Diversity Spotlight Interview with Oge Ajibe
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Dreams fuel the human soul; we all see and work hard to pursue them. Nothing compares to the sweet taste of witnessing your vision become a reality, especially when walking on a less travelled path.
Similar is the story of Oge Ajibe (@ojeajibe) from Nigeria, who moved to Canada in 2015 with two suitcases and many dreams and now owns her own clothing brand, mainly catering to plus-size people. We interviewed Oge for our Diversity Spotlight program in honour of Black History Month and left the conversation with nothing but inspiration.
This is Oge’s journey:
“I moved to Canada in 2015 to study Psychology at Simon Fraser University. Two semesters later, I realized this was not my path and decided not to pursue it further.
I have always been interested in fashion, so I started learning more about it. In 2017, I started blogging about fashion and began studying a fashion program at LaSalle College in Vancouver. I began designing clothing in 2018, and was invited to the African Fashion Show at SFU. When I was there, I remember a woman had approached me and asked if she could buy my clothes. I could not believe she asked that, and that fueled my passion even more and inspired me to do more fashion shows. I was loving what I was doing.
However, as life would have it, in 2020 I lost my full-time job due to COVID. Due to financial strain, I had to return the fabric I had bought. Looking back, losing the job gave me more time, and I started dressing my friends and making videos when I came across a post about a Free Label competition with a $5000 award to start my own business.
Without much thought, I signed up for the competition and ended up winning. I needed this confidence boost; I needed someone to believe in me. Eventually, I launched my first collection in December 2020, and 4+ years later, I am still in awe of how I can live my dream every day. “
Q: Starting something new always comes with challenges. What are some barriers you have faced in your industry and how did you overcome them?
A: The primary issue was money. Even though I had received funding from the competition, it was depleting fast and challenging to sustain. I also applied for various government funding but was not successful.
Along with that, my background is also complicated. I was a black woman in Canada trying to build my own business, and few were doing what I did. So, I did not have a mentor I could go to for advice. Being alone in this journey also led to several mental challenges and questioning if I was doing the right thing.
Regardless, I was determined and confident in my dreams, and my resilience was my superpower. I made the best use of available resources, found people who were also starting their own businesses and networked with them. Eventually, I found my community.
Q: What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, especially those pursuing fashion or entrepreneurship?
A: My biggest advice is to start where you are. Do not wait for a big miracle to happen; Make the miracle happen. No one begins big; everyone starts small and gradually grows, and that is the most sustainable way, too.
Utilize the power of networking, attend events featuring other fashion creators, ask questions and take the risk. You will encounter many problems but be creative with the solutions. If you don’t have models to wear your clothes; get out of your comfort zone and be the model. You will always be your biggest brand ambassador.
Oge is looking forward to the next phase of her business, where she focuses on sustainable and healthy growth, without compromising her mental and physical health.
She wishes to get more eyes on her business and bridge the gap between plus-size people and fashion. Oge believes everyone deserves to look and feel their best selves.
