Without creativity you can’t strive as a business owner – Helen Phenson Kpodoh

Helen Phenson Kpodoh is the creative director/CEO of Helen Walter fashion.
In this interview with Eric Olusesan, she speaks about her love for fashion and the uniqueness of her brand. Excerpts:

What’s your background?

Am from a Christian home in Akwa Ibom and married in Bayelsa. Had my Bsc in Industrial chemistry from the university of Port Harcourt. As an entrepreneur, I’ve been into professional makeup with house of Tara, bead making and now fashion design.

How did you get into fashion design?

I got into fashion design because of my love for it, actually Went to learn with the intentions of making beautiful clothes for myself but when my boss and also my husband saw how good I was, they both advised I start making for people.

Did you feel any fear or hesitancy when you first started out?

Yes I was afraid. There was this fear of starting and building a brand but when you have the right people around you, you will always get all the confidence you need.

In fashion; there’s the creative side, and there ’ s the business side . Which is the most important element? And how do you merge the two?
Without creativity you can’t strive as a business owner.. People needs to see the creative side to be able to do business with u so creativity attracts the business side of fashion.

Beyond the fabulousity and amazing outfits, how challenging is it to run a fashion business , especially one that has its roots in Nigeria?

Running a business in Nigeria is very challenging trust me especially when your business need electricity to function well. Also When you have a lot of people doing the same thing, you always have to on top of your game to keep going.

Let ’s talk about your clothing line, what’s the idea behind that ?

Every woman is beautiful. Whether Slim, thick, chubby they are all beautiful. So the idea behind this brand is to build the confident woman across Nigeria and international through our brand. A brand that celebrate inner beauty of a woman.

Were there moments when you felt like throwing in the towel and how did you come out of those periods ?

Yes.. There were moments like that but as I said earlier, when you have the right people around you,, passion and the will power to always try again no matter what.

Do you import the material and make them here or you get them all here in Nigeria?

We source for some of our fabrics internationally since we’re also into costume making (carnival), We also get fabric too in Nigeria.

What are your thoughts on young Nigerian designers ? Is this an industry we can all be proud of ?

Yes its an industry we can all be proud of because it gives us a livelihood, makes one to be very creative so my thoughts on young Nigerians designers is to keep pushing not to give up because the future is bright and every designer is a star to look out for.

How do you unwind?

I love travelling, and we do that a lot as a family during the holidays..

where do we see your outfit in the next five years?

In the next five year my brand will become a household name. My outfit will be on every runway, stores all across the nations of the earth. A brand to reckon with. We have an online platform #EverythingFashion.com With this we showcase, promote and sell everything fashion.

Does fashion includes exposing Cleve ages?

No but when there’s a special need especially when we are working on our carnival costumes.