If you were meeting Seun Olatunji for the first time, one of the things that would strike you immediately about her is her enchanting beauty. You possibly cannot meet Seun for the first time and not fall in love with her looks and charming personality. She is extremely beautiful and she knows so too. The second thing you will notice about her is her sense of fashion, she makes fashion statements anywhere she goes. And this she does effortlessly. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. Seun Olatunji is the CEO of Fashion Edge, one of the wave-making brands in the fashion Industry. Her designs are breathtaking and always a beauty to behold. This explains why she has a lot of society’s big babes and accomplished women as part of her clientele.
She was recognized for her contributions to the fashion industry at the 3rd City People’s Fashion Awards held a week ago in Lagos. An obviously elated Seun Olatunji spoke with City People’s Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) and talked about how her passion for fashion, despite having worked in the banking sector, still propelled her to set up her own fashion line.
Congratulations on the award you just picked up, how do you feel about this recognition?
Thank you so much. I’m elated, I’m happy. It gives me a great sense of belonging because I’ve been in this business for five years and I’ve been doing my bit. What I believe is that this gift is from God because I dress and step out seamlessly, all my customers have been satisfied over the years. So, receiving this kind of recognition is like a boost and a big motivation for me to do more.
Tell us a bit about yourself, where were you born, where were you raised?
I was born in Ondo state, but unfortunately, my mum and I are like miles apart when it comes to fashion. As a matter of fact, she’s on the other end.
Explain, please
No, what I mean is, she is of the Deeper Life faith and you know what that means when it comes to being fashionable. But she has been supportive. All she told me was, if that is what you like, go ahead with it. So, coming here today has been overwhelming for me. To start with, I’m a public servant. I was thinking about the office, my bosses and things like that. A while ago while the award ceremony was going on, I was chatting with one of my friends and expressing my concerns to her and she said you are thinking of something else while nature is preparing another thing for you. The person that presented the award to me today is the GM Admin, Nigeria Ports Authority, and he’s my boss. I was just laughing while receiving the award from him on stage so I knew there’s something about this for me. And that is why I don’t follow the crowd. I do my thing on my own because I’m so confident of what I do. It is not pride, its because I know that it comes to me as an inspiration from God. That’s why I’m able to do my thing without following the crowd. So, I thank God for today. I thank City People for this great honour. Dr. Seye Kehinde has been a brother, he has been a support. I will always say that my story cannot be complete without him. There was a time I was even a columnist in your magazine. He encouraged me to go into this. So, I will always thank him for all he has done and all he’s still doing for me.
Tell us about Fashion Edge, when did it start?
Fashion Edge started in October, 2015. Actually, this year, we had our five years anniversary celebrations and it’s been glory, glory, glory.
How did the talent for fashion evolve for you?
Yeah, people that have known me over the years will tell you I’ve always been like this. Fashion has been a part of me. Everywhere I worked, I made fashion statements. I was a banker for nine years, and people knew I dressed well. This has always been me. So, I can’t do less than I am doing right now. Even if I do less than this, people who know me would surely ask, am I okay? Is everything okay with you? So, I believe I was actually born to do this. It’s a vision from God. When I was still doing my HND in Ondo State Polytechnic, people will tell me Seun, don’t do this. Go and do this, go and do that. I left there and went to banking, it was still the same thing. I left there and went to where I am now, and is still the same thing. People would tell me, Seun, you must be a model, you must be doing this, I laugh because I’m doing it already and I know I’m on the right path because this is what I was made for.
You didn’t model at all at any point?
I didn’t model at any point but I always work with models.
You look stunning
Thank you.
Be honest with us, when you step out, how do you deal with male admiration because I know you must get tonnes of it every day?
I think I’m already so used to male admiration. I’ve been used to it for a long time now.
Doesn’t it put you under a lot of pressure sometimes?
That is why I said I’m so used to it because I’ve been exposed to this admiration since when I was in school some twenty years ago. Its something that I have been encountering for so many years now. It got to a stage that I had to start praying to God to help me reduce it.
And yet, 20 years after, you’re still looking gorgeous
Thank you very much.
Did you design this amazing dress you’re wearing? Is this one of your works?
Yes, this is one of my works. And it’s custom-made. Its hand beaded. We do a lot of beadwork, we are known for that. We go the extra mile to ensure that our customers are okay, they are happy and they show up. I always want for my customers to show up anywhere they go to and be different and beautiful.
Take us through what Fashion Edge does in terms of its area of specialty?
Fashion Edge does a lot. We are into men’s and women’s clothing of all sorts. We do events, traditional, casuals for both sexes.
And your fabrics, where do you source them from?
I source locally and internationally as well.
Where should we expect to see Fashion Edge in the next five years or so?
Well, in the next five years, I want Fashion Edge to be one of the best in Africa.
Who are presently the fashion icons that you admire?
Fashion icons I admire? For me, I admire good works when I see I one. It doesn’t have to be a known name. But when I see somebody that has a good fashion sense, I admire them a lot.
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