•Talks About Her New Role As Olori
For the first time, pretty Queen of Ilara-Epe land, Olori Bolanle Ogunsanwo speaks about her life as she becomes Olori and also her thriving business. She became a queen less than 3 months ago and she has been celebrated by her top close friends ever since. Queen Bolanle Ogunsanwo is the pretty wife of the newly installed king of Alara of Ilara Epe, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo. The duo has been very prominent on the social scene even before they joined the royal caucus. The new Oba is the former Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service(LIRS), before he became the 55th Alara of Ilara in Epe in Lagos. Olori Bolanle is very pretty, her skin like milk glows, and one thing you cannot take away from her is her style and love for luxury accessories. Even before she became the queen, she has dominated the social scene like a colossus and has complemented her husband’s status in a great way as the former no 1 tax boss. Olori Bolanle has a set of friends within the high society and when we say, high society, we mean she has in her circle top celebrity women who are close to her as friends. She dines with the high and mighty. She is into fabric business and sells exclusive laces and high-end luxury HOH laces. She runs one of the biggest fabric stores, Fabrique plus in Ikeja. She sells clothes to the likes of Globacom boss wife, Titi Adenuga, Anana Emmanuel, Roli Adeniyi, Yemisi Busari, Prophetess to Funmi Lucas and many more. She sources for her exclusive fabrics from south of France, Europe and no wonder her unbeatable HOH lace comes from the source, Austria as HOH founder’s daughter, Selma is her friend. She is also one queen whose style you will always admire. She has been stepping out lately with her husband. She played host to City People Society Editor, TAYO OYEDIJI a few days ago where she spoke for the first time on her new role as Olori, her fabric business and her gorgeous style.
What is Fabrique Plus all about?
Fabrique plus is a luxury brand, which is a house of fashion where women can come in and get whatever they want to buy with all satisfaction. If you really want to look stylish, Fabrique Plus is your one-stop-shop. You can’t go wrong coming here to pick your fashion favorites. It is the A-Z store of quality yet affordable luxury fashion items.
Why did you set up Fabrique plus?
The reason why I opened Fabrique plus was that a lot of women don’t know how to match up fabrics, how to dress up in totality and for someone like me who loves to look good always, I just decided to go into sales of fabrics to help women put things together and how their style can evolve over time. How they can be stylish in their luxury apparel such that when you see them you can’t take your eyes off them. Most of my clients are always very stylish and that has been my main purpose why Fabrique plus was set up, it is the main fashion store, in fact fashion clinic, for women of any class.
How long has Fabrique plus been in existence?
I have been running this business for over 18 years and God’s willing, for many more years to come.
How have you been able to sustain the brand?
It has been God because there are a lot of people that sell fabrics and yet we are still in existence. So for those who know what they are coming to get at Fabrique plus, they will rather not go elsewhere. There are many fabric sellers who deal in both quality ones and non-quality ones but I try as much as possible to stay on the quality lane. If you are looking for non-quality then not in Fabrique plus because most of my clients like quality fabrics. Many don’t like common fabrics you see around everywhere, some of my clients don’t like wearing same clothes with other people, so most of my fabrics are custom made. I know what my clients want, many of them want something unique and classy and I always try my best to satisfy them by giving them the best.
What type of fabrics do you sell?
I sell wool, 100% cotton for men, chantilly laces, net laces, organzer, premium HOH laces, Hollandis Ankara and others. I also sell designer bags, shoes for ladies and men’s shoes. All sorts of brands, Italian shoes and designer brands. I have about 6 or 7 luxury men’s and women’s shoe brands as well.
How have you been able to source your quality fabrics?
I go to exhibitions a lot, and when you go for an all-round tour fabric exhibition, you will be exposed to many new designs. I have been to all sorts of exhibitions. I have been to Italian exhibition, French exhibition, Korean exhibition, so by doing that, you see different luxury fabrics and items. The more you go for exhibition, the more it helps in the selection of good and luxury fabrics, new inventions, new fabrics, new designs, custom made, fashion trends so that is how I source for my fabrics.
Any challenge so far?
The big challenge facing us is the rate exchange. The exchange market fluctuates, you might buy money today and by tomorrow, the rate will be outrageous. Right now, the rate is bad. There are some things I did when Euro was 400 naira that you pay 30% and when the goods are ready, you will pay the remaining 70%, you find out that you are now buying euro like double the rate and it is really bad for our business. The exchange rate is our no 1 challenge. It affects the fabric business a lot. Normally when I want to order things, I order for about 6 colours, but now that the exchange rate is really bad, I order like 3 or 4. Then for shoes, some particular shoe brands, and sizes, I order about 6 pairs of each size, but now I can’t do up to that. One thing I also found out recently is that people don’t buy expensive things anymore so it is also a challenge except for those who can’t do without wearing luxury fabrics. And expensive means quality so to most of my clients, quality is key.
You are also very fashionable, how has this affected your brand positively?
Well, In a way, it has because when people see that you are practicing what you are preaching, they tend to appreciate what you sell more. My love for good things, to look good and also to make people look very stylish made me set up my fabric business so I also have to let them see it in me. Many people commend my style and this has brought in many clients when they see anything on me or in the pictures.
What should people look out for when choosing fabrics?
Quality. So that you can even enjoy the value of what you have bought which will last for a lifetime. Some people don’t even know what quality is. Some people don’t even know the difference between one fabric or the other but from the texture and all, it is easy to know and that is why you should always look out for where you are sure of getting to buy quality fabrics thereby getting value for your money. I tend to let my clients know that fabric differs.
What does style mean to someone like you who is very stylish?
Style means elegance. My style is very conservative but at the same time elegant. I want to enter a place and always want people to feel, yes, someone is here and heads begin to turn. That is me. Not that you enter a place and people won’t even realize someone just walked in. my kind of style is everywhere I go, I want to always wow people. My style is simple but elegant. Not too loud, not too extravagant but well put together and at the same time conservative.
What is the fashion accessories you can’t do without?
I can’t do without wearing jewelry. I can’t do without wearing shoes and bags too. They are the spice in my everyday look. I love to always look good at any time. I love wearing good fabrics and that is why I sell them.
Has having major big celebrities as your clients boosted your fabric business?
It has in so many ways. I have them in numbers and I thank God for bringing them to me. As I said earlier, why they keep identifying with the brand is simply because of quality. When they wear my fabrics, I get so many referrals from them. So it has helped the business a lot.
With your current status as Olori, your outing must have been doubled, how do you manage this?
Normally, I am really not an outing person except for important ones. I don’t just go to all parties. But now, I have no choice, I have to go out. But left to me, I would stay back though once in a while I give myself a push to go out. I have no choice especially when I have to attend with my husband, he has many things up his sleeves now so I need to compliment him wherever he goes. So I am managing it well, it is a responsibility now and I am trying my best.
What were your reactions when you were to become an Olori?
Initially, when my husband wanted to become a king, I was like, I was not interested, and I told him. I told him all eyes will be on him, I told him I was not interested so he had to report me to all the people that he knows that is close to me. In fact, he begged me for almost 6 months before I agreed. I told him that kingship is a bit of showbiz business that you have to be in the limelight every time and I really don’t like to be all out. In the long run, he convinced me and there is nothing I can do anymore so here I am, he is already a king so I have no choice. In the past few months, it has not been a whole lot easy because you have to be responsible for the community your husband governs, fitting into Olori’s role is not that easy especially when you are initially not interested but God so good, we are at it now. The only thing it has affected a bit is my business because I have to give more time as the role dictates, now I have to be a lot more home than doing business runarounds which is not really me because I like to travel, I like to go do business around and all but no choice here, we have to balance it. Fabric business is my passion and I can’t quit for anything else. Eventually, I will still have one in Epe for it to be easy for me so I don’t lose any touch-ups. I don’t want to break away from my clients. Then I will be answerable to the community more, compliment my husband’s role as Oba Ilara Epe and still do my business.
Can you talk about the massive sales you want to do?
We are having great sales, 50% off on all fashion items, Fabrics, bags, shoes. We need to also do this for our clients who have trusted us all along and also for new clients who love luxury things to come in and get the same quality at a cheaper price. We have some people who can’t afford the expensive things as well, so we need them to come on board with what they have and still get quality brands, it just like we want to do something like a Black Friday. It is just like a give back to our numerous clients while we welcome all and sundry to come and enjoy these massive sales which will last for a week, starting from Monday 23rd November to Saturday 28th November at our store in Opebi, Ikeja Lagos
– TAYO OYEDIJI
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