Alero Fafowora has always wanted to be a fashion designer. As a kid she enjoyed drawing and mixing colours, creating all kinds of patterns. It was no surprise therefore, that she found her way into Yaba College of Technology where she read Fashion Designing. Intent on acquiring more education and knowhow, she proceeded to London College of Fashion. Today, she is a successful designer in her own right. She is, to say the least, living her dream. Last week, Alero, who owns Hallero Couture bared her mind on her first love to ADETUTU AUDU and BISI SOGEYINBO
Q: You have been a designer for sometime. What skills are needed for one to be a fashion designer?
A: I always say that for you to be a designer, you have to have a clue about what you are doing, have some details. As for me, I’m just talented.
Q: Your designs are chic and classy; who are your target audience?
A: Anybody who appreciates what I do and likes my trends.
Q: Talking about trends, what’s in now?
A: In Nigeria, I will say it’s Ankara. It so ridiculous, the way everybody is going for Ankara, but it’s a good thing because it shows the African thing in us. The good thing about it is that you can make it into different styles. With Ankara I still mix other fabrics to give it a kind of western look, so it doesn’t look too typical.
Q: Have you ever had a feeling that something was going to flop… for instance, that a design you created will not turn out well?
A: I have never had that experience before because I’m always a step ahead of anything I want to do. And if you see me on the day I’m having a show, I’m a different person and at the end of the show I always apologise to my models. Because they won’t believe that this woman that was so nice to us could change suddenly. I go all out; I can lash out at anybody because I don’t want them to mess things up.
Q: What inspires your designs?
A: My inspiration can come from anything because I can just sit down and design anything and I so much like nature. Sometimes if I don’t get enough where I am, I travel abroad. I go to places that I can get things that are natural; sometimes I can just go to the beach and I see things differently and I sketch. When I was schooling at London College of Fashion, the greatest gift they gave me that I will never forget and I’m still using is the phrase: get something out of nothing. I can see anything around me and then design, and sometimes, someone you are designing for can give you an inspiration. But that is not a concept. My concept, I get from anything; it could be from a bunch of keys. And I can just say, why can’t I just make something that looks square so I can make a plain fabric and get ankara, cut it into square shapes.
Q: How do you think the fashion industry has changed over the years?
A: It has changed a lot, because now we have a lot of awareness, we have more designs and more designers that are coming up.
Q: If not fashion designing, what else would you have done?
A: Honestly, nothing, because there was a day I actually thought about it. That day I was so frustrated when my two generators in the factory went dead, that was during Christmas. I was tired and I just said to myself: ‘you are tired what are you going to do.’ There is nothing on earth that does not have challenges. I have thought about it, but at the moment, I can’t think of anything. But I know I love making hair because when I was young, I made hair for people around me – my cousins, my neighbours – but even then, I don’t think I would do that as a profession. At the moment I am okay with my fashion.
Q: Can you mention the designers you admire?
A: There are some designs that I see and I say yes! Caroline Herera is one of those designers I love. I so much love her designs.
Q: You are a very attractive woman. How do you take care and maintain your skin?
A: Nothing on earth will stop me from washing my face before I sleep. I have never seen anything that will make me not to wash my skin before I sleep. This is because, when you wear make-up all day, you have to wash, cleanse and clean. At night you renew your skin and when you wake up in the morning you have a new skin. That’s the first step: always wash your face before you sleep.
Q: What skin care product do you use?
A: Clarins. I have tried so many. I believe that different people have different skin types; even having a sister of the same blood does not mean that what will work for me will work for her. But after using a lot of creams, I have realised that using Clarins soothes my skin.
Q: How do you stay in shape? Do you have any special workout regime?
A: I used to work-out, but I don’t really work-out any more. I watch what I eat. I don’t really eat anyhow. And I have stopped working out because of my work.
Q: What’s the best beauty advice you have?
A: Wash your face before you sleep. Always moisturise your face. Just do the normal routine: a face wash, a toner, a cleanser.
Q: What’s your personal style?
A: I’m a very simple person.
Q: What is your favourite make-up brand?
A: Iman and also Baker. Baker is really nice. I use Iman when I am going out, but Baker is very natural; it is like your everyday make-up.
Q: What’s in your wardrobe?
A: My shoes. I love my jeans anytime, anyday. Bag is another thing. I hardly buy clothes. I love bags because that’s the only thing I buy.
Q: Many designers do not like to wear their designs. Do you really wear?
A: I wear mine, but not everyday. I can wear mine three or four days a week.
Q: What’s in your make-up bag?
A: Iman, my Mac mascara and lipstick.
Q: How will you describe Hallero Couture?
A: Well, I believe so much that when you are designing you must set a pace. My designs are classy.
Q: Where do you see fashion in the future?
A: You never know, but we are all hoping for the best.
Q: What will you not be caught up wearing?
A: Bright colours. I don’t like them at all.
Q: What part of your body do you cherish most?
A: My eyes. My face is the attraction.
Q: What is your view on cosmetic surgery?
A: It’s a personal thing. Well for me I don’t want to say, it is a no-go area. For now, I went into a shop on high bridge and a Nigerian lady was trying to talk me into buying a particular product and I said ‘no I don’t need it.’ And she said maybe when you grow old and start having wrinkles and all that and I told her, let us wait till then.
Q: What do you eat to keep in shape?
A: I don’t just eat anything. I don’t eat fatty food. Now I settle for fish because it contains protein.
Q: As a wife and mother, how do you cope?
A: In the beginning, it was hectic. I believe there’s always a time for planting and reaping. For example, today I have not been to the factory and my work is going on fine, but like three to four years ago, I dared not try it. Now my tailors and I understand each other and I know who to give what. Also, my children are in the boarding house, so I only have the little one at home.
Q: What advice do you have for upcoming fashion designers?
A: No matter how interested you are, have an idea, a clue about what you are doing. This job is not something that you just go into without having a clue. Some tailors can make you quit. I keep telling tailors: ‘if you leave me I will still go on.’ So, please, have a clue. Don’t just do it because everybody is doing it. Have a clue so nobody can mess you up.
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