How I clothe people with my gifts

By Abdulfatah On Sep 23, 2019

Before now, Mrs. Blossom Chioma Gabriel is no doubt a woman of many parts. A successful fashion designer whose label, Craftitude, stands out for its originality in the area of cloth making and other fashion accessories, such as beads, hats and handbags, home and abroad, she is equally a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment world. In this interview with YEMISI OLUSINA, the Anambra State-born designer-turned artiste unveils the link between fashion business and music plus how she combines both with family life.

When you came out with your first album, “I won’t let go”, everyone thought you were done with your fashion dream. Were you bored with fashion designing?

Not at all. I would just attribute it to God’s plan, coming at his own time. From age 16, when I was in secondary school, I have always known that I have a talent to sing. Then, I was always writing songs and singing like that and it was clear to everyone around me that I have a flair for music. Between then and now I have written over 50 songs but never released any until when I came out with “I won’t let go”. I enjoyed fashion designing and, in fact, I still do but you see I love one more than the other. A man is entitled to more than one talent and I think my case is just like that. My label is called Craftitude because all that I do is about crafting. I designed all my works by myself. All the bags in my showroom, the hats and the beads are all my handiwork. I made them by myself and still do.

How did you become a fashion designer?

I must tell you that it is a gift just as it is with the music that I do. I never learnt fashion designing, as my counterparts did neither was I trained as a musician. I will only say I have been around a designer before just for a space of a month and that was all I can remember. When I was taking of f after graduating from the polytechnic, my desire was to get something doing without being paid. My friend then couldn’t understand where my interest was. There was a man from Cotonou around us then, who was into cloth-making. I would hang around him without him knowing that I was serious about the job. That was how I learnt it. I later developed on that and with my own creative ability, I extended my tentacles from just making clothes to other crafty aspect that you can see now.

So, why the diversification?

Like, I have said, music was actually my first love but I did not get the right encouragement that I needed for a long while. Whenever I sang those days, my own people were always laughing at me. They would make jest of me such that I would cry inwardly. There was no effort of mine that was appreciated. At the long run, I was made to lose focus and look elsewhere to invest my God-given endowment. Yet, I never stopped having the urge to sing. But, I don’t really blame them. As far as my parents were concerned, showbiz was for no-do-well set of people, so, they, like other parents then, would advise their children never to identify with such a profession. Besides, the fashion designing business was not that encouraging.

How?

In Nigeria, fashion was not valued until very recently. Nigerians never appreciated our work. Sometimes, a style that goes for N5,000 would be priced for as ridiculously low as N1,000. Our labels were not as appreciated as those foreign ones. Except where money exchanges hands, they don’t even get well displayed. It used to be very frustrating but the flair for the job is what has kept most of us on. I wouldn’t say it is the economic situation; I would blame it on our mentality that is linked with foreign things. But the economic situation cannot totally be out of it. A lot of people are poor and cannot really afford the prices of good and qualitative designs even when they desire it. The government was also not helpful, making the situation worse. We are the only outfit that is into coverage of people’s nakedness and yet, no one values us.

With many gospel artistes around, how have you been coping?

Like I said, my kind of music is purely gospel and I am enjoying what I am doing. Basically, my coming into entertainment is not to make money although if it comes I won’t reject it but the truth is that it has been an urge, a desire for a long time and yielding to it now has sort of given me a great relief, a fulfillment. My objective primarily was to be a music minister, to be God’s mouth and really not for the sake of fame attainment. I don’t intend to engage in any copyright acts, I have been original so far and I plan to be as much as original as possible.

And how would you describe the journey so far?

Well, so far, it’s been very fair. If one is operating within the gift and leading of God, he or she is not likely to suffer or struggle. A song could come within 10 minutes and that settles that. It is only the production aspect that is a bit challenging. I am thankful to God because all my songs get accepted by all just like that. I mean, they appeal to people, the listeners just like that. I did not attend any music school yet my producers never complained about my performance. They were always excited at my performance.

Who are your producers?

Clarence Peters and Dekunle Imole.

Your original name is Tina, how come you changed it to Blossom.

That is a different story of my life entirely. You see, since when I discovered myself, as a living soul bearing that name, Tina, life was extremely hard and negative in all aspects. Then, whenever I was close to achieving or laying hold on anything that would bring success to me, something would happen somehow to rob me of it. Apart from this near success syndrome, I was always sick, I lacked good health and, in fact, good things always slipped off my hands as soon as I get closer to them. When I met my father in the Lord, Reverend Iyere, he revealed to me the need to change my name. To the glory of God, as soon as I took up that name, doors began to open and my life started blossoming. I stopped labouring; I stopped struggling and I began to enjoy peace.

Who are your target audience?

Everyone who is yet to know Christ and even those who are already in Him.

How have you been combining these with your home?

My husband is the main person, who motivated my music career. My daughter even sang with me in the album. My husband is a patient man. He has always allowed me to get to where I want. My home front is really settled. He is a very understanding man and wouldn’t make trouble whenever my job takes me away from home. I love to allow people to handle tasks on my behalf. I really don’t have to handle everything. It has been demanding and I know it will be more challenging, as the day goes by. But I rely on God and my husband for more support.

If you are to compare the two professions, which would you tag more financially demanding?

They are both God’s gifts that cannot be bought. I derive joy in both and not really money. They both demand money. You spend less to get a song but spend more to get a cloth or an outfit. I value both and I am using both to glorify God. In as much as I value gold, I value God’s gifts in my life and you know what God says in His words, when you are faithful in one thing He commits in your hands, He will give you more, so, I have no intention of joking with either of the two. I won’t take either of the two for granted. With fashion designing, I clothe people from outside but with music, I clothe people from inside. The life that fashion cannot give what music gives.

How do you cope with the many designers out there?

Competition, as far as I am concerned, is good for business. Now that we have many people in the business, it is helping each person’s creativity and this is really helping those who are gifted. I have never been bothered about competition both as a musician and designer.

What advice do you have for people aspiring to boost some budding gifts in them just like you?

They should not let go of their vision. If there is a particular dream they are yet to manifest, they should keep on nursing and holding on it. They should keep working and not be idle. They should keep working and not be idle. They should do whatever they need to do and do it very well.

What are your suggestions to the government?

We need selfless leaders, who will focus more on agriculture so as to have food in affordable prices. Hunger is bad for everyone; it will always affect all sectors because somebody, who has not eaten can never be impressed about any dress or any music. Yes, he can appreciate both but he will never be able to buy them. There is poverty in the land and it is affecting everybody. Apprentices don’t want to pay, a lot of prostitutes are out there not because they so wish but because they have needs to be met. There are more jobless graduates around, lack of finance to meet up the basic needs of people is causing frustration in homes, and criminals are everywhere. It is important that the government takes a serious look at this.