| Bra specialist •She studied
Fashion and Textiles, majoring in underwears
By AGATHA EMEADI
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
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Nena Kalu-Ogba
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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These days, it is common for fashion designers to say they
specialize in suits, trousers, shirts, corporate and traditional
wears. Nobody appears to ever claim he’s an expert in
underwears.
But Kalu-Ogba has broken this. She has a degree in Fashion
and Textile, majoring in night wears, lingerie, pant and brassiers.
And she’s proud to say: " I am a fulfilled woman
in her line of business".
How did she come into fashion?
Sewing is a family thing. My grandmother made clothes for
her own children, like my mother made clothes for us when
we were young. I decided to diversify a little from my mother
and my grandmother’s chosen line.
You want to know what attracted the pretty young lady into
fashion and she opens her bright eyes in enthusiasm and says
"I love anything that is fashionable. I wanted to study
any course that is related to fashion, but unfortunately,
there was no where in Nigeria to get a degree in my area of
specialization."
With the kind of parents Kalu-Ogba has, she dared not abandon
university education for any other thing. She revealed how
scared she was to ever mention her keen interest in fashion
and fashion-related ideas without a university education.
To tell you the kind of passion she has for fashion, the Abriba-born
lady made her first outfit at the age of nine. "I made
my first outfit at the age of nine." I bought the fabric
for N1.50k then. My secondary school teachers flogged me in
school for drawing clothes while others were reading Biology
and Chemistry textbooks. I did not like reading as a child,
I prefered drawing," she said.
To please her parents, she studied Theatre Arts briefly in
Nigeria, abandoned it and left for England. "I studied
Theatre Arts from the University of Calabar and abandoned
it after two years." That, to her, was the only course
that is related to fashion. Even with that, Kalu-Ogba was
not satisfied.
With smiles, she said "I ran off to England to study
Fashion and Textile Design at De-Monfort University. I majored
in night wears, lingerie, pant and bra. I also took short
courses at St. Martins college and from Mrs. Rose Cory for
hand-bag manufacturing and design and also couture millinery".
Today, Kalu-Ogba holds owns label called ‘Nena Kal-Hunter’.
Her creativity and clientele have made a positive statement
for her. She makes breathtaking hats for women that can afford
her prices.
One, therefore, becomes interested to know her unique selling
point. " Some of my designs are mistakes and unplanned
for".
The way I combine my colours are different. But the greatest
is I have not seen other milliners using the quality of materials
I use".
You ask the gap toothed fair lady why she is down-playing
night wear, lingerie and underwear industry and she said:
"I have all the components, materials and fabrics. I
do not have enough space to set up my machines". Secondly,
when my hat business kicked off, I did not have enough time
to work on the lingerie and underwear. Definitely, I will
start off with at least the nightwear and sexy lingerie."
Dangling her long colored weave-on, you ask her what could
be described as her highest point in life. "My highest
point in life was the day I had my exhibition in Nigeria.
My father made it look as if I was getting married. The psychological
and emotional support was tremendous". After savouring
the good experience of her exhibition, she lost her beloved
cousin.
That has been her low moment in life.
Apart from fashion, Kalu-Ogba sings, "I used to sing
a lot in the bathroom but have joined a church where I now
use my voice to praise God". I have been singing since
I was a child.
"Growing up was fine and strict. We had a sheltered home
and made friends among ourselves. We did not have neighbours
as such. My mother made sure we learnt a lot of things. She
taught us how to cook, play the piano, voice lessons and listened
to classical music. Flogging was also included. My father
did not flog us, but my mothers did that very well".
If there is one thing Kalu-Ogba is missing since she returned
from England, it is the cold weather and the uninterrupted
power supply.
Though Mr. Right has not come her way, she is keeping cool
and believing God for the best. She says, " Marriage
is not about fairy tale, rather, it is for two people that
are compatible in life".
Role models
"My parents are two hardworking successful people. I
learnt millinery from 72-year-old Mrs. Cory who started making
hat at the age of 12. She made hat for the late Queen mother.
In her class, I did not experience racism and she did not
hoard her knowledge.
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