Laura Onigbode

Let me tell you an uncomfortable truth that many fashion designers do not want to hear.

Everybody copies.

Yes.

Everybody.

Before you come for me, hear me out.

The reality is that you cannot reinvent the wheel every single time.

Fashion has existed for generations.

Long before you and I arrived.

Long before social media.

Long before Pinterest.

Long before fashion magazines.

People have been creating garments, experimenting with silhouettes, adding embellishments and playing with design details.

So the idea that every design must be completely original is not only unrealistic, it can also be exhausting.

In fact, trying to create something that has never existed before can become a major source of creative frustration.

But here's the interesting part.

The best designers don't necessarily create from nothing.

They create from inspiration.

And there is a difference.

The masters understand that fashion is often an ongoing conversation.

One designer introduces an idea.

Another designer interprets it.

A third designer refines it.

A fourth designer combines it with something else.

And over time, something fresh emerges.

That is how creativity often works.

Let me put it another way.

Imagine two fashion designers are given the same reference outfit.

The first designer copies everything exactly.

Same neckline.

Same sleeves.

Same embellishments.

Same proportions.

Same everything.

The result?

A copy-and-paste version.

Nothing new.

Nothing memorable.

Nothing creative.

Now imagine the second designer approaches the same outfit differently.

Perhaps she changes the neckline.

Adds a unique sleeve treatment.

Introduces a different fabric combination.

Adjusts the silhouette.

Adds an unexpected design detail.

Changes the finishing.

Refines the fit.

The original inspiration is still there.

But the outcome feels fresh.

It feels different.

It feels intentional.

It feels like her.

That is the difference between copying and creating.

One duplicates.

The other interprets.

One reproduces.

The other transforms.

One follows.

The other contributes.

And that is where true creativity lives.

Not necessarily in inventing something completely new.

But in seeing possibilities others have overlooked.

One of the reasons I enjoy fashion design so much is because it allows room for interpretation.

The same inspiration can produce completely different outcomes depending on who is creating.

That is why I always encourage fashion designers to stop putting unnecessary pressure on themselves.

You do not have to start from a blank page every single time.

You do not have to reinvent fashion.

You do not have to exhaust yourself trying to create something the world has never seen.

Instead, learn to observe.

Learn to study.

Learn to gather inspiration.

Then add your own perspective.

Your own creativity.

Your own experiences.

Your own signature.

Your own flavour.

Because at the end of the day, people are not just buying clothes.

They are buying your interpretation.

They are buying your creativity.

They are buying your eye for detail.

They are buying the unique way you see the world.

And that is something nobody can copy.

So the next time you are feeling stuck creatively, remember this:

Don't ask yourself,

"How can I create something nobody has ever seen before?"

Instead ask,

"How can I make this idea uniquely mine?"

That question is often far more productive.

And far less stressful.

Let me ask you:

Where do you draw the line between inspiration and copying?

And for my fellow creatives, what is one thing you do to make your work stand out from everyone else's?

Beautiful Bubus Gowns 😍❤️❤️❤️

Father,
We walk in divine favour today.
Let Your goodness speak for us where our voices cannot reach in Jesus Name 🙏🏾

😃💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA
THE WORD FOR TODAY TUESDAY June 23, 2026. "YOUR FAITH IS A CATALYST"

‘…The message…did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith…’ Hebrews 4:2 AMP

A CATALYST facilitates change; it makes things happen! For example, Alka-Seltzer without water has no effervescence, flour without yeast produces no bread, seeds without sunshine means no flowers, blue without yellow means no green, an egg without s***m means no baby, a spark without air produces no flame. Faith makes God’s Word work in your life. Without it nothing happens. Talking about the Israelites, Paul said, ‘When the good news of deliverance…came to them…the message…did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith.’ One author says: ‘Without specific catalysts certain results can never be achieved. To make spiritual progress, it’s not enough to read the Bible or listen to sermons. The activating ingredient to understanding is faith. After we hear God’s message, we must act on it…Maybe you’re experiencing bitterness or anger because of a failed relationship and God told you to put those emotions behind you, but you lack the will to do it. Let me encourage you; trust God’s Word and act in faith. His promises will bloom in your life, once you activate your faith.’ Faith is not intellectual assent, or paying lip service to what you read in God’s Word. It’s acting on it, confident that God will do what He promised. There’s a difference between faith and trust. You may believe a chair will hold you, but, only when you sit down and put your full weight on it, are you trusting it. Getting the idea?

Bible For A Year : Exo 20: 17, Ps 10, Jam 4: 1-3. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation💝🎀

*To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*💝🌹🌷🎀

7 COMMON MISTAKES FASHION DESIGNERS MAKE WHEN RECREATING CUSTOMER STYLES 🚨✂️

A customer shows you a picture.

You confidently say:

"No problem, I can make it."

A few days later...

The outfit looks nothing like the picture.

The customer is unhappy.

You're frustrated.

And everybody is stressed.

The truth?

Most style recreation failures happen long before the sewing machine is switched on.

Let's talk about the mistakes.

1️⃣ NOT STUDYING THE STYLE PROPERLY

This is where many problems start.

Some designers glance at the picture for 10 seconds and start cutting fabric.

Why it matters:

The details are usually hiding in plain sight.

How to win:

Study:

✔ Neckline

✔ Sleeve

✔ Bodice

✔ Skirt

✔ Back view

✔ Style lines

👉 Analysis before action.

Question:

Do you study styles or simply look at them?

2️⃣ IGNORING THE CUSTOMER'S BODY TYPE

Pause. This is important.

The model in the picture is not your customer.

A style that looks amazing on one body shape may behave differently on another.

Why it matters:

Body shape affects fit and appearance.

How to win:

Adapt the style to suit your customer.

👉 Don't copy blindly.

Question:

Are you designing for the picture or for the customer?

3️⃣ USING THE WRONG FABRIC

Real talk.

Sometimes the problem is not your sewing.

It's the fabric.

The original design may have been made with:

✔ Crepe

✔ Satin

✔ Organza

✔ Mikado

✔ Stretch fabric

And you're trying to recreate it with something completely different.

👉 Fabric affects the final outcome.

Question:

Have you considered how fabric influences the design?

4️⃣ NOT COMMUNICATING EXPECTATIONS

Quick question.

Did you explain what is possible and what isn't?

Many customers expect an exact replica.

Why it matters:

Differences in:

✔ Fabric

✔ Body shape

✔ Measurements

Can affect the result.

How to win:

Discuss expectations before sewing.

👉 Clear communication prevents disappointment.

Question:

Do your customers understand the limitations?

5️⃣ SKIPPING A TEST SAMPLE

Let me say this carefully.

Complex styles deserve testing.

Why it matters:

A sample helps you:

✔ Identify mistakes

✔ Adjust construction

✔ Improve ex*****on

Before touching expensive fabric.

👉 Sampling saves money.

Question:

How many sewing problems could a sample have prevented?

6️⃣ RUSHING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

Many designers know what to sew.

But rush through it.

Why it matters:

Good construction takes time.

When you rush:

❌ Details suffer

❌ Finishing suffers

❌ Quality suffers

How to win:

Slow down.

Think through the process.

👉 Precision beats speed.

Question:

Are you sewing too fast for the complexity of the style?

7️⃣ NOT IMPROVING YOUR STYLE ANALYSIS SKILLS

Pause. This may be the biggest one.

Some designers never intentionally learn how to analyse styles.

They simply hope experience will solve everything.

Why it matters:

The better you analyse...

The easier recreation becomes.

How to win:

Practice breaking styles down regularly.

Study:

✔ Style lines

✔ Pattern shapes

✔ Techniques

✔ Construction methods

👉 Better analysis creates better results.

Question:

How often do you intentionally study designs?

Continue reading in the comments below 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

Monday morning photo dump.
Just crushing on myself for all the mercy of God in life.

Pretty dresses 😍❤️❤️❤️

Everyday is an opportunity to change your life.
Are you ready?! 😀

I learned an interesting business lesson from a sewing machine mechanic the other day.

And honestly, it almost cost him money.

He came to my workshop to fix one particular machine.

That was the job we called him for.

He arrived, did the repair, packed up his tools and announced that he was ready to leave.

But I wasn't ready for him to leave.

I looked at him and said:

"Wait a minute. You can't come all this way and not check my other machines."

So he dropped his bag and started inspecting them.

One machine needed a minor adjustment.

Another needed attention.

Then my manager mentioned that one of our overlocking machines was no longer cutting properly and might need a replacement blade.

As the conversation continued, I remembered another machine that needed servicing.

I didn't want him leaving and then having to call him back again.

So I insisted he take a look.

He observed that the oil needed to be changed and so I asked him to show my manager how to do it so we can arrange to get the oil and do it later.

That was when something funny happened.

He reached into his bag and brought out a container of machine oil.

I was surprised.

"Wait... you've had the oil with you all this time?"

Why were we discussing what needed to be done when he already had the solution sitting in his bag?

Of course, I immediately told him to go ahead and change it.

Then another thing happened.

I have an industrial sewing machine that doesn't have a built-in light.

For a while, I had been thinking about getting one of those small LED lights that can be attached to the machine.

So I casually asked him:

"How much does one of those machine lights cost these days?"

He told me.

I said I would need to buy one.

And then, after all that conversation, he casually mentioned that he had one in his bag.

Again, I was shocked.

"You mean you have it right now?"

Why didn't you say so from the beginning?

Needless to say, he installed it immediately.

And as I watched all this happen, a business lesson jumped out at me.

Sometimes we have solutions in our bag, but we don't offer them.

Sometimes we have products people need, but we don't mention them.

Sometimes we have additional services that could help our customers, but we keep quiet.

And in doing so, we leave money on the table.

The mechanic almost missed two extra sales that day.

Not because I wasn't willing to buy.

Not because I didn't have the money.

Not because I didn't need the products.

But because he never offered them.

That is where upselling comes in.

Upselling simply means offering an additional product or service that complements what the customer is already buying.

It is one of the simplest ways to increase sales.

And yet many business owners don't do it.

Imagine a customer buys a beautiful boubou from you.

Could you also recommend a matching headwrap?

That's an upsell.

A customer buys a palazzo set.

Could you suggest an A*o Oke jacket that complements it perfectly?

That's an upsell.

A customer orders a wedding outfit.

Could you offer styling accessories to complete the look?

That's an upsell.

The key is not to pressure people.

The key is to help them.

The best upsells solve additional problems.

They improve the customer's experience.

They make life easier.

They create more value.

And when done correctly, everyone wins.

The customer gets a better outcome.

And the business earns more revenue.

One of the questions I often ask myself is:

"What else might this customer need?"

That single question can transform the way you do business.

Because often, customers don't know all the options available.

They only know what they came for.

It is your responsibility as the expert to help them see what else could benefit them.

So the next time someone buys from you, don't stop at the first sale.

Look in your bag.

What other solutions are you carrying?

What other problems can you solve?

What other value can you provide?

Because sometimes the easiest sale is not finding a new customer.

It is serving your existing customer better.

Let me ask you:

Have you ever bought something simply because someone recommended it after your initial purchase?

And if you run a business, what product or service could you start upselling today?

Father,
Open our eyes to see opportunities hidden in ordinary places this week;
Give us wisdom to recognize them in Jesus Name.