TEF Alumni, Chioma Ogbudimkpa, is Promoting Sustainability One Fabric at a Time
Description of her business
Redbutton focuses on work wear for female professionals, fusing African aesthetics, eco-friendly materials, and art from all over world. With every piece, the brand places emphasis on African stories, powerful women and sustainability. Because the African woman is vibrant in nature, the designer creates a balance between colors and texture, in interpreting strength and sophistication. Essentially, Redbutton seeks to project rare design innovation and modern African culture to the rest of the world. The brand’s tailoring is done in Nigeria and sold globally via redbuttonng.com and other local and international retail stores.
How long have you been running your business?
Over 18 months.
What led her to be an entrepreneur?
Chioma learnt creativity at the feet of her mom, who owned a fashion house back in the 90s, and whenever she went to join visit her mom at the office, she practiced mixing and matching fabrics, sewing and fixing clothes with needle and thread at her very young age. Chioma grew up to be a Project Management Professional who has served in different capacities and projects across 5 countries and different industries over 8 years, but her passion remained with Fashion. Chioma, who is also a very creative person, has brought to life her passion for fashion and sustainability. Being a green champion who is interested in the ecological balance of the planet, she decided to infuse her passion for the environment and sustainability into her craft. What better way to fuse the things you are passionate about? Chioma uses eco-friendly materials from agro waste, and up-cycled fabric pieces to make breathtaking fashion pieces.
Chioma seeks to project rare design innovation and modern African culture to the rest of the world, thus changing the global perception of African fashion.
Jobs
Before the intervention: She had two workers.
After the intervention: She now has five workers.
Revenue
Before the intervention: She was making 1,500,000 naira per annum. After the intervention: She now generates 4,000,000 naira per annum.
Milestone achieved after the intervention
Following her selection to the programme, Chioma founded RedButton, a fashion house that focuses on work wear for female professionals, fusing African aesthetics, eco-friendly materials and art from all over world. Recently, she launched a sustainable fashion concept using water hyacinths and coconut shells to make breath taking fashion pieces. Her work has gained her international recognition from reputed creative bodies such as the Creative Business Cup Nigeria, which she won this year (2019) and set to represent Nigeria at the Global Creative Business Cup in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 2019.
