Michelle spot it

Michelle, you must certainly be proud of yourself now. How was it like when you started? What are the challenges, sweat, discouragement and may be at a time you thought of dusting back your CV and looking for job.

The major challenges I had and probably still think I am facing are  that the norm here in Nigeria that a Made in Nigeria product cannot be a good product. It has eaten too deep into the vertebrae of our masses and also the get rich quick salesmen n producers of shoes and other home-made leather products get to aid this woeful thought. All these are shrinking the market for people like me, who go after standard in quality and style. At first, I did not get the finishing right but over time with much diligence and hard-work I made quality products. It was so bad at the start that I made few attempts to get a 8-7 job because that's what it is here in Lagos. Also people were not buying regularly; it could take weeks to manage to get 5 pairs sold because the orders were not forth coming. Thus, I could barely earn or have any savings for myself.

What do your friends and family think of you then?

My family was very supportive, especially my mother; she was fundamental in the increased zeal I had in me to pursue my goal. Some of my friends were supportive while other friends who could barely grasp what I was doing delving into what is perceived as a "male skill set" played down talk on my dreams in a nasty way.

You have started some few years back now, can you speak about your first breakthrough? Surely you did not start like this.

Obviously I did not start like this, 3 years ago, I made shoes for Alibaba the Popular Comedian and he was kind to make a complementary promo for me on his social media page and friends of his became my customers and I was becoming know and I worked hard to fix some useful criticisms and due to better customer validation of my products- he (Alibaba) again was impressed and did another promo on his social media handles and as the new internet age will permit, it became my breakthrough season that saw me gain recognition in Africa and even in the USA and few countries in Europe.

What do you think make your shoes interesting or attractive to your client?

I work a lot to make my customers satisfied- so, i think it will stem from my attention to details.

Many will refer to your job as a male business; will you say making shoes has taken your feminine qualities or maybe part of it?

Gender has no role when it comes to chasing your dream and being artistic; but i think a larger part of my teenage years- i acted like a guy; so I guess it even hampered my fears and encouraged me. I am even more in touch with my femininity now than ever; but when I am in work mode, I don't know what gender I am in touch with.

What kind of shoes do you make and do you make other things apart from shoes?

I make leather shoes mostly; I also make shoes with already woven raffia kind of material. I make Ankara shoes, I make shoes from practically any desirable material deemed strong enough to with stand high level of sewing. I also do leather bags for both genders, slippers, belts and wrist bands.

Do you design your shoes yourself or you check it out online and try to copy the style?

Sure I design some shoes myself, but customer preferences will also make you remain informed with latest designs around the world just in case you need to make a look alike for a customer. Our minds are wells of inspirations, we just have to put it to use.

How expensive are your shoes?

My shoes are not expensive. The cost ranges is from: 15 000 Naira to 30 000 Naira.
 

What are your observations when you compare your shoes with other maker either local or foreign? Or how would you rate yours?

Talking about my observations would mean giving off cheap lectures to my competitors. I work hard and train people on shoe making and that is where I talk about my observations more because I love a near perfect job. I would have said perfect but you know perfection is a thing of the mind when we talk about art; hence I will rate my product good enough to make me get orders repeatedly from Nigerians abroad- so you can put a number to that rating.

Have any foreigner admire your shoes before?

Yes- I have had quite a number of them; some from Egypt and some from Germany, though they had a word or two to say but they had admiration and also criticism that would develop me even into something greater and I thank them for their inputs.

Do you have a show room for display?

I do not have a show room yet, but before the year runs out, it will be ready.

Since you are into making shoes, you must be dreaming of shoes chasing you up and down- or you don’t dream of shoes?

I dream shoes, eat shoes, Imagine shoes, talk shoemaking, it has become an integral part of my existence.

Have you won any award for your outstanding creativity?

Yes, I got two local awards last year that really made me believe my work is being appreciated here in Nigeria.

Do you have time for friends and visiting families?

I really don't have many friends, but I make efforts to visit the few I have occasionally. I visit my family occasionally too.

What is your vision for yourself?

My vision is to have a grand school or education centre that educates people on shoe production and design. I am already at work on it as I have been conducting series of tutorial on shoes, bags and belt production to willing participants- though it comes at a cost.

What is your favorite program on TV?

I barely follow TV programs, so i can't really say I have a favorite program - but I watch a movie or two when I have the chance.

Who would you like to thank for all the encouragement since you have started?

Firstly, I want to thank God Almighty for taking me thus this far, then my mother who has been a pillar of encouragement, also Alibaba for playing a great role in my success story and lastly, Mr. Festus Aduma

THANK YOU.