In this honest and inspiring conversation, Derin Fabikun opens up about building her fashion brand from the age of 19, navigating slow seasons, overcoming health challenges, and finding the courage to keep going when giving up felt like the easier option.
She shares the realities behind the evolution of her brand, why quality fashion comes at a cost, and the opportunities many emerging designers are missing.

Whether you're a fashion entrepreneur, creative, or anyone building something from scratch, this episode is packed with practical insights and lessons on resilience, growth, and staying the course.
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00:00 – Introduction
01:49 – What did you start with as a 19-year-old?
03:57 – How did Fabling by Derin begin?
05:03 – Was it easier to start a fashion business then or now?
06:16 – There was a time your business went quiet—what happened?
11:37 – Credit Direct Hype
12:29 – Did you ever think, "I'm not doing this anymore"?
17:40 – Where is the brand today: ready-to-wear or bespoke?
19:00 – What does your pricing look like today?
19:30 – What do you say to people who ask, "Why can't it be less expensive?"
20:42 – What advice would you give to upcoming designers?
22:48 – What opportunities are designers not taking advantage of?
24:45 – Giveaway 🎁
25:53 – Outro

If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share with someone building a creative business.

#DerinFabikun #FashionBusiness #NigerianFashion #CreativeEntrepreneur #ReadyToWear #BespokeFashion

Welcome to TheGbemiOO

A channel where culture, fashion, business, and real conversations meet. From insights in the fashion industry to honest discussions on life, work, and everything in between, this channel gives you a front-row seat into my world.

Let’s connect — follow me across all social platforms for more.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gbemioo/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gbemioo?_r=1&_t=ZS-95BEyPb2vfM

On this episode of The Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Nonye, founder of That Thing Called Fashion, to discuss the realities of being a fashion content creator in today's digital world.

From creating content before influencing became mainstream to building a business, assembling a management team, negotiating brand deals, and navigating the pressure of social media, Nonye shares the lessons she's learned from years in the industry.

We also talk about the pressure to appear glamorous online and the truths about influencing that most people never see.

Whether you're a content creator, fashion entrepreneur, aspiring influencer, or simply curious about the business behind social media, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest conversations.


00:00 – Intro
01:38 – How she started
04:44 – Was content creation always the plan?
06:15 – When she started making money
08:15 – How she knew what to charge
09:09 – The platform that has worked best for her
09:02 – Biggest challenges she has faced
16:00 – Credit Direct Hype
16:47 – How important is Fashion Week for fashion creators?
18:20 – The pressure to look glamorous online
21:07 – What happens when a brand you don't like reaches out?
26:47 – Staying authentic in collaborations
29:12 – Building a management team
31:44 – What people don't realize about being an influencer
33:06 – Advice for aspiring creators
34:33 – Giveaway 🎁
35:12 – Outro

#Nonye #ThatThingCalledFashion #FashionInfluencer #ContentCreator #FashionBusiness #FashionCreator #InfluencerMarketing #AfricanFashion #NigerianFashion #TheFashionRoundtable

Welcome to TheGbemiOO

A channel where culture, fashion, business, and real conversations meet. From insights in the fashion industry to honest discussions on life, work, and everything in between, this channel gives you a front-row seat into my world.

Let’s connect — follow me across all social platforms for more.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gbemioo/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gbemioo?_r=1&_t=ZS-95BEyPb2vfM

On this episode of The Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Style Infidel for a candid conversation about fashion, styling, weddings, Fashion Week, pricing, and the realities of working in the Nigerian fashion industry.

From styling brides and grooms to helping shape some of fashion's most memorable moments, Style Infidel shares the lessons, challenges, and hard truths that many people don't see behind the glamour.

We discuss why many people resist paying stylists, whether Nigerian fashion is truly expensive, who holds the most power in the industry, and what needs to change for Nigerian fashion to earn greater global recognition.

If you're a designer, stylist, entrepreneur, fashion lover, or simply curious about the business behind the industry, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

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00:00 – Intro
01:44 – How he got into fashion
03:00 – How he landed his first gig
08:10 – The story behind the name Infidel
09:04 – Brides and Grooms of Infidel
11:18 – Why every couple should have a stylist
12:50 – Matching the bride and groom's looks
15:56 – The biggest fashion mistakes couples make
16:50 – What he does during Fashion Week
24:10 – Why people resist paying stylists in Nigeria
29:57 – Is Nigerian fashion expensive?
41:02 – Credit Direct Hype
41:32 – One uncomfortable truth about Nigerian fashion
50:57 – Is the fashion industry properly structured?
54:48 – Who holds the most power in Nigerian fashion?
1:04:44 – What must change for Nigerian fashion to be taken seriously globally
1:09:36 – Ready-to-wear and fast fashion brands
1:11:54 – Giveaway 🎁
1:12:00 – Outro

#StyleInfidel #NigerianFashion #FashionBusiness #FashionStylist #AfricanFashion #FashionWeek #WeddingFashion #BridalStyle #FashionIndustry #TheFashionRoundtable

On this episode of The Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Veronica Ebie, founder of Vanestyle, for an honest conversation about styling, fashion business, personal branding, and what it really takes to build a successful styling brand in Nigeria.

Veronica shares insights from her journey and the lessons she's learned along the way from navigating client expectations, celebrity styling, pricing, trends, and the realities behind the scenes,

Whether you're a stylist, designer, fashion entrepreneur, or simply love fashion, this episode is packed with valuable insights and real industry experiences.


00:00 – Intro
01:54 – How she got started
03:55 – The story behind Vanestyle
08:36 – When she realized it could become a business
09:55 – Matching personality with style
11:25 – Navigating conversations about revealing outfits
13:00 – Why prices aren't always included in captions
14:26 – What the backend of a styling business looks like
17:07 – Clients who want styling without her posting them.
18:48 – The hardest season of her career
20:30 – Does she style male clients?
21:20 – What she looks for in designers featured in her showroom
23:01 – Why she models many of the looks herself
23:59 – Credit Direct Hype
24:26 – Do stylists get enough credit?
25:17 – When clients get dragged for their outfits
26:10 – Working with clients who love showing skin
27:24 – What she would do differently if she started again
28:20 – Why she hasn't launched her own clothing line
29:20 – One styling rule she lives by
29:51 – One trend she doesn't want to see again
30:50 – One thing every Nigerian woman should invest in right now
32:25 – The average cost of clothing at Vanestyle
34:00 – Giveaway 🎁
34:20 – Outro

#VeronicaEbie #Vanestyle #FashionStylist #FashionBusiness #NigerianFashion #StyleTips #FashionEntrepreneur #TheFashionRoundtable #AfricanFashion #WomenInBusiness

On this episode of The Fashion Roundtable, we sit down with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Noble Igwe for an honest conversation about fashion and personal style.

From movie premiere themes to BBNaija styling, online criticism, men’s fashion, and working with upcoming designers, this episode dives into the realities of fashion in entertainment and media.

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00:00 – Intro
1:45 – Why Ebuka doesn’t like being called a fashion boy
4:06 – Knowing what he wanted to do
7:58 – Pressure around outfits and public opinion
16:20 – Last time they both repeated an outfit
23:14 – Styling plans for shows like BBNaija
25:51 – How new designers get to style Ebuka and Noble
29:43 – Credit Direct Hype
32:50 – Always wanting to style people
38:50 – Let’s talk about dragging
57:08 – Looking back at old fashion moments 😭
1:00:03 – Men’s fashion (Gbemi’s take)
1:05:29 – Why Ebuka hasn’t started a fashion line
1:07:49 – Outro
1:08:25 – Giveaway 🎁

#Ebuka #NobleIgwe #MensFashion #BBNaija #FashionNigeria #CelebrityStyling #AfricanFashion #TheFashionRoundtable #FashionBusiness #PopCulture

Welcome to TheGbemiOO

A channel where culture, fashion, business, and real conversations meet. From insights in the fashion industry to honest discussions on life, work, and everything in between, this channel gives you a front-row seat into my world.

Let’s connect — follow me across all social platforms for more.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gbemioo/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gbemioo?_r=1&_t=ZS-95BEyPb2vfM

On this episode of The Fashion Roundtable,we sit down with respected fashion entrepreneur and creative director, Sola Oyebade, popularly known as Mr Mahogany.

From producing some of the biggest fashion shows in Nigeria and Africa, including GTB Fashion Weekend, Music Meets Runway, Africa Fashion Week London, and more to building platforms for emerging designers, this conversation dives deep into the business, creativity, and impact of fashion production across Africa.

If you’re interested in fashion, production, entrepreneurship, or the African creative industry, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

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0:00 – Intro
2:15 – Why the attention is on African fashion
6:50 – How fashion show production started
11:36 – How he got involved
13:45 – Fashion’s contribution to Africa’s creative economy
16:25 – Let’s talk about Epic Fashion Week
20:13 – How fashion shows make money
21:07 – How designers are selected to showcase
23:01 – How upcoming designers can join
23:50 – Industry initiatives
28:58 – Outro

#AfricanFashion #FashionBusiness #FashionWeek #GTBFashionWeekend #EpicFashionWeek #CreativeIndustry #NigeriaFashion #FashionProduction #TheFashionRoundtable

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Welcome to TheGbemiOO

A channel where culture, fashion, business, and real conversations meet. From insights in the fashion industry to honest discussions on life, work, and everything in between, this channel gives you a front-row seat into my world.

Let’s connect — follow me across all social platforms for more.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gbemioo/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gbemioo?_r=1&_t=ZS-95BEyPb2vfM

Sarting a footwear brand sounds exciting… but what does it really take to build one? 👀

In this episode, we sit down with Funmilayo Abodenyi founder of dshoecollector, to talk about her journey of building a footwear brand from the ground up. From finding the right manufacturers and dealing with quality issues, to pricing, marketing, and navigating challenges like the pandemic — she shares what it truly takes behind the scenes.

If you’re thinking of starting a shoe brand, fashion business, or any creative venture, this conversation is packed with real, practical insights you don’t want to miss.


0:00 – Intro
1:24 – How dshoecollector started
5:55 – When a business idea becomes viable
8:32 – Impact of the pandemic on the business
11:08 – Starting online or with a physical store
11:38 – Early challenges encountered

14:35 – Size runs and production decisions
16:52 – Balancing creativity in design
18:04 – Credit Direct hype
18:47 – Producing in Nigeria vs abroad

21:02 – Quality control challenges
23:01 – Issues with factories abroad

32:10 – How pricing was determined
35:54 – Balancing store costs and pricing

38:21 – Marketing strategies that worked
40:31 – Advice for starting a footwear brand
42:29 – Do you need to “dance” on social media to sell? 👀

48:45 – Giveaway 🎁
49:09 – Outro


Don't forget to like, share and subscribe.

What really goes into creating the looks we see on screen? 👀
From building a character’s wardrobe to working with tight budgets, handling production demands, and navigating credit in the industry — this conversation dives deep into the world of costume design for film and TV.
In this episode, we sit down with Yolanda Okereke, an 8-time AMVCA nominee, who has worked on major productions like Blood Sisters and Something for the Briggs. She shares what it really takes to bring characters to life through fashion, the business side of styling for film, and the behind-the-scenes realities most people never see.
If you’ve ever wondered how iconic looks are created on screen, this one is for you.

0:00 – Intro
1:43 – How stylists land TV projects
4:30 – Projects that excite you just by reading the script
11:09 – How much research goes into building a character’s wardrobe
15:50 – Credit Direct Hype
16:41 – How costume budgets are structured
17:50 – Do you have an army of tailors?
19:40 – What happens to clothes after production
23:18 – Creating luxury looks on a tight budget
24:15 – Highest budget worked with
26:06 – Ever designed a costume you didn’t fully understand the character?
28:45 – Do costume designers get enough credit?
31:29 – What do you enjoy more: costume design or red carpet styling?
32:16 – Preferred projects: epic vs modern stories
34:50 – How to learn costume design outside school
39:30 – Have actors ever kept or “taken” costumes? 👀
40:59 – Who really controls how a character looks?
42:32 – Giveaway 🎁

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more real conversations