Interview with Nigeria’s Couture Queen Nikki Odu Khiran

A graduate from the London College of Fashion, Nikki has been in Nigeria for over ten years and have been running her own Fashion Design Studio Nikki Khiran couture. Her signature style reflects an African background with a global western influence. Ethnic and abstract prints in spicy tones, silk crepes and dupions, taffeta and beaded georgettes always come out in Glamour in the hands of Nikki. She is known to finish her works with Animal and floral prints, drapes and layers. One of my favourite Nigerian fashion designers I admire her and crave the indulgence of Aunty Remmy Diagbare of Vanguard Allure to post some excerpts of her interview with Nikki Odu Khiran.

What’s your style as a person? Dress and Jewellery or Shoe and Bags? MY style is Bohemian chic. I love ethereal clothing, layering fluidity, asymmetrical cuts

, drape dresses, bold prints. Being well dressed is a complete look and is a combination of the outfit, jewellery, accessories. I’m not a logo or brand freak. I could buy a bag for $200 or $2000 it’s about what I like. I don’t follow trends.

What Inspires You To Design? I’m inspired by many things. Sights, sounds, exotic places, art, music, fabrics, the Middle East, my moods, life and the 70’s era. Of course God is my greatest inspiration.

What Has Been The Reception Of Nigerians To Your Style Of Designs? Being able to do what I love and having people receive it, believe and appreciate it and embrace my interpretation of style and elegance is really great.

How Viable Is The Industry And is The Potential Fully Utilized? The Nigerian fashion industry is still crawling. It’s only slightly advanced than when I got here eleven years ago. We still have the same challenges. As for the potential, very underutilised.

What is The Theme of Your Latest Collection and How Often Do you come Up with New Collections? Well, it doesn’t really have a theme but my concept was that of that of a global traveller. Exotic, free spirited, sexy yet lady like, individualistic and confident. That’s my type of clientele. I do my collections twice a year but in between, I always conjure up new stuff.

There Is A new Worldwide Trend For Ankara. How Should Designers and Nigerians In General Respond to This? The west has always looked to Africa for inspiration be it the Grecian styled togas of Egypt or the bold vivid strong colours and prints of African textiles.

It’s great to see our ethnic inspired prints on the runway of our international markets.

Apart From Ankara, other Fabrics like Aso oke and Akwete are not so utilized. Are these not Fabrics that could be used for contemporary Designs? Yes we do have other fabrics like Aso oke. It’s beautiful but not as versatile as cotton because of its stiffness. It’s really about a designer’s preference and interpretation of fabrics.

What about Relationships? Are you dating now? If not, what is it that you look out for in a man you would want to be with? That would be telling! A real man is kind, compassionate, God fearing, respectful, sincere and selfless. Someone who’s got my back when the chips are down, a man with broad shoulders that I can lean on.

Finally, what’s your advice for aspiring designers? Knowledge is power. Educate yourself. Go back to school. Get properly trained, work under a mentor and learn from scratch. The basics are the most important. The fashion industry seems glamorous but it’s pure hard work. Perseverance, perseverance, perseverance!