By THIS DAY
Famed fashion designer Clement Mudiaga Enajemo has been evolving as the fashion world transitions from one trend to another. Today, the clothier fondly known as Mudi has built his fashion brand to an enviable position. However, when Mudi started out in one small shop at Ikosi, an area in Ketu, Lagos in the early 1990s, it was a case of humble beginning for the Delta State native.
Standing in its magnificence today in Anthony Village, is his corporate head office. To many, the creative director Mudi Africa transcends just tailoring. His outlook, lifestyle, art, craft transcend the narrow prisms of fashion. Suffice to call him a cultural icon of some sort; like Karl Lagerfeld. Mudi’s essence and existence in reflect his way of life.
For the entrepreneur, 2023 is significant; it’s the anniversary of his flagship brand. Grateful, and in celebration of the milestone, the style maestro reels out a long list of celebrities and media personalities, in acknowledgement of their support, particularly Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) “who actually gave me the money for my first shop”. Likewise a number of Nollywood stars who were first to endorse the Mudi clothes; the likes of Ramsey Nouah, Okey Bakassi, Frank Edoho, Desmond Elliot, and legendary thespian Olu Jacob.
Thirty years down the line, like his name ‘Mudiaga’, which means to stand firm, Mudi has not wavered. A testament of hard work, the Mudi story is well known. Having recorded remarkable success, it travels beyond his areas of operation as he boasts being the first fashion designer to own shops including having visible branch outlets in major African cities like Accra, Abidjan, Johannesburg and Nairobi, making him a Pan-African brand, the chief ingredient of his inspiring story.
Mudi has stayed true over the years. Driven by passion, his success story is one for the books. He is dedicated, judicious and remained committed. “If you are gifted in whatever field and you have the passion for the work, you must also have the drive and discipline in order to succeed,” he often says. He had noted going into his chosen field as his greatest decision ever taken.
“Going into fashion designing, because it has exposed me and made me meet great people… And don’t forget, with all sense of humility, I am the first designer to have billboards in Nigeria, the first to advertise on TV and the first to have shops outside this country. I am talking about outlets with branded official cars attached,” he once recalled.
Beyond passion, Mudi believes his venture into fashion was divine. “You know, the word destiny plays a major role in life. We are all individual scripts waiting for God to interpret; I’m just interpreting mine.” However, he recalled a particular incident that sealed his decision to pursue a career in fashion designing against all odds.
“Something happened back then when I was living in Ketu; I used to help a lot of friends to buy clothes. When they wanted to buy new clothes, they usually called me to help them select, including shoes. This eye for good things, I grew up with it.”
Continuing, he said: “On this particular day, two of my friends – Tunde and Emma – they were discussing in hush tone, but immediately they saw me walk close to them, Emma told me, ‘Clement, why you no go fashion school? Go fashion school, no waste this talent, sebi na you dey help us buy clothes.’ At the same time, Tunde said, ‘Emma, na wetin I wan talk na him you talk so.’ That was how I started giving the whole thing a serious thought.”