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(A Grantee of US State Department, US Embassy, Abuja)
Youth Columnists
By Christy Anyanwu
Saturday, April 18, 2009
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Ronke
Ademiluyi, a lawyer-turned business woman, is the Chief Executive
Officer of RUKKIES Fashion. The fair complexion lady is not new in
the Nigerian fashion industry. She owns a chain of boutiques and has
worked with many models. For instance, she supplied all the outfits
worn by the Nigerian Next Super Models, and this she has been doing
since inception. She went into memory lane on how she dabbled into
fashion business that has given her fame. “I actually studied Law at
Thames Valley University, Ellen in West London but while I was
studying, I used to go to the far East |
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•Ronke, Photo: Sun News |
.The first time I travelled to the far East on holiday, I bought a few things for myself and my friends started making good comments on how it looks. They would come to me to dress them up when they have a party or any show to attend.
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That was how it actually
started. It started as a hobby, which now turned out to be a profit
making business. Even when I graduated in London, I still didn’t
practise law, I just went straight into fashion business”.
According to her, Rukkies has been in existence since 1999 in London as
well. “But we came to Nigeria in 2001 to open our first branch in Opebi,
the second one in Surulere, the third in Victoria Garden City (VGC) and
the fourth in Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island. We are fashion
boutique and we cater for all sizes from petite to plus sizes. We do
formal dresses, casual dresses, just anything you can think of’
Ronke was all smiles recently as she watched models catwalk during the
selection process of the future models that would work in her agency.
The event, which witnessed more of undergraduate boys and girls and some
matured women, took place at the sports centre of the University of
Lagos.
At the selection process, it
was all laughter as most of the people who turned out were amateurs who
have never participated in any shows, which manifested in the way they
catwalked. But for the down-to-earth Ademiluyi, the way they carried
themselves is not an issue because she was determined to train and make
them come out perfect in any show whether local or international.
In an interview, she revealed what the show was all about. “This is an
open call casting for Estic models, an International modelling agency
but being established in Nigeria now. “Estic models in London expressed
their interest to establish an agency in Nigeria and requested that I
become their representative in Nigeria. We are having the casting today
and we are going to launch it hopefully around May or June. After the
show, we are going to choose the ones we want and call them for a more
formal interview. We will groom them and send them out to do jobs
locally and international.
Shedding more light on the event, she said they have different segments
for the agencies. “We have runway, print and TV. We have the one for
older people and for kids as well. We are looking for all kinds of
people. The runway models can’t be the mother in Maggi cube, the child
in Indomie noodles nor the daughter in Peak milk. We need to take models
that cut across everywhere. It is not just fashion shows, we don’t have
enough fashion shows in the country, so we can’t say we are targeting
just runway models. With the new modelling associations, we pray that
there will be many standards in the industry, that means people and
companies will only work with registered modelling agencies.
How does she juggle the branches as a businesswoman and she said: “I
have a good manager who helps me out anytime I’m outside the country.
What is the secret of her beautiful clear skin? She revealed that she
uses nothing extra-ordinary apart from her body moisturiser called crème
de la mier. “It’s very good, I have been using the cream for the past
five years now. I buy it from Harrods and Selfridges. Also, I drink much
water. I tried to stay away from sugary drinks and I take much cranberry
juice as well”.
As a fashion dude, hear her opinion about fashion especially in Nigeria.
“ I don’t know how to describe it, it’s out of this world”.
Ronke is an ardent follower of fashion trends. “ I wear whatever in
vogue as long as it suits me. That’s the type of person I am. For
instance, when skinny jean was in vogue, I wore it since it fits me. And
now we have boot cut and I wear it as well. I follow the fashion trends.
I’m a designer bag person. I love Gucci”.
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