Tell us about yourself
My name is Sunmbo Abiola
Born, "Bread" & "Buttered" in Ibadan, Nigeria. I've always been interested in needlework/dressmaking/designing right from primary school. I was almost always the first to finish my needle work assignments and go on to help others finish theirs also. My mom is also a dressmaker/seamstress so also is my grand mom and great-grand mother. That is 4 generations of dressmakers/seamstresses as you can see.
Born, "Bread" & "Buttered" in Ibadan, Nigeria. I've always been interested in needlework/dressmaking/designing right from primary school. I was almost always the first to finish my needle work assignments and go on to help others finish theirs also. My mom is also a dressmaker/seamstress so also is my grand mom and great-grand mother. That is 4 generations of dressmakers/seamstresses as you can see.
How it all started
I picked up basics of dressmaking from my mom since I was little and ever since i was old enough to get on a sewing machine, I have been adjusting or reconstructing one garment or the other. I celebrated my 21st birthday in college & I made my own dress and everyone thought it was imported!........I always knew I was going to go full time into dressmaking/designing even while I was at college studying computer engineering, I just wasn’t sure when/where or how. I was always giving my tailors designs to sew for me (including hard times too when they didn’t give me what I wanted. lol)
Trials to TriumphsTrying to make the daily bread in 9ja did not permit me to really pursue my dreams in dressmaking/designing, but opportunity surfaced when I was to travel down to the states early '08 and I took time out to visit a fashion outfit to polish up my raw skills. With that, I am now able to translate my ideas into finished products … no more hypertension from tailors who just didn’t see what was in my head because I couldn’t really sketch it out for them
BEWAJI?
BEWAJI is about fusion of African and western culture/couture and especially fitting those outfits around the African woman's curves which are unique. It’s true because a lot of times, I find it hard to adjust my dress forms to my client’s measurements because the dress form is molded to fit the oyinbo woman's body!... lol
Current Inspiration?
My all time inspiration is seeing my work and the satisfied look on my clients' faces. I love fusing western designs with African prints. I'm tired of people calling it "native" simply because it's sewn with African print. There's nothing "native" about the design. I especially love coutured gowns. I love Deola Sagoe's designs. They are beautiful.
Current Inspiration?
My all time inspiration is seeing my work and the satisfied look on my clients' faces. I love fusing western designs with African prints. I'm tired of people calling it "native" simply because it's sewn with African print. There's nothing "native" about the design. I especially love coutured gowns. I love Deola Sagoe's designs. They are beautiful.
How BEWAJI came to be
BEWAJI is an adopted name. I fell in love with it when I heard it in a movie a long time ago and it's been my msn messenger screen name for over 4 yrs now.. It's an old name (just like my middle name that only very few people know) and it simply means BA EWA JI (wake up with beauty). When I was going to print my first set of business cards, I thought of a name to 
call my baby and I came up with "Cuts & Stitches".... I wasn’t quite comfortable with it because it was quite a mouthful... so when I was going to start my website, I wanted something catchy, and with some ethnic vibe to it so I decided to change it to BEWAJI which had always been at d back of my mind anyways.
Service the US only?
I service any part of the world as along as there's a delivery service there. I've sewn for a few people in the UK & Canada and more are still coming
Trade fashion design for anything else?
Ha... If they give me $100m contract, I will trade it ooo. Seriously though. if I get that kind of money, I will use it to expand my fashion outfit. I'll recruit qualified tailors so I can take a break from hugging the sewing machine myself. I'd trade this for a dance career, but it's pretty late for that as you can see...
call my baby and I came up with "Cuts & Stitches".... I wasn’t quite comfortable with it because it was quite a mouthful... so when I was going to start my website, I wanted something catchy, and with some ethnic vibe to it so I decided to change it to BEWAJI which had always been at d back of my mind anyways.Service the US only?
I service any part of the world as along as there's a delivery service there. I've sewn for a few people in the UK & Canada and more are still coming
Trade fashion design for anything else?
Ha... If they give me $100m contract, I will trade it ooo. Seriously though. if I get that kind of money, I will use it to expand my fashion outfit. I'll recruit qualified tailors so I can take a break from hugging the sewing machine myself. I'd trade this for a dance career, but it's pretty late for that as you can see...
In Conclusion
I accord all glory to God for how far he's brought me in less than a yr of giving birth to this baby.... and a very big thank you to all my wonderful customers who have kept coming back and even referring their friends , family, and loved ones …
.....
.....
and thank you Olamild Entertainments for counting me worthy to be featured on
your wonderful website
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Olamild: BÉWÀJÍ designs are lavishly elegant and refined as you can see from the pictures/slide above. You can undisputably rely on BEWAJI for African and Western Couture sown to perfection, and guaranteed to exceed your expectations. Now you know you can attend the next African bash looking elegant. You may contact this designer at her website. the link is www.bewaji.com Thank you for joining us today. Ciao!
6 comment(s)
Your designs are very beautiful
Posted on July 2, 2009 10:46 AM
I love this!
Posted on July 2, 2009 11:02 AM
If you need a tailor to sow all your African attires, BEWAJI is the one to reach out to.
Posted on July 14, 2009 4:04 PM
I love it ooo
how can we get in touch with you
Posted on August 25, 2009 12:12 PM
Please see www.bewaji.com
Posted on August 26, 2009 8:46 AM
Infact it real "wake up with beauty" Luvly ur designers and ur dressing.
Posted on September 23, 2009 11:31 AM
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