When you have totally blurred the lines between education and business, then one can rightly call you a master in your art.
Oluranti Olamide Joseph, creator and owner of @mide_outfits still gets us astounded with his skill in perfectly combining his education and fashion business and simultaneously attaining success in both. A 400 level Economics student of Oduduwa University Ile Ife, Olumide is the biggest fashion brand on his campus and in fact, one of the best fashion designers in his community. Olumide voices his creativity through his uniquely creative pieces which have won him the envy of competitors and of course many recognition. Olumide shares his thought on juggling business and Economics and how he manages to unwind amidst all these.
AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR LIFE DID YOU DECIDE YOU WERE GOING TO PITCH YOUR TENT IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
I was in my second year in the university when I realised I should not be doing this for myself alone, others should also benefit from my creativity.
HOW DO YOU SOURCE FOR CUSTOMERS AND WHAT’S YOUR UNIQUE SELLING POINT?
You know they say the way you dress is the way you are addressed, so first of all, I wear what I make, it’s my greatest source of advertisement, then the social media has also helped me a lot; I have many likes on Instagram and Facebook.
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER TO A CLIENT TOMORROW MORNING AND YOU HAVE A DEPARTMENTAL TEST SAME MORNING; HOW DO YOU HANDLE THIS KIND OF A SITUATION?
Well, that’s a tough one, a situation like that hasn’t occurred to me but if it does I am sure I will figure it out somehow, someway.
WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE AN ECONOMIST OR A FASHION DESIGNER?
I am a full-time fashion designer and a part-time economist. You know the way this world is going now, it’s all about creativity, the question you will be asked most times is OK, apart from your formal education what else can you do.
WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE SO FAR IN BUSINESS AND SCHOOLING?
Well, biggest challenge is that business is starting and it took a lot of time to think about it like will people accept me like this, will they buy the brand? but we thank God, the choice is paying off now. But when it comes to business and schooling combined, well, it’s been cool so far, strategic planning is all that matters.
WHAT OR WHO DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION FROM?
My dad has always been my source of inspiration with his ‘earn your own money ‘, ‘be your own boss’ talk that he always said since I was much younger, so I grew up with that mind set.
YOU ARE A STUDENT AND YOU RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS, AS A YOUNG PERSON YOU ALSO NEED TO SOCIALIZE; HOW DO YOU JUGGLE ALL THESE THINGS?
To me all these things correlate; they all work together, most times I
do business from school even in class business is going on and when it’s time to work, I work and I create time to hang out and socialize, because all work without play makes Jack a dull boy they say.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
I have a billion dollar mind, and all things being equal, in the next 5 years, God willing, I, should be an household name in the fashion world.
WHATS YOUR ADVICE FOR FRESHERS IN ONE SENTENCE?
Start anyway, just make sure you start.