want my brand to have the
limelight. I don’t think it is about me really, it is about what I do and that
is what I am trying to push out and that is what I am pushing out, less me and
more of my work. That is the honest truth about my personality. I am not
carried away by the razzmatazz of being a celebrity or whatever but I care for
what I can create for the benefit of humanity.
myself as one; I just want my work to go out there. I want my brand to have the
limelight. I don’t think it is about me really, it is about what I do and that
is what I am trying to push out and that is what I am pushing out, less me and
more of my work. That is the honest truth about my personality. I am not
carried away by the razzmatazz of being a celebrity or whatever but I care for
what I can create for the benefit of humanity.
“I want my brand to have the
limelight. I don’t think it is about me really, it is about what I do and that
is what I am trying to push out and that is what I am pushing out, less me and
more of my work”.
Tell us the story of your humble
beginning; did you ever imagine you could come this far?
beginning; did you ever imagine you could come this far?
I believe if
you do what you know how to do best and you are doing it well, there is no way
you wont crush success. That is if you do it well in all sincerity. So, that is
what I have been doing. Talking about being famous, I believe for every body
that faces his calling and not carried away by the vestiges of fame and the
madness for wealth, you won’t even know when you are there. And that is what
happened to me, I was not about the fame. I wasn’t working on being known, I
wasn’t working on being seen or called a celebrity. I was more focused on what
I was doing, I wanted it to be the best and that is where I get my inspiration
and happiness from. When I see my creative work on people and I see how it fits
them, I am happy. It gives me lots of joy.
you do what you know how to do best and you are doing it well, there is no way
you wont crush success. That is if you do it well in all sincerity. So, that is
what I have been doing. Talking about being famous, I believe for every body
that faces his calling and not carried away by the vestiges of fame and the
madness for wealth, you won’t even know when you are there. And that is what
happened to me, I was not about the fame. I wasn’t working on being known, I
wasn’t working on being seen or called a celebrity. I was more focused on what
I was doing, I wanted it to be the best and that is where I get my inspiration
and happiness from. When I see my creative work on people and I see how it fits
them, I am happy. It gives me lots of joy.
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| Some Passionate customers, picking the Hallero brand |
predestined?
Yes, ever
since I was a little kid, I have ever wanted to do this. It is not like I am an
accountant and I diverted into fashion or I am a lawyer and I diverted into
fashion. No, this is what I have always wanted to do. So, I have always seen
myself as a fashion designer but how it is going to come out, how it is going
to take shape is what nobody knows, it is always God that plans that. By the
time I was going to do this, I had an idea of what I wanted to do but I didn’t
know how it was going to turn out but I just knew this is what I want. This is
the image and the concept that I want. So, with me, I just left everything to
God and I believe He is the only one that plans things anyway.
since I was a little kid, I have ever wanted to do this. It is not like I am an
accountant and I diverted into fashion or I am a lawyer and I diverted into
fashion. No, this is what I have always wanted to do. So, I have always seen
myself as a fashion designer but how it is going to come out, how it is going
to take shape is what nobody knows, it is always God that plans that. By the
time I was going to do this, I had an idea of what I wanted to do but I didn’t
know how it was going to turn out but I just knew this is what I want. This is
the image and the concept that I want. So, with me, I just left everything to
God and I believe He is the only one that plans things anyway.
What was the level of encouragement
from your parents considering the fact that you were unlike other children
looking up to a white collar career job?
from your parents considering the fact that you were unlike other children
looking up to a white collar career job?
It wasn’t
that easy, I won’t lie. Initially, my dad didn’t want it. He didn’t even want
to hear anything about that but my mum was a bit considerate. She was a bit
willing for me to chase my passion as a career. Because, obviously, her own mum
was a tailor, so, she was quite familiar with the terrain. But my dad was
hundred and fifty percent against it. But today he is really happy I am doing
it because it is now turning out well.
that easy, I won’t lie. Initially, my dad didn’t want it. He didn’t even want
to hear anything about that but my mum was a bit considerate. She was a bit
willing for me to chase my passion as a career. Because, obviously, her own mum
was a tailor, so, she was quite familiar with the terrain. But my dad was
hundred and fifty percent against it. But today he is really happy I am doing
it because it is now turning out well.
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| Some Hallero boo-boo on display |
Yes, very
much around
much around
His name
Prince Williams Ebigbayi.
How old is he?
He is in his
late 70s.
late 70s.
“I had a second admission at Uni-Ife (Now OAU) for Economics and he was bent on me going
to Ife. He wanted me to go to Ife, even all through my first year, second
semester, he was still pestering me ‘you have to go to Ife; you have to go to Ife’.
Sometime he comes to school, he comes to my hostel and I won’t come out to see
him. He would be there for a while and he would go away”.
Anytime he sees your brand, how does
he feel, since he was your worst critic?
he feel, since he was your worst critic?
I guess he
is happy. I guess he is very happy and fulfilled.
is happy. I guess he is very happy and fulfilled.
What about mum?
Ooh, my mum?
She has always supported me, she is hundred percent behind me. She is a go
getter like me; we have the same attitude and perception about life. I cherish
her conduct and I thank God for her.
She has always supported me, she is hundred percent behind me. She is a go
getter like me; we have the same attitude and perception about life. I cherish
her conduct and I thank God for her.
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| The Hallero boss in action… |
famous OAP Moyo Oyatogun where it was agreed that women of Urhobo tribe are
more disciplined and hardworking, and would never cheat on their husbands. Can
we say this was the reason for your mum’s incredible attitude to life?
Actually my
mum is not from Delta, she is from Ondo state. It is my dad that is from Delta. But yes, it is true that she has
always been behind us. She makes us do the things that we do. She will always
do anything to make us get to where we are going. She will do anything to make
us happy; she is a great mother.
mum is not from Delta, she is from Ondo state. It is my dad that is from Delta. But yes, it is true that she has
always been behind us. She makes us do the things that we do. She will always
do anything to make us get to where we are going. She will do anything to make
us happy; she is a great mother.
What is her name?
Mrs. Dolapo
Ebigbayi.
Ebigbayi.
Are you the first child?
I am the
second and a middle child. I am the only girl.
second and a middle child. I am the only girl.
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| Alero of Hallero with a Hallero Customer |
pampered at a time, how did you handle the attention as the only girl child in
the family?
Aaaah! In my
family that is not the rule. Pampering is no go area; there was no pampering at
all. I will even say I am the one that my mum actually beat most at home. Yes,
she was always on my case, she wont let me take anything for granted. She
didn’t pamper me at all but I am happy today because all that has amounted to a
blessing for me.
family that is not the rule. Pampering is no go area; there was no pampering at
all. I will even say I am the one that my mum actually beat most at home. Yes,
she was always on my case, she wont let me take anything for granted. She
didn’t pamper me at all but I am happy today because all that has amounted to a
blessing for me.
(Cuts in)…Maybe you even hated her
for it?
for it?
(Laughter) I
can see the result now, yeah, she was very hard on me but it turned out to be
good for me in the area of self discipline and wisdom. And I had to fight my
way through because I had a senior brother and a younger brother around me. I
am the only girl and the middle child, so I had to actually fight my way
through things and that has really helped me. I had to prove my mettle.
can see the result now, yeah, she was very hard on me but it turned out to be
good for me in the area of self discipline and wisdom. And I had to fight my
way through because I had a senior brother and a younger brother around me. I
am the only girl and the middle child, so I had to actually fight my way
through things and that has really helped me. I had to prove my mettle.
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| Alero Fafowora, CEO, Hallero Couture & Heych |
fashion with a father who probably wanted you to be a banker or lawyer?
For me, I
just found myself doing it. I don’t know, honestly, if I am going to tell you
that I planned this things…I do not know, I just find myself doing it. But I
remember when I was a little child, when I was like six or seven; I used to get
clothes and fabrics, turn them in and get a t-shirt and put on it, cut it out
and do my back stitching, sow it and wear. Then, after some time I started
sowing for my friends in the neighborhood. But for me, I had always been doing
it. It has always been my passion; it has always been what I love to do. A
gift, a talent and I guess I did well enough to chart my cause.
just found myself doing it. I don’t know, honestly, if I am going to tell you
that I planned this things…I do not know, I just find myself doing it. But I
remember when I was a little child, when I was like six or seven; I used to get
clothes and fabrics, turn them in and get a t-shirt and put on it, cut it out
and do my back stitching, sow it and wear. Then, after some time I started
sowing for my friends in the neighborhood. But for me, I had always been doing
it. It has always been my passion; it has always been what I love to do. A
gift, a talent and I guess I did well enough to chart my cause.
“Over there, they want you to explore
and discover your real talent. You could express yourself without limitations,
without barriers and you could be much unlimited. With them, there was no
limitation in your expression. In my class we had people from diverse races and
cultures”
 |
| Alero Fafowora to Asabeafrika…’London School of Fashion loosened me to ideas’ |
enroll as a fashion student since dad was not happy with the decision?
Obviously as
a child, when you are getting to the middle of your secondary education, every
parent wants to know what a child is going to do. My mum called me and said
‘what would you like to become?’ and I said ‘I would like to be a fashion
designer’ and she was like really? And I said ‘yes, that is what I want to do’.
And she said ‘if that is what you want to do, so be it’. So, I did a lot of
research about schools that could offer quality fashion training in Nigeria and
of course we don’t have much of such schools and up till today we still don’t
have good schools that are doing that which I think is a big slap on the part
of government. And I will suggest that our successful designers come together
if the government is not willing to do that; if the federal or state or local
government lacks the political will to do that, I think well known designers
should come together and give legion of young people the opportunity to achieve
their dreams in fashion. They should give them a platform to realize their
dream and get something good for themselves because we have a lot of people who
have passion for it, they have got fantastic talents but they don’t know where
to start, they don’t know how to go about it. And because of that you see a lot
of people diverting into other things that they are not meant to do. So, I
think we should quickly come together to rescue this generation of young people
from confusion.
a child, when you are getting to the middle of your secondary education, every
parent wants to know what a child is going to do. My mum called me and said
‘what would you like to become?’ and I said ‘I would like to be a fashion
designer’ and she was like really? And I said ‘yes, that is what I want to do’.
And she said ‘if that is what you want to do, so be it’. So, I did a lot of
research about schools that could offer quality fashion training in Nigeria and
of course we don’t have much of such schools and up till today we still don’t
have good schools that are doing that which I think is a big slap on the part
of government. And I will suggest that our successful designers come together
if the government is not willing to do that; if the federal or state or local
government lacks the political will to do that, I think well known designers
should come together and give legion of young people the opportunity to achieve
their dreams in fashion. They should give them a platform to realize their
dream and get something good for themselves because we have a lot of people who
have passion for it, they have got fantastic talents but they don’t know where
to start, they don’t know how to go about it. And because of that you see a lot
of people diverting into other things that they are not meant to do. So, I
think we should quickly come together to rescue this generation of young people
from confusion.
 |
| Alero Fafowora to Asabeafrika…’I am an introvert my business is the extrovert’ |
in Yaba College of Technology?
Yes, I took
the exam but my dad never wanted me to do it so I had to do it without his
consent. He didn’t know anything about it until my name actually came out in
the papers that I have been taken. Otherwise he wont have known, and even when
I was going to school, he was hundred percent against it. I had a second
admission at Uni-Ife (Now OAU) for Economics
and he was bent on me going to Ife. He wanted me to go to Ife,
even all through my first year, second semester, he was still pestering me ‘you
have to go to Ife; you have to go to Ife’. Sometime he comes to school,
he comes to my hostel and I won’t come out to see him. He would be there for a
while and he would go away. So, it was not easy, it was not easy but I wanted
to do it. I was hundred percent going for it because I was made for it.
the exam but my dad never wanted me to do it so I had to do it without his
consent. He didn’t know anything about it until my name actually came out in
the papers that I have been taken. Otherwise he wont have known, and even when
I was going to school, he was hundred percent against it. I had a second
admission at Uni-Ife (Now OAU) for Economics
and he was bent on me going to Ife. He wanted me to go to Ife,
even all through my first year, second semester, he was still pestering me ‘you
have to go to Ife; you have to go to Ife’. Sometime he comes to school,
he comes to my hostel and I won’t come out to see him. He would be there for a
while and he would go away. So, it was not easy, it was not easy but I wanted
to do it. I was hundred percent going for it because I was made for it.
 |
| The Heych branded slippers |
do?
Maybe he
wanted me to be an economist and sit in the bank. He wanted me to be a
cooperate lady but that was never my passion, so I chased my passion.
wanted me to be an economist and sit in the bank. He wanted me to be a
cooperate lady but that was never my passion, so I chased my passion.
So, you will hide from him once he
visits Yaba Tech?
visits Yaba Tech?
I will make
sure I don’t see him. Sometimes, he is there for hours but I won’t come out and
after sometime he gave up. He stopped coming after me and I had my dream
realized.
sure I don’t see him. Sometimes, he is there for hours but I won’t come out and
after sometime he gave up. He stopped coming after me and I had my dream
realized.
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| Alero Fafowora attending to her customers |
Tech?
Oh, it was
nice. It was what I wanted to do and it was like a game of perfection, because
my father didn’t want me to do it so I had to really prove myself that this is
what I want to do. I really had to let him see reasons why I wanted to do it
and why I am doing it. And because of that I had it in mind that I won’t let
him have any cause to say ‘I told you, I told you not to do it’. So, I went all
out and I did it and it was great.
nice. It was what I wanted to do and it was like a game of perfection, because
my father didn’t want me to do it so I had to really prove myself that this is
what I want to do. I really had to let him see reasons why I wanted to do it
and why I am doing it. And because of that I had it in mind that I won’t let
him have any cause to say ‘I told you, I told you not to do it’. So, I went all
out and I did it and it was great.
From there you moved to London School
of Fashion and what happened next?
of Fashion and what happened next?
When I
finished at Yaba Tech, I wanted to further my education because I wasn’t
getting what I really wanted here, so I said I had to fine tune my skill. I
moved to England and enrolled for advance studies in fashion at the London
College of Fashion. My (elder) brother was there, so he was able to get
me into the college and that made it easy for me.
finished at Yaba Tech, I wanted to further my education because I wasn’t
getting what I really wanted here, so I said I had to fine tune my skill. I
moved to England and enrolled for advance studies in fashion at the London
College of Fashion. My (elder) brother was there, so he was able to get
me into the college and that made it easy for me.
 |
| Alero Fafowora and Partner |
and Yaba?
Over there,
there was more life to everything we did. We could actually express ourselves
in any way we feel. Over there, they want you to explore and discover your real
talent. You could express yourself without limitations, without barriers and
you could be much unlimited. With them, there was no limitation in your
expression. In my class we had people from diverse races and cultures. We had
lots of Japanese students, and we had French, Chinese,
Indians,
English,
Italians
and people from Ivory Coast. So, you find yourself in a very creative
environment where you can blow out of your shell. Where you can over express
yourself, so it gave me the opportunity to actually explore and come out the
way I wanted to. So, by the time I came out I was reeling with ideas. I had
more than enough to explore within me.
there was more life to everything we did. We could actually express ourselves
in any way we feel. Over there, they want you to explore and discover your real
talent. You could express yourself without limitations, without barriers and
you could be much unlimited. With them, there was no limitation in your
expression. In my class we had people from diverse races and cultures. We had
lots of Japanese students, and we had French, Chinese,
Indians,
English,
Italians
and people from Ivory Coast. So, you find yourself in a very creative
environment where you can blow out of your shell. Where you can over express
yourself, so it gave me the opportunity to actually explore and come out the
way I wanted to. So, by the time I came out I was reeling with ideas. I had
more than enough to explore within me.
 |
| Another Passionate Hallero customer picks a mini-gown |
home?
When I came
back, obviously we had few designers, they were not that much. But obviously I
had decided that, that was what I wanted to do. I care less, even if there was
nobody doing it, I would have still done it. It wasn’t easy starting from the
scratch. Getting here, everything has changed. I started from a boys quarters,
I had one tailor; from there we were sowing together. I was sowing, he was
looking. I was showing him things, he started knowing my finishing and how I do
my stuff. I always cut for him and he sowed them. And before I knew we became
ten and I am serious, my house was always jam-packed, people coming from
everywhere to make demand. I was living in Magodo GRA and people were coming
from Abuja, from Victoria Island, people coming from Abeokuta, so I had to get a bigger
space by moving out of my house and I rented a place on Oba Akran, in Ikeja area
of Lagos State. We started from Oba Akran that was where we actually
launched the Hallero Couture brand. From there, we moved to Opebi
and from Opebi, here we are in Victoria Island.
back, obviously we had few designers, they were not that much. But obviously I
had decided that, that was what I wanted to do. I care less, even if there was
nobody doing it, I would have still done it. It wasn’t easy starting from the
scratch. Getting here, everything has changed. I started from a boys quarters,
I had one tailor; from there we were sowing together. I was sowing, he was
looking. I was showing him things, he started knowing my finishing and how I do
my stuff. I always cut for him and he sowed them. And before I knew we became
ten and I am serious, my house was always jam-packed, people coming from
everywhere to make demand. I was living in Magodo GRA and people were coming
from Abuja, from Victoria Island, people coming from Abeokuta, so I had to get a bigger
space by moving out of my house and I rented a place on Oba Akran, in Ikeja area
of Lagos State. We started from Oba Akran that was where we actually
launched the Hallero Couture brand. From there, we moved to Opebi
and from Opebi, here we are in Victoria Island.
(Watch out
for Part 2 of the Alero Fafowora Exclusive on marriage, leisure & Family on
this blog after this time out)
for Part 2 of the Alero Fafowora Exclusive on marriage, leisure & Family on
this blog after this time out)
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| A Hallero mini-gown complimented with Heych accessories |
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| Hallero…The Brand! |
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| Some of her finished products |
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| The Hallero brands |
